Weeks before the tragedy and without knowing how prophetic it would be, Christo spoke eloquently of the parallels between temporary art and human mortality: "There's a strong self-effacing dimension to my work, kind of an urgency because it will be gone. But this vulnerability, gentleness and sympathy to what is temporary is the basic dynamic of the project. "The very bottom of this project is about freedom. It cannot be bought, cannot be possessed, cannot be controlled or kept.

Even myself, I cannot possess this project. Beyond everything, freedom is one of the most essential parts. And uniqueness: there will never again be this same thing. It will be missed like our childhood or our life." Recently I had dinner with another good friend. I asked if he'd seen the umbrellas. He said no, he couldn't get behind a project that cost that much when so many are homeless and hungry. I, too, want simple, quick and convenient answers to the social problems that haunt us. But it's not Christo's job to solve those problems. And despite the criticisms and accusations, thousands sat in the shade of an umbrella, and thousands are grateful that it's Christo's job to create art.