The Christo Crowd : Tejon Pass: The thought of millions of visitors coming to view the art superstar’s yellow umbrellas puts dollar signs in locals’ eyes.
Mary Lynn Rasmussen has not spent much time searching for the meaning of the vast Christo umbrellas art project that opens next month near her Okie Girl restaurant and brewery 50 miles north of Los Angeles.
“I’m just a little ol’ Okie girl†who isn’t very involved in the arts, she says.
But that does not mean Rasmussen is not passionate about the gigantic Christo project that will see yellow umbrellas flower in the mountains and fields of the Tejon Pass off the Golden State Freeway. During the three weeks the umbrellas are up, Rasmussen will offer a limited series of 3,100 bottles of two special beers--Umbrella Gold and Autumn Umbrella.
“I think of it as my personal tribute to the Christo project,†she said. A 22-ounce bottle of this tribute will cost $10.
Christo fever has hit the Tejon Pass.
On Oct. 8, the international art superstar--whose projects have included surrounding islands off Miami with floating pink fabric and running a white nylon fence through 24.5 miles of rural Northern California--will preside over the opening of 1,760 huge umbrellas anchored in the ground over an 18-mile stretch of freeway through the pass. Simultaneously, 1,340 blue umbrellas will be on display in Japan in an area about 75 miles north of Tokyo.
The Christo organization estimates that at least 2 million people will view the umbrellas in California, while other estimates range as high as 7 million. That translates into unprecedented opportunities for this normally quiet, sparsely populated area of ranches, small towns and truck stops.
“Some people in town still say they don’t think much of what is going on, but to me it’s wages, jobs,†said Barbara Schu, postmaster and only full-time employee at the post office in the tiny community of Lebec.
Fran Poe, who heads a coalition of Kern County charities raising money during the exhibition, has taken note. She is selling ad space on the sides of Porta Pottis.
“I’ve taken a lot of grief for this, but I think it might be the most popular place around,†said Poe, who discussed her idea at a recent meeting of the Kern County Board of Trade. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.â€
Even those who scoff at the artwork have gotten into the spirit of the event, Schu said. “You see people who you think would not care about this cleaning up, getting ready for the crowds. I think it will be fun, interesting and it’s only 21 days.â€
The post office is in Lebec’s only commercial building. Victor Hadawar, who co-owns the market/deli next door, stood outside one day last week and looked down the empty street. Once the umbrellas open, he said, almost every available space along the road, which offers some of the best viewing spots, will be taken by vendors hawking umbrella stuff, food and drinks.
“I do not mind the locals, but I do not think it is fair they gave so many permits to people from L.A. and Bakersfield and wherever,†said Hadawar, who plans to sell barbecue and other food items, as well as film, mugs and T-shirts in front of the market.
But he knows that the competition will be tough.
“We are here all through the year, good times and bad times. This is a small community and you wait for something like this to happen all your life.â€
George Mull saw the umbrellas as a way to change his life. Earlier this year, he left his job as a lawyer with the huge Tejon Ranch, where more than half of the umbrellas will stand, to be a major vendor for the Christo event. “For a single man, this was a very isolated place to live,†said Mull, 30, who plans to relocate after the event. “I saw it as a way to segue out of my job.â€
Mull and his partner will spend $200,000 on their temporary souvenir business.
Christo takes a somewhat philosophical view of all this. “Once the project is realized, how people use it is a reflection of society,†the Bulgarian-born artist said at a recent dinner in his honor.
“The people who just use art for commercialization, it is a reflection on them too,†he said.
Christo takes no part in the merchandising. He sells no rights to the images and requests that products sold in connection with the event include a disclaimer stating that he and his organization do not receive any money from the sales.
“As far as I am concerned, Christo is a guardian angel who brings wealth and prosperity to all around him and asks nothing in return,†said Rasmussen, the Okie girl.
The only souvenir Christo has sanctioned for “The Umbrellas†is a commemorative envelope that will be sold at the Lebec post office. All profits will go to three public art galleries in Bakersfield.
Mull said he realizes that Christo is bothered by the commercialization and said he has gone to great lengths not to offend the artist. “Our sites will be very low key and will not compete with the umbrellas,†he said. “All the products are of very high quality and will contain a disclaimer.â€
He added, however, that he had not yet figured out how to get the disclaimer on his special commemorative sunglasses.
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