Christo et Jeanne-Claude, Pont Neuf Map

Audacious. Intrepid. The words comes to mind when thinking of Christo. Yet this exhibit is full of surprises. We think of the sculptor as a wrapper of major  monuments. His early small, whimsical works surprise like this child’s pull toy. From this view it looks like a huge Trojan horse.

Originally he painted portraits. Then ‘wrapped’ them. There are mysterious wrapped bundles. Christo refused to reveal what was inside. 

Early days he wrapped statues at Trocadero. The wrapped Pont Neuf hides a wonderful love story between Christo and Jeanne-Claude. 

J-C’s mother asked Christo to paint her portrait. She invited him to lunch. He didn't want to come. She insisted. there he met Jeanne-Claude. He invited her to see his sculptures in his 7th floor walk-up chambre de bonne. The hall light went out just as he opened the door. She was terrorized by his bundles. The rest is history❤️.Interestingly, they both had the same birth date. Meant to be!

We see the bridge isolated, wrapped in its monumentality. Not as an urban project with Parisians interacting, a baby rolling on the fabric, with traffic. Some Locals didn't like it. They complained, “What’s the point? Its not art! It cost too much money!” 

Christo raised all the $ himself from his drawings. No donations.

For 10 years he negotiated with French authorities and citizens for permission.

Again the Pont Neuf became  a lively gathering place, a city focal point as Henri IV envisioned it back in the 1600’s. Many visitors overlook the Pont Neuf in favor of more romantic Pont Alexandre. I did. I never went till this letter/map project except to cross over and think how long it took to get to the other side. I didn’t experience its monumentality, serenity, views.

The mini park below, Square de Vert Galant (noted in Vivian Swift’s book, Gardens of Awe and Folly) is one of Paris’ loveliest of pocket parks. Parisians know this. Its a haven. If you can not get to this extraordinary, uplifting exhibit, go to Pont Neuf next trip. You’ll need my Paris map😃Bear stays in the picture!🐻