The Rothko Chapel — an inclusive space for prayer, meditation and introspection located near the Menil Collection in Montrose — was the target of what executive director David Leslie describes as a "hate incident" early Friday morning.

According to Leslie, white paint was spilled near the Chapel's entrance and in the reflection pool surrounding the Barnett Newman sculpture, "The Broken Obelisk," which is dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. Leslie also describes "handbills" strewn around the grounds and pool that read, "It's okay to be white." Latest Houston & Texas News Now Playing: 7 day Houston forecast

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"We have no idea who did it," he said. "We have no idea about the motivation."

Menil Collection security discovered the paint and handbills around 5:30 a.m., Leslie said. The Chapel turned in the handbills and filed a report with the Houston Police Department. An investigation is ongoing. [How Houston Methodist nurses go above and beyond] SPONSORED CONTENT How Houston Methodist nurses go above and beyond By Houston Methodist

Leslie was quick to put the incident in larger context, stressing that it happened just hours before the school shooting at Santa Fe High School killed 10 people and wounded 13 others.

It was also not the first time the Chapel had been "subject to some type of vandalism," he said. "What happened is minor in the scope of things."

The Chapel closed temporarily Friday as staff and a team of supporters removed the "vandalism" and cleaned up the site. The Menil Conservation department explained in a statement that the paint was cleaned without the pool having to be drained. It appears that neither "The Broken Obelisk" nor the building sustained permanent damage.

Later that day, Leslie said, tables were set up outside the Chapel, and staff gathered on the plaza to "tell the story" to visitors that "we did have some vandalism."