A section of the fabric from Christo’s ‘Running Fence’ (1976) is used as a backdrop for the Salami Toss at the Occidental Fire Department’s annual summer barbecue.
When Christo and Jeanne-Claude realized their seminal Running Fence project in West Sonoma County in the mid-1970’s, they traded materials used to construct the 24 mile long fence with ranchers in exchange for use of the land. Learning more about the project from first-hand knowledge when our family moved to the area about three years ago, I thought it would be interesting to investigate what remains of the original materials and how they have been put to use by ranchers and others over the past 30 years.
Ene and I wrote a proposal for a project we called Running Fence Revisited (click to see original proposal), for which we are still seeking funding to produce a publication. Meanwhile, I’ve begun to research and document the project on these pages and invite anyone interested in helping to participate by leaving a comment below. The first artifact we’ve discovered related to Christo’s original Running Fence is a section of the fabric still used by the Occidental Fire Department as a backdrop for the Salami Toss concession at their annual summer barbecue, which we attended yesterday.
If you have any information about what remains of Running Fence, would like to learn more about Running Fence Revisited or help us to conduct research, please leave a comment below. Thanks!
vicki saulls | 13-Sep-09 at 8:54 pm | Permalink
hey there scott,
I just remembered.. and it’s been many many years but back in the late 70’s and early 80’s the Northern Rennaissance Faire in Blackpoint had big tents made out of the “running fence” which some of the crew lived in I believe.. I think it was 1978.. I’ll have to ask Sally, I think she actually lived in it awhile.. they were up for a few years if I recall.. seems like we tried dying some of it as well for the canopies but it didn’t work like the burlap.. I’ll talk to some of the old crew and see if I can dig up any info for you..
-Vic
Scott Constable | 14-Sep-09 at 2:15 pm | Permalink
hey vicki-
very cool! thanks for the lead. it’d be great if you could dig up any leads or images. i like the image of sally at the ren fair back in the day!
xo scott
mark | 19-Nov-09 at 5:59 pm | Permalink
rip Jeanne-Claude.
Scott Constable | 19-Nov-09 at 7:28 pm | Permalink
Oh man, this is such sad news. I just met them both a couple of months ago. She was chain-smoking, but seemed otherwise healthy. More importantly, they seemed very very happy and open to everything. I’m very deeply touched by this news and thank you for letting us know. The NYT has published a lovely obituary.
RE CARSCH | 25-Mar-10 at 9:09 pm | Permalink
I worked on Fence project – was a public information person for the line – have extensive files, many slides – and a bag of fence pieces – including metal fasteners, etc. et. al also Abrams bk about the fence – signed and in excellent condition if anyone is interested.
Scott Constable | 27-Mar-10 at 7:46 am | Permalink
I would love to meet you and see your collection. Where are you located?
RE CARSCH | 27-Mar-10 at 9:48 am | Permalink
currently in Delaware thru 4/6 – reside in San Francisco – you can find citation covering my work in the Literary Market Place and the Marquis Who’s Who database in Gale’s Biography Plus database.