Thursday, 13 May 2010 15:44

No-one has yet been able to identify who coined the concept that a picture is worth a thousand words. But regardless of whom it was or the circumstances under which it was coined, its potential application to graffiti was certainly not part of the notion`s original formulation. The evolution and practice of graffiti around the world has developed alongside an extensive list of conflicting assumptions about how it is mere vandalism.

Street art is a polarizing phenomenon. On one hand there are those like American artist Elura Emerald, who insist that "artists who paint on the street are merely expressing themselves, not hurting anyone, and should not be punished, but appreciated and celebrated". There is a great mural which stands as colourful testimony of transformation in Liberty Village, thank you Paul.  Then there are those like Angie Antoniou of Toronto`s traffic services department who, commented on the activities of the Toronto Maple Leafs simply promoting team spirit with their Spirit is everything slogan on the sidewalks of Bay Street as "There's no third-party advertising allowed on public sidewalks".  The confusion now runs deeper from those who spray to those who remove the paint. Is it possible to convince citizens that graffiti is another form of art, rather than vandilism?
A few weeks ago the might of city by-law delivered its verdict in Liberty Village, where colourful InLibertyVillage.com logos were spray painted with temporary biodegradable marking paint on the sidewalks to simply promote community spirit were asked to be removed or else.... [According to by law 693, “no person shall erect or use any third-party signs on any of the lands within 400 metres of any highway.”] 

While our ads were asked (amoung other signs) to be removed, the city has yet to remove other street paint/art that exists all over the sidewalks of Liberty Village.   BTW, James Koolo (Self-proclaimed: Crisply acidic, slightly nutty runner in Toronto) was the only person in Liberty Village who asked us to remove our signs. Which of course we did ... for now, because we wanted to make our runner friend happy and of course not upset city workers.

As opposed to advertising, Graffiti does not emotionally blackmail you, it does not make you rush out and buy things — except maybe high-strength cleaning products. Especially the ones the city has yet to use on the "other" works of art/graffiti that still lie on Liberty Village sidewalks.

Laurice Gomes