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Over The River: When Art and Law make Landfall

March 11, 2025

Join us for a discussion exploring the intersection of art, law, and the environment through the lens of ROAR v. Bureau of Land Management. This session examines the legal battles, environmental considerations, and artistic ambitions surrounding Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s “Over the River” Project. Jonathan Henery (Manager, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Studios) will open the session with a detailed account of how Christo envisioned Over the River, why the site was selected, and the artistic and environmental vision behind the project. Bob Randall (Partner, Kaplan Karsch LLP) will provide insights into the federal permitting process, challenges faced, and the legal framework that laid the groundwork for the case. Michael Harris (Former Professor, University of Denver, attorney for ROAR) will discuss the plaintiff’s side of the case, including how he incorporated law students into his work, the environmental laws under which the complaint was filed, and his perspective on the legal and ecological stakes. Catherine M. van Heuven (Attorney for Christo) will explore the challenges of litigating in federal and state courts and balancing artistic vision with environmental and legal obligations.

This session examines the Over the River case’s far-reaching outcomes and impacts, including its role in shaping environmental art practices and legal precedents in art and environmental law.