Every so often I encounter reminders of Running Fence and its former breathtaking presence. Stretching across 24.5 miles of Marin and Sonoma Counties, the installation lasted for just two weeks in September 1976. But decades later, a billowing canopy of Running Fence fabric hangs on long-term display inside the Monte Rio Theater. Faded framed photographs of the piece can sometimes still be spotted at a Marin flea market.
Running Fence was entirely paid for by the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who negotiated with 59 landowners to allow the installation to cross their properties. With this year marking the 50th anniversary of the project, several articles, public programs and a museum exhibition are offering multiple perspectives on this temporary artwork, along with opportunities to learn more about how it was realized.
The late Bay Area photographer Marion Gray (born Marion Ruth Schutte, 1934–2016) photographed Running Fence — most notably all the behind-the-scenes work that went into its installation and deinstallation. After attending a lecture by Christo, Gray, who was a recent graduate of UC Berkeley (with an MFA in fine art and an MA in art history), introduced herself to the artist. By volunteering to document the assembly of Running Fence, Gray would unexpectedly launch her career as a photographer. Her distinct specialty was taking pictures of other artists’ performances, installations and exhibition events…