The sculpture garden outside the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art will soon have a new look, as Fayette resident Patricia Fisher is working with the Gallery to present a unique art show in honor of international artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The sculptures will be artistically wrapped and on display on the campus of Central Methodist University from November 10 through 24.
The story of the show begins decades back, when the already well-known artist couple answered the call for creative pitches for public art displays in Kansas City. Along with scores of volunteer workers, Christo and Jeanne-Claude covered more than two miles of walkways and paths in Loose Park with nylon fabric in the fall of 1978. The duo – who passed away in 2020 and 2009, respectively – were known for their large-scale outdoor projects in which monuments and natural landmarks were wrapped in fabric.
A portion of the fabric from the Wrapped Walk Ways project in Loose Park eventually made its way to Dr. Joe Geist and the Ashby-Hodge Gallery, and earlier this year the registrar and co-founder of the Gallery reached out to Fisher to offer her the relic. What followed was a moment of what Fisher calls “ecstatic inspiration,” and the plans for the new show soon began.
Alongside Geist and Gallery curator Tyler Pierson, Fisher eventually worked out a plan to honor Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work with the wrapping of the sculptures outside Classic Hall. The project is coinciding with the celebration of both Christo’s and Jeanne-Claude’s 90th birthdays and is one of numerous exhibits this year celebrating alongside the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation.
Fisher expressed her thanks to the Gallery’s interns, Korey Bales and Anaya Little, for their help in making the show come to life – despite not being art students. She says this is an important aspect of the show for the University and the student body, as the show will be outside and constantly on display for its two-week run rather than inside the Gallery. Geist hoped that it would be a joyful, beautiful event and would engage the students in a way that would lift their heads from their phones, giving them a novel experience.
"Creating public art for our community in the spirit of Christo and Jeanne-Claude is an act of artistic freedom designed to pay our respects to their legacy,” said Fisher. “The invitation to the community is to experience art in a unique manner that uplifts their spirits, provides a healthy dose of the unexpected and will live on in their memories as a reminder of the joy that art can bring to our lives."