Covered in Color: Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Fabrics of Freedom

(Hardback)

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Description

A vibrantly illustrated biography about visionary artist Christo, encouraging creativity, perseverance, and appreciating the beauty all around usChristo (19352020) and Jeanne-Claude (19352009) are renowned for their large-scale, ambitious art installations that wrapped landmarks and swaths of land in fabric, including Berlins Wrapped Reichstag, Pariss The Pont Neuf Wrapped, and concluding with New York Citys The Gates in Central Park (2005). This lively biography chronicles Christo's humble childhood in Soviet-controlled Bulgariaunder a regime that suppressed individuality and creativityto his international fame as a bold (and controversial) innovator in the art world. Christo discovered an early love of art and found a way to make a living out of his passion by wrapping bottles, cans, stacks of magazines, and even an air conditioner. When he met his wife, Jeanne-Claude, they moved to New York City as undocumented immigrants and became equal partners in both life and workhe, the artist, and she, the dealmaker. Together, Christo and Jeanne-Claude made elaborate, visually stunning installations that transformed public spaces around the world, all free to the public. Christo never explained why he felt compelled to wrap things in fabricrather, his work celebrated individual interpretation and the simple joy of seeing something familiar in a new way. And though each work was temporary, their awe-inspiring designs, uniting nature with the manmade, stayed with viewers long afterward. Covered in Color inspires readers to appreciate the beauty around us, however fleeting, and to push the boundaries of "possible."

Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This one is perfect for storytimes and interdisciplinary curriculum units alike. . .Draped in striking hues and compelling from cover to covera gem of a biography!"

* Kirkus Reviews *
Chapmans fluid, rainbow-hued, predominantly watercolor and gouache illustrations burst with movementan ideal accompaniment befitting the artists aesthetic. * Publishers Weekly *
The scale of the creations alone make for interesting study; young readers will be enthralled by the thinking and planning that went along with these massive undertakings. * School Library Journal *
Chapmans loose, diaphanous illustrations capture the whimsy and exuberance of Christo and Jeanne-Claudes art. * The Horn Book *

Author Bio

Elisa Boxer is an Emmywinning journalist and columnist whose work has been featured in publications including the New York Times and Fast Company. She has reported for newspapers, magazines, and TV stations, and has a passion for telling stories about people finding the courage to create change. Her recent books include Splash!, Hidden Hope, and One Turtles Last Straw. Elisa lives with her family in Maine. Susanna Chapman is an illustrator, muralist, and designer. Her illustrated picture books include Elizabeth Warrens Big, Bold Plans; The Girl Who Ran; and Ada and the Galaxies. She lives in Nashville.