CHRISTO ANNOUNCES NEW PROJECT 

(Reuters) World famous artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude have today announced a new project that is slated to be begin immediately.   Responding to U.S. Homeland Defense Secretary Ridge's call for artists to rally the cause through anti-terrorist art, Christo has received permission to wrap the White House in Washington D.C., using duct tape and plastic  sheeting. Much like the artist's 1995 project "Wrapped
Reichstag" in Berlin,  "Wrapped White House" will, according to the artists' plan, seal the building and those inside.  Of the project the artists said, "We are very excited to use our art making methods in the international fight against terrorists.  By wrapping the White House we hope to help keep terrorism under wraps,  so to speak."  Unlike "Wrapped Reichstag" which was a temporary project,  "Wrapped White House" will be the artists' first permanent work of public art.100,000 square meters (1,076,000 square feet) of clear high-strength polypropylene plastic, and 15,600 meters (51,181 feet) of silver duct tape, 13.2 cm (4 inch) wide, will be used for the wrapping of the White House. The work will be completed in as little as one week.  The artist's have contacted other artists across the U.S. who are now in-route to  Washington D.C. in order to finish this work in record time.  Materials have been provided without charge by the German Government.  Recalling the  "Wrapped Reichstag," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stated, "Wrapping the  symbol of German Democracy was a defining moment for the new Germany.   Wrapping the White House will likewise be a defining moment as democracy is  restored in
America."

[Received by e-mail on March 22, 2003.  Author unknown.]

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