Art gallery vandalized amid flap over racy exhibit

[The Straight Story]

Art gallery vandalized amid flap over racy exhibit

NEW BEDFORD -- The art gallery embroiled in controversy over lusty artwork -- and whether a private citizen had the right to cover it from view — has been defaced with graffiti.

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"It looks ugly," said Villanueva, who read the purple graffiti as "You NB Can Handle Art" (although the first word might also be read as "Yes"). He said he hadn’t filed a police report on the matter.

Unsure how to interpret the message, Villanueva said that if it was intended as a show of support, "it could have been done a little better."

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Diane Arsenault, executive director of Downtown New Bedford Inc., said she taped up the fliers and cardboard soon after unsuccessfully trying to reach Villanueva as a temporary fix to prevent children from seeing the art on their way to and from a visit with Santa Claus next door. That event was part of Downtown New Bedford Inc.’s Holiday Stroll.

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