b'scale morning glories and vines with an other- Meer looked like a garbage dump, along with wise realistic view of the landscape. its derelict and graffiti-covered boathouse. All throughout the park were broken paths, lights, Andlikethepark,Janetkeepsgrowingandandfountains.Nothingworked.NewYork changing, taking visual risks that are, if possible,City was in a fiscal crisis, and the budget for even more mystical and dreamlike. Her most re- parks was the first to be slashed.cent workmy personal favoritedepicts the tango dancers that congregate every SaturdayIn1980,asmall,dedicatedgroupofcitizens night around the Shakespeare statue on the Mall.founded the Central Park Conservancy to begin Projected onto a painting of that very spot is athe restoration of this 843-acre masterpiece of video Janet created of the actual dancers, so thatlandscape architecture. Little by little, through painting and video become one. To envision thethe generosity of New Yorkers, the not-for-prof-concept is one thing, but to execute it, to makeit Central Park Conservancy began to transform her vision a reality, called for a real commitmentthepark,acre-by-acre,fromthenationaldis-to learn an entirely new medium. And just as wegrace it had become into the national treasure it say the park is never finished, Janet thinks of herwas created to be over a century before. And as paintings as works in progress, a symbol of herit was restored, the confidence of the communi-dedication to change and growth. For that, andty was restored, and people began coming back more, she is an inspiration to me. to it in record numbers.Bythe1960s,thepark,itselfanimportantIn 1991, I was delighted to be asked to become work of American art, was a total disaster, andthe third chairman of the Central Park Conser-far from the beautiful landscapes in Janets art- vancy.Ivebeeninvolvedinmanydifferent works. The lush green Sheep Meadow was de- philanthropies over the course of my life, and void of even one blade of grass. The HarlemIveneverhadasmuchfun,enjoyment,and ABOVE: Sketches of people in the Sheep Meadow.'