As part of the 1974 citywide exhibit of modern sculpture in Newport known as Monumenta, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped King’s Beach on Ocean Drive. It consisted of 150,000 square feet of white polypropylene fabric attached to the shoreline. It was called “Oceanfront Project” and lasted only eight days.
All photos below I took while being part of a crew assisting Christo and Jeanne Claude in stretching the fabric over the cove at King's beach, in 1974, August 19, starting at 6.00 AM. I was using a Leica III g and Ilford film. These shots I kept in my Paterson Negative Files 35 mm for all these years. Never seen, never shown. Today, in 2020, I decide to digital publish them as a tribute to Christo and remembrance of a fine day well spent in the making of contemporary art. At the date of Christo's death, I honor him for having been one of the few persons introducing me to the fantastic world of art of our time. www.georgespaumier.com.
Je rends hommage à Christo qui vient de nous quitter. J'avais pris ces photos alors que je faisais partie des bénévoles qui l'aidèrent à déployer une immense bâche pour envelopper une anse à Newport, RI. USA. La grande gentillesse de Christo et de Jeanne Claude m'avait subjugué. Ils ont fait partie des gens remarquables qui m'ont ouvert grandes les portes de l'art de notre époque.
