Roadside Reviews

“It reminds me of a picture starting to be painted.”

--James Ditto, 16, of Reseda, as the umbrellas began to pop open.

“We Japanese like the cherry blossoms because they last such a short time. The feeling here is very Japanese because this will last just a short time also.”

--Tsuneo Osawa, correspondent for Tokyo Broadcasting System.

“It was unreal. There really is a God . . . This guy has some real heavy insight into the future. I want to shimmy to the top and play like a chimpanzee.”

--Fred Papciak, 37, an artist from Santa Monica, as he pointed at an umbrella.

“It’s stupid--it’s not raining.”

--Man drinking a beer in the Gorman Plaza Bar.

“Feed the hungry and stop wasting your money.”

--Jeff Volk, 29, a truck driver from Dublin, Calif., offering advice to Christo.

“It’s kind of like Woodstock without the drugs. Like a visual Woodstock. It has the same feeling of togetherness.”

--Steve Kassel, 35, psychotherapist from Santa Clarita and project crew member.