Artist Christo's Arkansas R. draping draws local ire

Fremont County, Colorado, commissioners listened to more than 50 people voice concern or support Tuesday evening for a proposed art installation across the Arkansas River, reports Carie Canterbury of the Cañon City Daily Record. The artist, Christo, left, hopes to begin construction of his outdoor art installation "Over the River" this summer, and has submitted a temporary use permit for the project, to drape almost six miles of the river with fabric suspended bank-to-bank.

Federal land managers approved an environmental impact statement for the project last year, but opponents, mostly locals, filed suit in federal court yesterday to block construction. The group's lawsuit argues land managers didn't "adequately address" long-term effects on wildlife, specifically bighorn sheep, or the impact of boreholes, rock bolts and anchors that allegedly will have an effect "not unlike industrial mining." An Over the River spokesman said the environmental impact statement would not be undone by a lawsuit.(New York Times photo: Artist's rendering of final installation)

Photo by Jeff Shane, Daily Record

Members of Rags Over the Arkansas River say their concerns aren't being heard. ROAR President Dan Ainsworth, left, said supporters "painted a very rosy picture ... for a tragic event that's about to happen." Supporters, including local officials, contend "Over the River" is a once-in-a-lifetime event that will re-energize the local economy. "This is a $100 million economic gift from Christo over the next two years," said Doug Shane, executive director of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce. The installation is projected to draw more than 400,000 visitors to Southern Colorado during its two-year construction and two-week final exhibition. Fremont County commissioners have received more than 470 letters about the project, and will use those and comments in public meetings to make their final decision about the temporary use permit. (Read more)

ROAR maintains "moneyed interests and state politicians were pushing a project that would mostly benefit outsiders," reports Kirk Johnson of The New York Times.