LONG ISLAND CITY — A vandal tossed a wrench through the front window of Flux Factory earlier this week, leaving the artists who use the space shivering behind a cardboard-covered window, they say.
The group is fundraising to help cover the cost of repairs, collecting donations on its website to replace the window's glass.
"This isn't something that we had budgeted for, so we really can't afford to do it unless we have the money," said Flux Factory spokeswoman Stephanie Griffin. "Any amount is helpful."
The window was broken Saturday morning around 11 a.m., when a woman picked up a wrench from a construction site next door to Flux Factory's red brick headquarters at 39-31 29th St. and threw it through their glass "for no clear reason," according to the group.
Police arrested a 30-year-old woman for the crime Wednesday on criminal mischief charges, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD.
Griffin said they've already received some donations to their window campaign. They're hoping to raise either $800 to replace the window with what they had previously, or $4,000 to upgrade to a more durable double-paned glass.
"We've been warily eyeing our drafty loft-style windows which could be updated to improve insulation and lower heat costs," the group said on its website. "If we can raise the extra money in the next week, artists for the next 5 years will be served through lower cost and better accommodations."
Flux Factory, which got its start in Williamsburg in 1993 but moved to Queens because of rising rents, has been based out of its current 3-story Long Island City location since 2009.
Last year, the group signed an extension on its lease to remain in the space through 2021.
