By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
SOHO — A temporary outdoor art exhibition that attracted spray-painting critics last year is back for a second time in SoHo, and organizers say they're not scared of a repeat graffiti performance.
The LentSpace art exhibition, unveiled Tuesday, is boldly returning to the scene where a vandal spray-painted the words "This is Not Art" onto one sculpture and tagged several others within a week of the exhibit's opening last September.
"That was a deliberate act by one individual," said Diego Segalini, vice president of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, which organized the exhibition. "We don't need to protect the area and we don't want to. We want people to come here to relax and not feel like they're being watched."
According to Segalini, the group has not bolstered its minimal fencing nor employed security guards to protect the artwork, which is on display daily from 7 a.m. until dusk.
He said the exhibit, which is located on a 37,000-square-foot vacant lot at Canal and Sullivan Streets, has been crime-free since the incident occurred. He said he believes it will stay that way.
This year's exhibit, called "Avenue of the Americas" consists of sculptures, installations and plant designs by KokoBo Plantscapes with architecture by Interboro Partners, who host a talk at the site on June 8.
Organizers say the exhibit celebrates public space, and that it would be a shame to lock it down because of one incident.
“It didn’t make sense to keep this area locked off from public use as it lies vacant,” said LentSpace curator Adam Kleinman. “This allows a temporary green space and art for the public to enjoy in the meantime.”
The land for the exhibition was loaned by Trinity Church on Wall Street, whose development company Trinity Real Estate demolished the existing buildings there. Trinity granted the public art exhibit a three year lease through 2011 while they ride out the tough economic climate.
Yoshiko Chuma & the School of Hard Knocks will hold a performance art piece in July and participating artist Carlos Motta discusses his artwork “America’s Possession and Dispossession” on July 15.
“This is a perfect spot for a lunch break,” said Chuanhao Lin, who goes to school nearby and was pleased to stumble upon the rare bit of green space in the area. “I can sit and relax with trees around me.”
“Avenue of the Americas” will be on display until Nov. 19.
