Central Park is getting prepped for ‘The Gates’

Under bright, sunny skies on a warm day, hundreds of workers Monday began the weeklong process of erecting thousands of poles in New York’s Central Park for “The Gates,” the large-scale public work of art by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

“The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979-2005,” a temporary work, opens Saturday and will consist of 7,500, 16-foot-high gates along 23 miles of footpaths. Free-hanging, saffron-colored fabric panels will be unfurled from each gate and dangle 7 feet above the ground. The installation will be in place until Feb. 27.

About 70 eight-person teams began working Monday to attach the vinyl poles to steel bases to form the frame-like gates. Workers are being paid slightly more than minimum wage.

“It’s not for the money. It’s an exciting project to work on,” said artist Joseph Giannasio, one of the workers. Another, Boo Poulin, a jeweler, said, “It’s an incredible opportunity to be a part of something that’s a really important piece of art.”