By Bonnie Rosenstock
Artist Wayne Coe was spotted on Third Ave. between 12th and 13th Sts. one day early last month creating his site-specific sand painting on this East Village sidewalk. Coe’s Manhattan Sand Painting Project takes him all over the city, leaving beautiful, handcrafted, evanescent artwork that celebrates the era of performance porn.
He chose this spot because of its proximity to the late X-rated peep show and pickup porn palace Jewel Theater, which closed some years ago.
“My art pays homage to local community, gays and fine artists,” said Coe, who is transplanted from Los Angeles, where he says there is no sense of community.
“The fact that it is temporary makes it very powerful,” he said of his sidewalk art. The black-sand “Marlboro Man at the Jewel” was soon washed away by the wind and rain.
