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[[Image:ontdur.PNG|right|Durham Regional Municipality]]
'''Christo and Jeanne-Claude''' are an artistic duo known famous for wrapping objects and buildings, as well as environmental art. They are arguably the best-known practitioners of what is called [[installation art]]. Their most recent project was 2005's [[The Gates]], in [[New York City]]'s [[Central Park]] .
'''The Regional Municipality of Durham''', commonly called Durham Region (2003 population 525,000), is a regional political area located east of [[Toronto, Ontario]]. It has an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometers and includes the municipalities of [[Pickering, Ontario|Pickering]], [[Ajax, Ontario|Ajax]], [[Oshawa, Ontario|Oshawa]], [[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]], [[Clarington, Ontario|Clarington]], [[Uxbridge, Ontario|Uxbridge Township]], [[Scugog, Ontario|Scugog Township]] and [[Brock, Ontario|Brock Township]]. Durham Region is considered part of the [[Greater Toronto Area]]. The regional seat is in [[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]].
The region of Durham was established in [[1974]] as one of several new "regional" governments in the Province of [[Ontario]]--primarily in fast-growing urban and suburban areas. Durham Region encompasses areas that were previously part of Ontario County and Durham County.
'''Christo Yavasheff''' (born [[June 13]], [[1935]] in [[Gabrovo]], [[Bulgaria]]), better known simply as '''Christo''' is the primary artist and designer of the duo's projects.
The southern portion of the region, adjacent to Lake Ontario is primarily suburban in nature, forming the eastern flank of the "905" belt of suburbs and exurbs around Toronto. The northern area encompasses rural areas and small towns.
'''Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon''' (also born [[June 13]], [[1935]]) is Christo's wife, and, similarly to her husband, is known simply as '''Jeanne-Claude'''. The two are united in work as well, with Jeanne-Claude being Christo's partner in all undertakings. Jeanne-Claude traditionally serves as the [[PR]] agent of the two, and is considerably more outspoken than her husband. She has described their relationship as having a "good cop / bad cop" dynamic.
Major employers include [[General Motors of Canada]], [[Ontario Power Generation]], [[Lakeridge Health System]], [[Durham College]], [[University of Ontario Institute of Technology]] and many smaller component and transportation firms supplying the automotive industry.
Some of their famous works include the wrapping of the [[Reichstag]] in [[Berlin]], [[Pont Neuf]] in [[Paris]] with white cloth and [http://christojeanneclaude.net/rf.html "Running Fence"] (1976) a 24-mile-long display of fabric strung across [[Marin County]] and [[Sonoma County]], [[California]] reaching to the [[Pacific Ocean]].
The Canadian headquarters of [[General Motors]], [[Volkswagen]], and [[BMW]] are all located in the region. The automotive industry is especially concentrated in Oshawa.
Though their artwork is visually striking and often controversial due to its size and scale, the artists have repeatedly denied that their projects contain any deeper meaning. The purpose of their art is intended to simply make the world a "more beautiful place" or offer a new way of looking at an old landscape.
The four separate [[public transit]] systems in the region, operated by various municipalities, are set to be amalgamated under the Region's administration at the beginning of [[2006]].
On January 3, 2005, work began on the installation of the couple's most protracted project, [[The Gates]], in [[Central Park]] in [[New York City]]. They have also referred to it as "''The Gates'', Central Park, New York, 1979-2005" in reference to the time that passed from their initial proposal until they were able to go ahead with it. "The Gates" was opened to the public on February 12 and is scheduled to run through February 27. The reception of this art is mixed, which is not unusual for their projects.
Durham also has one [[Indian reserve]], [[Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Ontario|Mississaugas of Scugog Island]]
[[Annie Leibowitz]] made a witty portrait of Christo completely wrapped and bundled, much like his own artwork.
==See alsoExternal Link ==
*[http://www.region.durham.on.ca Region of Durham] The Region of Durham.
*[[Land art]]
*[http://www.durhamtourism.ca DurhamTourism.ca] Tourism guide to the region.
*[[Site-Specific]]
*[http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycledurhamregion/ Freecycle Durham Region] Home page of the Durham Region chapter of the worldwide [http://www.freecycle.org Freecycle Network]
===His works===
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*[[The Gates]]
*[[Wrapped Reichstag]]
[[Category:Census divisions of Ontario]]
==External links==
[[pt:Municipalidade Regional de Durham]]
* [http://christojeanneclaude.net/ Official site]
* [http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/artistInfo/artist/659 artfacts.net entry, including exhibition information]
* [http://nycgates.blogspot.com/ The Gates @ Central Park] Community blogging project about Christo's February 2005 NYC art installation.
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