Authentic Christo

When you saw the new AT&T commercial with the fabric-draped buildings, did you immediately think of the art of Christo and his wife Jean-Claude? So did a lot of people - including Christo. That's why the American artist's lawyer demanded the disclaimer that you now see at the end of the ad: "The artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude have no direct or indirect affiliation or involvement with AT&T." The ad began airing just a week after a memorial service for Jean-Claude (1935-2009), who died in November of a brain aneurysm. Christo and Jean-Claude (2nd image) always flew on separate planes so that the survivor could carry on their work in the event of a fatal crash. Not only has Christo, 75, vowed to carry on their environmental artworks, he has now had to defend them against what some have called a blatant rip-off by the ad agency BBDO Worldwide. It is easy to see why when you look back over their decades of work - "The Gates," Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 (1st image), "The Pont Neuf Wrapped," Paris, 1975-1985 (3rd image), "Wrapped Walk Ways," Jacob Loose Park, Kansas City, Missouri, 1977-1978 (4th image), and "Valley Curtain," Rifle, Colorado, 1970-1972 (5th image) - and at their work in progress. Not only did they swathe structures in fabric, but that fabric was often saffron in color.