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March 2, 2005

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HCC PROFESSOR “CO-ARTIST” IN NYC GATES PROJECT

By Mike Russo

HCC Art Professor John Favret (front row, left), among 600 “co-artists” who joined in the much-publicized Gates Project in Central Park last month, is shown with artists Christo and Jeanne –Claude (front row, third and fourth from left.)

BRIDGEPORT -- HCC Art Professor and artist John Favret has worked on canvases as large as 9’x 8’, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d be creating on a canvas the size of Central Park.

As one of 600 “co-artists” for “The Gates, Central Park, New York 1979- 2005”, Favret was selected for the project by its creators Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The art exhibit, which took over 26 years to complete, was on display in New York City’s Central Park for an estimated 200,000 people from Feb. 12-28.

The project consisted of 7500 gates, 16 feet high and lined more than 23 miles along the walkways of Central Park. Atop the gates were fabric panels that were unfurled on Feb.12, the opening of the exhibit.

Favret, an Uncasville resident, was thrilled to have a chance to be a part of this experience. After applying through Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s web site, www.christojeanneclaude.net , Favret was accepted onto the project as a member of one of the 75, 8 -person assembly teams.

Jobs included manufacturing and assembling the gates, installation, maintenance, and removal after the exhibit. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I love New York, Central Park, and its right in our backyard,” said Favret, who spent a week in Central Park on the project working on the installations.

During the week, Favret, along with team members assembled 140 gates in along the lower east side section of the park. Favret noted that the atmosphere was one of collaboration. “It is an art happening and has a sense of community and being part of a team,” he said.

The $23 million dollar project included a $3 million fee to the city, and employed over 600 artists and New York City residents. The project was entirely financed by the artists through the CVJ Corporation, of which Jeanne-Claude is president.

  Financing included receipts from the sale of studies, preparatory drawings and collages, scale models, earlier works of the fifties and sixties, and original lithographs. The artists did not accept any sponsorship or donations, and all materials were recycled at the completion of the exhibit.

Favret, an accomplished artist in his own right with several exhibitions under his belt, has admired the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude for many years. “Christo makes art for himself and doesn’t sell himself out in any way. I can relate to that in my own art,” said Favret.

One of the most important aspects of Favret’s involvement in the Gates project was that his students were able to participate in the opening ceremonies. On Feb. 12, 43 members of HCC graphic design club, of which Favret is the adviser, arranged for a bus trip from Bridgeport to Manhattan to attend the opening of the gates exhibit.

Amanda Barrett, a graphic design student from Bridgeport attended the opening ceremonies. “I was really proud of my professor being on the installation crew,” she said of Favret.

Students from HCC as well as thousands from across the globe were present for the unveiling of the Gates. “There were a lot of different people from all over the world,” she said. “I heard British, German and Nordic being spoken throughout the park. It was definitely a cultural affair.”

Now that the Gates Project is over, what comes next? Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s are moving onto their newest project, called “Over the River,” which is to take place in Colorado and scheduled tentatively for 2009 if all goes as planned.

  Because of his tremendous experience with “The Gates.” Favret is eying this with interest.  “I would love to have another opportunity like this, Christo and Jeanne Claude are very intelligent and are very well organized,” said Favret.   

With an eight-year old campus in the heart of Connecticut’s largest city, Housatonic is one of the country’s fastest-growing public community colleges. Since it moved to the new downtown campus in 1997, Housatonic’s enrollment has increased 77 percent. According to the most recent statistics released by the Washington D.C- based American Association of Community Colleges, Housatonic was the Northeast’s second fastest-growing community college and its fastest-growing in terms of full-time students.

In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 63 since moving to its new campus.

The college is located in downtown Bridgeport a block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Mike Russo of Monroe is a journalism intern at Housatonic Community College.

HCC Art Professor John Favret (front row, left), among 600 “co-artists” who joined in the much-publicized Gates Project in Central Park last month, is shown with artists Christo and Jeanne –Claude (front row, third and fourth from left.)

Favret Gates

HCC Art Professor John Favret pauses in front of some of the many gates that were being installed in Central Park as part of the Gates Project.