I had a chance to walk 28 May 2011 at corner of Bathurst and Queen.
I saw graffiti on walls of some buildings and I decided to make some pictures.
I was going that direction:
When I was making next picture, old guy told me "It is sad, but current Toronto mayor wants remove all these pictures from Toronto streets".
I never liked politic, but it bacame interesting case for me. I started look for information in internet and here is what I found:
Here is a link on wikipedia about all mayors of Toronto.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Toronto
In 2005, then-mayor David Miller signed an anti-graffiti bylaw that makes a distinction between graffiti (illegal) and art murals (legal).
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_485.pdf
http://www.toronto.ca/graffiti/
What’s graffiti?: According to the city, graffiti is “one or more letters, symbols, figures, etching, scratches, inscriptions, stains or other markings that disfigure or deface a structure or thing … [Graffiti] does not include an art mural.”
What’s an art mural?: An art mural is “a mural for a designated surface and location that has been deliberately implemented for the purpose of beautifying the specific location.”
Hotspots: The Scarborough RT line (near Lawrence) and the Keele Wall along the Bloor-Danforth subway line, from Dundas West station to Keele station. (The work starts behind the Midas at Indian Grove Road, and is best viewed from a subway car.) You can also check out the laneway and parking lot behind Exclusive Paints at College and Spadina, or take a stroll through Kensington Market
In 2010, Rob Ford became 64th mayor of Toronto.
Here is what Rob Ford said about graffiti: "It’s just out of control, nobody likes it, it doesn’t help our city,” Ford told the National Post. He put Cesar Palacio, the new head of the city’s municipal licensing and standards division, in charge of eradicating all downtown graffiti within the next six months. They’re targeting bridges, main streets, hockey rinks, community centres and utilities.
Here is list of links to different sources about what was going on since then:
- During the 2010 Toronto mayoral campaign last year, Rob Ford pledged that he would clean the city streets, including graffiti that has plagued Toronto.
- Feb 7, 2011 - Toronto mayor pushing graffiti-free city
- April 7, 2011 - Mayor Ford declares war on graffiti
- April 8, 2011 - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Buffs Graffiti
- April 29 - Message to "Rob Ford" at northwest corner of Queen and Ossington
- March 4 - another article
- March 13, 2011 - The Toronto graffiti writers Jaro and Paces leave a message to the Toronto mayor.
- May 12, 2011 - Graffiti community fuming over crackdown
By other words - it is war going on between graffiti artists and Toronto mayor. The question is "What is next?".
P.S.
I made following video based on pictures from that street and going share all images in good quality at flickr:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz5Wnp6bYjU
Fuck Rob Ford and his stupid brother too! Check out http://fuckrobford.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly sure that you're right! Moreover, I tried to search this topic online, and here it is what I was able to find - http://bigessaywriter.com/blog/graffiti-wall-art-or-act-of-vandalism! Take a moment to read that entry!
ReplyDelete