Graffiti is like a dandelion - to some it's a flower to be appreciated and encouraged, to others it's a weed to be stomped out and eradicated.
I'm a photographer, trombonist, grandfather, writer, and promoter of graffiti as an art form and community change agent.
My photos on Flickr, as Ravensview Images, are here, I'm in the Ottawa New Horizons Band, I'm on Facebook and Twitter, blog here, contribute to some newsletters, and this past November completed my second draft novel as part of NaNoWriMo. I'm retired, and busier than ever, live now in the Parkdale area - and love it!
Some of my recent photo sets are London Ontario graffiti, a local Building Trades Ball Tournament, music at my local O'Connell's pub, an Obey mural downtown, and of course last year's House of Paint. I've been an active photographer for a number of years, covering local graffiti, mural projects, sports, travels, models, arts events, even my local pub. I've also covered live music events such as Ottawa's Bluesfest and the Folk Festival.
From my initial photography of back alley art I developed more interests and links into the culture of Hip-Hop, and have volunteered in several youth-related areas. I have worked with Const. Scott Mills of Toronto Crimestoppers, he uses this same approach as a way to reach youth and show them they can be valued members of the community. Check out his work at Legalgraffitiart on YouTube. I wrote for him a "how-to" guide on neighbourhood transformations, that went into the Ontario School Resource manual, used by many police forces as reference.
I've also kept developing my photography skills - and of course buying more equipment. I do have many old pics to scan in still, but also have a lot (as in thousands) of photos up on Flickr.
I was part of the Ottawa Urban Arts collective, a group of local youth, with skills as graffiti and urban artists. They did commercial and residential mural projects, worked with school or community groups, and mentored other artists and "youth at risk". Murals from local artists have included the pool at Jack Purcell Community Centre, Photolux Studios, Hillary's Cleaners, a ravine wall in Orleans, Genest pool, Hino's restaurant, and the buildings behind Boushey's Market on Elgin. One initiative was several projects done in conjunction with Ottawa's Paint It Up! program andsome community and youth groups. Some of these included an art program to help youth identify their issues and concerns, and then express them through images in a workshop, using various media. The ideas are then incorporated into an outdoor mural, painted mainly by select artists. The projects included Operation Come Home (wall at Ottawa Mission), Lowertown Community Resource Centre (wall at Patro Community Centre), Youth Services Bureau (wall at Nanny Goat Community Garden), the Granite Curling Club (on Scott) and the Odawa Native Friendship Centre - more info is here in my blog.
Unwanted tagging has become an expensive problem in many cities, including here in Ottawa. While some areas focus on increased patrols and immediate eradication as a quick solution, graffiti murals have been shown in many cases to be a more effective choice - cheaper in the long run, more inclusive of youth and other community members, and with many other benefits. These murals have been shown to not just be a way prevent illegal painting, but to be tool that links together local graffiti artists, business owners, and residents in a transformed community. Transformed into a cleaner and more socially inter-connected neighbourhood, more attractive to shoppers and tourists, and often with property values improved. And of course, with tagged walls replaced by mural art. This mural design can range from a colourful maze of interconnected letters to scenes and cartoon characters, the mix depends mainly on the customer.
For previous posts on various mural/youth projects, on Ottawa graffiti bylaws, and comments from various supporters- look via my blog's Graffiti category on the left, or go to this list of them. For links to positive articles on graffiti, murals, and legal walls, click on this other page. Ottawa also has more information on murals, and their Paint It Up! program here.
Finally - if you see a photo online you'd like a copy of, drop me a line. If it's one of your graffiti art, let me know so that I can add at least add a credit for you.
