Media Coverage
Cañon City looks at Christo’s Arkansas River project “like hitting the lottery”
February 12th, 2012The Denver Post
By Jason Blevins
New York. Miami. Paris. Berlin. Cañon City.
The prison-heavy Fremont County seat will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play in the big leagues of tourism if final approval is granted for artist Christo’s plan to drape the Arkansas River just upstream from the Royal Gorge.
For most towns, rising even briefly to the level of international destinations like Miami, Berlin, New York City or Paris — all locales where Christo has displayed his large-scale draping art — takes decades of planning, building and delivering. For Cañon City, it could take a mere two weeks in August 2014.
“It’s like winning the lottery,” said Doug Shane, executive director of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce and board member of the Fremont County Tourism Council. “This takes us to a whole other level.”
Read the complete article on The Denver Post website.
Mountain Mail Editorial: An Economic Driver
December 13th, 2011In a celebratory visit to the Upper Arkansas Valley last week, Christo thanked supporters for their help in obtaining environmental impact statement approval from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for “Over the River.”
At the same time he noted that the focus is now on getting special use permits for the project from Fremont and Chaffee counties. … Considering the state’s economic woes, and with both Fremont and Chaffee county governments struggling economically, and with no relief in sight, commissioners would be well advised to grant the necessary permits.
“Over the River” will be a major economic driver to Colorado, to Chaffee and Fremont counties and to nearby counties. This is not some government bailout or handout. Rather it is a project driven by private enterprise.
Pueblo Chieftain Editorial: Over the River
November 10th, 2011
THE BUREAU of Land Management has given the go-ahead to artist Christo’s Over the River project along the Arkansas River west of Canon City. He wants to suspend 5.9 miles of translucent fabric above the river in eight different segments of a 42-mile stretch. Christo and Jeanne-Claude, his late wife of 51 years, worked diligently since the early 1990s to make the project a reality.
Yes, there will be inconveniences on U.S. 50. But there also will be multiple benefits. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he believes any detrimental effects of the project can be mitigated. …
… In today’s economy, it’s good to see the hope that Over the River generates. We’re eager to view it ourselves.