to vehicles, they traveled with a police escort in their Maybach sedan. Christo then left the car and walked to several vantage points, capturing last minute photographs with a professional assistant. After the exhibition closed on February 27, the gates and bases were removed. The materials were industrially recycled, partially as scrap metal. A 2007 documentary film's synopsis by the video's promoters, Kino Lorber, contend this artwork "brought over 4 million visitors from around the world to Central Park." Albert Maysles's HBO movie The Gates, about the installation, aired February 26, 2008, won a Peabody Award that same year. The science fiction movie Marjorie Prime features a fragmented memory from the female lead, Marjorie, about her experience of sitting on a park bench during this installation. Inspirations The Gates alludes to the tradition of Japanese torii gates, traditionally constructed at the entrance to Shinto shrines. Thousands of vermilion-colored torii line the paths of the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan. Successful Japanese businessmen traditionally purchased a gate in gratitude to Inari, the god of worldly prosperity. Gallery References Notes Other sources Stephen Colbert describes The Gates Cave Paintings and Christo's Gates: Art in Individual Minds and Public Places Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates: Central Park, New York City, 1979–2005, : for pictures of the manufacturing process, early meetings with city officials, pictures of the completed project, design drawings, etc. Christo and Jeanne-Claude, : for pictures and commentary about earlier projects. External links The Gates on the Christo and Jeanne Claude website 8-minute film for download: A Walk Through the Gates The Gates Photo Gallery In Pictures: The Gates – Extrageographic Magazine The Gates, Film by Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Antonio Ferrera, Matthew Prinzing, 2007, 87 min 2005 sculptures Central Park History of Manhattan Installation art works Public art in New York City Vandalized works of art in New York City Works by Christo and Jeanne-Claude