Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
He was a poor refugee from Eastern Europe and she was the wealthy stepdaughter of a French general, but upon meeting, Christo (1935--2020) and Jeanne-Claude (1935--2009) were each immediately drawn to the other's rebellious spirit. They soon became artistic partners, engaged in a constant conversation with each other and the world about the meaning of their art. About their material-wrapped objects, monuments, and landscapes: "People loved it or hated it. They got it or didn't. For Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the arguments only added to the art," Neri writes. Haidle's vivacious, stylized mixed-media illustrations underscore a sense of the duo's energy, inquisitiveness, and determination; the visuals, which portray background characters with varying skin tones, culminate with expansive spreads depicting the couple's remarkable, ephemeral outdoor work. It's a wonderful tribute to coupledom, collaboration, and creativity that offers conceptual thoughts about art: "When people had only two weeks to experience it, it became even more special. Was it really ever there, or was it all a dream?" A brief biography and author's note conclude. Ages 6--9. (Mar.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
In his authorâe(tm)s note, Neri (When Paul Met Artie, rev. 3/18) mentions that he met Christo and Jeanne-Claude briefly in the early 2000s and was able to interview Christo before the artistâe(tm)s 2020 death. This enlightening picture-book biography is infused with the authorâe(tm)s respect for the unorthodox couple and their artistic legacy. The book focuses on the husband and wifeâe(tm)s symbiotic creative partnership. As Neri tells it, when Jeanne-Claude first encounters Christoâe(tm)s small-scale (at the time) wrapped sculptures, her questions could be our own: âeoeWhy are you wrapping these silly objects in cloth and rope?âe As she comes to understand Christoâe(tm)s vision and mission, readers do too. The dialogue-heavy text itself is a creative risk that pays off. Neri explains that, while some dialogue is from quotations, âeoeas a narrative device, Iâe(tm)ve put their ideas into the context of a conversation to illustrate their back-and-forth...and highlight the concepts they played with.âe Haidleâe(tm)s (Before They Were Artists) energetic mixed-media illustrations in an understated earth-tone palette help convey the interactive spirit of the text and reflect artâe(tm)s relationship with the natural world. Read alongside Boxerâe(tm)s Covered in Color: Christo & Jeanne-Claudeâe(tm)s Fabrics of Freedom (rev. 11/22); each book brings a different approach to its subjects. A bibliography and âeoefun factsâe about the artists are appended. (Source notes for the quotations are listed on the authorâe(tm)s website.) Kitty FlynnMarch/April 2023 p.98 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A glimpse into the passion to create as manifested in the marriage of two 20th-century dynamos. The protagonists, both White, are introduced as young adults, their likenesses framed on the wall. Christo is "a poor refugee…whose father once ran a fabric factory," while Jeanne-Claude is "the rich stepdaughter of a French general." They meet when Christo arrives at Jeanne-Claude's parents' home to paint their portraits. Witty repartee turns into genuine interest; she comprehends the meaning of the wrapped objects in his apartment: "It's revealing--while concealing." Thus begins a love affair with each other and with implementing large-scale projects to help people see. Many installations are depicted, but Neri focuses more on the reasons for temporarily wrapping buildings, coastlines, islands--art as an experience to live on in memory, as a "scream of freedom," or, as a young visitor to the fabric-ensconced L'Arc de Triomphe (2021) declares, "Because when you wrap something, it's a gift." An author's note explains the combination of actual and invented dialogue. The palette is fairly muted, with the figures often portrayed in silhouettes or viewed from the back--a choice pairing well with the topic of coverings. This title complements Elisa Boxer's Covered in Color (2022), illustrated by Susanna Chapman, which provides more background about Christo as well as photographs. Background characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Thoughtful design and substantive content speak volumes about how to appreciate modern art--and its creators. (fun facts, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
