Man Spray-Paints on Whitney Museum Wall: Police

A vandal has marred the walls of New York City's Whitney Museum of American Art for a second time in two months as it prepares to move, authorities said.

According to police, Christopher Johnson spray-painted graffiti on a blank wall at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. It happened during a 36-hour marathon public farewell to the Whitney's current building and to a Jeff Koons exhibition.

Johnson was arrested on criminal mischief and other charges. The 33-year-old is awaiting arraignment. It's unclear whether he has a lawyer, and no telephone number for him can immediately be found.

A museum spokeswoman says no art was damaged. The wall has been repainted.

In August, another man splashed a red substance on another wall in the Koons exhibit. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

The museum will move from its Madison Avenue location to a building downtown next year.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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