The saga of the golden fence -- the contentious artwork that blocked access to Mount Vernon Place in an attempt to make people see the historic park anew -- started coming to an early end this week after vandals removed bolts from several of its sections, making it unstable.
A team of Maryland Institute College of Art students, faculty and staff took down the fence surrounding the east and west quadrants of the park Thursday. They plan to remove the rest, as scheduled, today.
The opening act for a nine-work exhibition by MICA students, the fence went up March 17 and met with harsh criticism from perturbed parkgoers, dog walkers and a City Council member who objected to the exhibit blocking access to the park, a National Historic Landmark District.
Even after the artist, Lee B. Freeman, removed one section of fence from each of the park's four squares last week, allowing the public to get in and out, the troubles and condemnation -- one critic of the fence spat on him -- continued.
The fence was initially to remain around all four quadrants until today, then be taken down in conjunction with the official opening of the exhibit, Beyond the Compass, Beyond the Square.
MICA officials say the removal of the bolts, which they called an "act of vandalism," took place Wednesday night. On Thursday, faculty and students discovered bolts missing from the fence around one of the park's quadrants, and because of the fence's weakened condition decided to "deinstall" the fence around the east and west quadrants.
A MICA spokeswoman said a police report probably wasn't filed because the act, despite the hazard it created, "was a form of expression from the community."
Freeman said the rest of the fence will be taken down today and remain "stacked symmetrically" at the park through this weekend. It will be removed next week by the company from which Freeman rented it.
"Angry? No, I wasn't angry. I was curious," the 22-year-old art student said. "It was a pretty intense and well-conceived operation. I suspect a good few people were involved."
Freeman's piece, Framing Mount Vernon Place, faced numerous obstacles -- even after procuring all the necessary city approvals and permits.
First, it was delayed two weeks from its original start date, so that Mount Vernon Place could be used as a staging area for the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
