Cait Munro
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The New York Times reports that paintings and sculptures, along with a band shell and administrative offices, have been vandalized with obscene messages in spray paint at the Metropolitan Opera.
“At some point this morning, some administrative offices at the Metropolitan Opera house were vandalized with spray paint,” a spokesperson for the Met said in a statement. “There was little or no permanent damage. The New York City Police Department is investigating. We have no further comment at this time.”
The vandalism was discovered around 8 a.m on Wednesday by a maintenance worker. According to police, there was no sign of a break-in, leading to speculation that the crime could be tied to an ongoing labor dispute at the opera house. However, union leaders and others who have seen the graffiti have expressed doubts about the connection.
“I don’t see it being related to the labor dispute…nobody’s that crazy,” said Alan S. Gordon, the executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists, one of 15 unions that is negotiating a new contract at the Met.
No specifics regarding which artworks were compromised have been released, however, the New York Daily News reports that one of the paintings is worth $50,000.
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