LentSpace facts for kids
LentSpace is a special outdoor area for art and sculptures. It is located in Hudson Square, a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The space opened in September 2009. It is surrounded by several streets: Varick Street to the west, Canal Street and Albert Capsouto Park to the south, Grand Street to the north, and Sullivan Street and Duarte Square to the east.
How LentSpace Started
The land where LentSpace is located was given to Trinity Church by Queen Anne way back in 1705. Before the park opened in 2009, the church's building company tore down some old buildings that were on the site.
The land still belongs to Trinity Church. They plan to build on it someday. But for a few years, the church made a deal with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). This deal allowed LMCC to use the empty land for about three years.
LMCC raised about $1 million to turn the empty lot into a place to show art in the neighborhood. A design company called Interboro Partners from Brooklyn created the look of the space. They used simple materials like gravel and plywood. This showed that the park was only going to be there for a short time. The park has a fence around it. The fence on the east side is decorated with small, shiny aluminum disks. Inside, you can find plant boxes, benches, and straight paths.
Art and Events at LentSpace
The very first art show in LentSpace was called "Points and Lines." It featured seven art pieces by different artists, including Graham Hudson and Oscar Tuazon. These art pieces were about city design and building methods. They used materials like flagpoles, ladders, concrete, and steel.
Since then, LentSpace has been used for many different things. In 2010, it was even shown on an episode of Bravo's reality TV show, Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. In the summer of 2012, the space became a home for different food trucks. These trucks offered food, and there were also musical performances during the week.
A Protest at the Park
In late 2011, protesters from the Occupy movement briefly used LentSpace. This happened after they had to leave Zuccotti Park. Trinity Church had said no to the protesters using their land. On December 17, some protesters climbed over the fences around the park. Others squeezed underneath them. New York City Police Department officers arrested some of the protesters. This included a retired church leader named George Elden Packard.
