Artists' sculpture to 'wrap' US park

The artists are known for "wrapping" huge structures like the Reichstag

Artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude have finally won permission to weave a fluttering orange sculpture around 23 miles (37 km) of New York's Central Park.

The married artists have devised an environmentally friendly version of their work, following objections about the damage it could cause to the park.

The exhibit, entitled The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979-2005, will be erected in February 2005 and stand for two weeks, costing the artists $3m (£1.8m) to use the park.

The artists have made a name for themselves with their giant temporary outdoor works, particularly "wrappings".

Christo met his wife in Paris in 1958

In 1995, they wrapped Berlin's Reichstag in one million square feet (100,000 square metres) of polypropylene fabric.

They have also wrapped the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art in a tarpaulin.

The Central Park project will be made of 7,500 16-foot-high miniature awnings of bright orange fabric running one after the other around the park's footpaths.

New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: "I predict, whether they love this temporary work of art or not, New Yorkers will certainly make The Gates a very popular topic of conversation."

Environmentalists originally objected to the thousands of post holes to be dug in the park to secure the tall upright structures.

Jeanne-Claude and her husband will pay for the sculpture

The artists now intend to use recyclable vinyl poles secured by narrow steel base weights on the paved surfaces of the paths.

Walkers will be able to pass under and through the work, like a tunnel.

Most of the pieces will be made in local workshops and factories.

The installation is expected to give temporary work to thousands of New York City residents.