Cristo discusses the meaning of his work

Cristo discusses why he and his wife Jeanne-Claude believe in creating "useless" art. (0:55)

Cristo And Jeanne-Claude Discuss Their Upcoming Artwork

Cristo and Jeanne-Claude discussed their upcoming environmental installation art at a luncheon at the National Press Club. One project, “Over the River,” is planned to open in Colorado in 2012. The project is a series of fabrics hung over cables which will cover parts of the Arkensas river. The project will use over 5.9 miles of fabric and be visible from the nearby highway and to rafters going down the river. “Over the River” will cost $50 million, and will be funded entirely by Cristo and Jeanne-Cleude. Their main source of income comes from selling sketches and plans of their projects, as well as selling Cristo’s earlier works.

Another project, “The Mastaba,” will take place in the United Arab Emirates. “The Mastaba” will be made of 410,000 multicolored oil barrels stacked into a structure that will be over 500 feet high.

One unique aspect of Cristo and Jeanne-Claude’s work is that all of their artwork is temporary - after it has been on display for a few months it is taken down and the materials from the project are recycled. Human beings have a love and tenderness for things which do not last, said Jean-Claude, such as childhood innocence. We try to capture the aesthetic quality of this love and tenderness in our artwork, she said.

Leading Entertainers Fight for Art Funding

The National Endowment for the Arts testified in front of Congress today to discuss appropriations for the 2009 fiscal year. President Bush has lowered the amount given to the arts and the NEA, and supporters are lobbying for support in restoring the funding level to $176 million, a recorded high from 1992.

A panel of speakers was present including Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of American for Arts, Mayor Mufi Hannemann of Honolulu, acclaimed actress Kerry Washington, five-time Grammy winner John Legend and Academy Award-winner and activist Robert Redford. All were on hand to offer their stories and how the arts influenced them in where they are today.

Lynch pronounced at the end of his testimony that "a great nation deserves great art" while John Legend offered his musical education as a way to keep him grounded. Coming from a musical family, Legend also said that music was a way to stay away from trouble. Kerry Washington and Robert Redford spoke for an extended period of time with Robert Redford offering an account on his childhood. Redford stated that in his childhood, he was accused of being "dumb" due to his personality, but he ended up finding his calling in the arts which has led to him being one of the most prominent figures in the arts today.

Furthermore, testimony given showed the relationship of arts to the stimulation of a society and economy. Attention was also given to the furthering of arts programs nationally and internationally including reading and general education programs.