Sun coverage: Golden fences in Mount Vernon Place

Park will no longer be fenced in

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.

Provocation goes beyond the park and into city offices

With another five days to go before its scheduled dismantling, the golden chain-link fence that is serving as the controversial opening phase of a two-month-long art exhibit in Mount Vernon Place survived the weekend - remaining up, open and a source of disagreement.

Sun Profile

Artist's trial by ire

Lee B. Freeman's brief career has been fraught with peril. As a teenage graffiti artist in New York City, he survived scrapes with the law and pummeling from "concerned citizens," as he politely calls his assailants. In high school and now in college, at the Maryland Institute College of Art, he has weathered criticism from classmates and others. Harsh feedback in the name of art is OK with him.

Access to park no longer on the fence

With help from the city Department of Recreation and Parks, the art student whose golden fence sealed off Mount Vernon Place from the public reopened all four sections of the park yesterday after reinforcing the structure.

Trying to mend fences in Mount Vernon

The chain-link fences surrounding Mount Vernon Place were opened briefly yesterday by the art student who had, with the city's approval, cut off public access to the popular downtown park with his gold spray-painted creation.

Art puts park under lock, key

When she planted crocus bulbs in Mount Vernon Place, Amanda Johnson was looking forward to seeing them bloom in spring - "just a few little flowers to give me hope every morning as I walk to work," she said.

Art finds way to Mount Vernon Place

The four squares of Mount Vernon Place sat eerily empty yesterday, cordoned off by a gold-painted chain-link fence.