The grassroots group opposing artist Christo’s plan to suspend shimmering fabric over the Arkansas River will appeal a recent federal court ruling supporting the Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the project.
Rags Over the Arkansas River, or ROAR, on Monday filed a notice in U.S. District Court in Denver that it would appeal the federal court’s Jan. 8 judgment that the BLM’s approval of the sweeping art project did not violate the National Environmental Policy Act.
The internationally renowned Christo has spent more than 19 years on his Over The River plan to drape fabric panels over 5.9 miles of the Arkansas River between Salida and Cañon City. The project would take more than two years to erect and would be on display for two weeks. The artist has not announced any dates for the exhibition, saying he wants to wait for a final Colorado Court of Appeals decision.
“This notice of intent to appeal is nothing more than another attempt to delay the installation of this two-week temporary work of art,” Over The River said in a statement. “Christo will determine next steps after he has had the opportunity to review the appeal brief when it is filed. And, after the Colorado State Court of Appeals has ruled on the outstanding challenge against Colorado State Parks.”
Opponents of the project, including ROAR, have seen three of their legal challenges dismissed by federal and state courts. The group argues that the project is wrong for public land and could impact wildlife in Bighorn Sheep Canyon. ROAR said the project’s installation would disrupt traffic on U.S. Highway 50, a vital corridor for several thousand residents of the rural region.
“ROAR will continue to work to prevent the OTR project from ever being constructed in Bighorn Sheep Canyon and along the Arkansas River,” reads a statement from the group announcing Monday’s appeal filing.
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374, jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasonblevins
