Christo Project Threatens Arkansas River Solitude

World-renowned installation artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude appear to be a bit out of touch with the sensibilities of a small Arkansas town where their next — and perhaps last — project is under consideration. We wonder about the environmental intelligence of covering 5.9 miles of the Arkansas River from Salida to Parkdale with fabric. But locals also note that Christo suggested casting sidearm as a reasonable solution for the problems the project would create for fly fishers. Notes one local fly shop owner: “Fly-fishing is about solitude. Knowledgeable fishermen won’t be as likely to come and fish the river during the three-year-long construction or six-month-long deconstruction periods.” Pete Freedman in the Colorado Springs Independent.