Homeland security art

For one person, feeling secure means having a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste, some extra cash and clean underwear. For another, it’s Shakespeare and bright red lipstick. Yet another needs strawberry frosted Pop-Tarts and a bottle of Coca-Cola.

From amusing to thought-provoking to somewhat worrisome, a new exhibit across the street from the World Trade Center site in New York focuses on the things we care about, what makes us feel safe. “Homeland Security Garden” opened Monday at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center.

The exhibition features 200 Plexiglas boxes. The artist, Chang-Jin Lee, created an artwork in each box, based on items donated by people who participated in her workshops.

“This project is about hope, and it’s about moving forward, and it’s about exploring what we care about and preserving the things that we value,” she said.