ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Museum of Sonoma County Marks 50 Years Since Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence

exhibition · 2026-04-21

The Museum of Sonoma County is set to host a special exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the renowned artwork Running Fence by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Scheduled from June 27 to November 8, 2026, this display will highlight the work's remarkable 25-mile stretch through Sonoma and Marin counties, originally completed in 1976. The exhibition will feature original blueprints, archival materials, and photographs from the project, which cost $2.25 million at the time. A lone steel pole stands in Valley Ford, near a time capsule intended to be opened in 2076.

Key facts

  • Running Fence was installed for two weeks in fall 1976.
  • The project required 240,000 square yards of woven nylon fabric.
  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude spent $2.25 million on the project.
  • They negotiated with 60 landowners and attended 18 public hearings.
  • The exhibition runs from June 27 to November 8, 2026.
  • A steel pole from the installation remains in Valley Ford.
  • A time capsule filled by community members will be opened in 2076.
  • The project defied the California Coastal Commission by descending into Bodega Bay.

Entities

Artists

  • Christo
  • Jeanne-Claude
  • Vladimir Yavachev
  • Wolfgang Volz

Institutions

  • Museum of Sonoma County
  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
  • California Coastal Commission
  • Artnet News

Locations

  • Sonoma County
  • Marin County
  • California
  • Northern California
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Bodega Bay
  • Valley Ford
  • Santa Rosa
  • Colorado
  • New York
  • Germany
  • Berlin

Sources