Actually, I am going to take issue with this, Norm. IMHO, Christo is a legitimate artist, running a profitable business and not operating off government grants. He regards the process of organizing and operating the project as an essential element of the art. In that regard, he has integrity whether you agree with his politics or appreciate the work, or not.
The Running Fence in Sonoma County, California was a marvelous piece, and he pulled it off with class. He met with everybody along the route and worked out any issues with (almost) all of them. He treated farmer and worker alike with respect and a good time was had by all (except the idiot environmentalists who didn't want it to end in the water off the coast, citing the threat of "irreparable damage to tidepools" (he did it anyway after hiring a biologist to check it out; the tidepools are fine)).
Thanks for your comments.
I hear what you are saying re: he turns a profit and doesn't rely on the public tit to do his thing along with rather then to nature. I also agree, he has to be an excellent negotiator in order to get the approvals for his creations.