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.
Click here to go to my photos on Flickr -a wide selection that includes local graffiti, mural projects, arts events, and our local House of Paint hip-hop festival. If you have an event you'd like me to cover, drop me a line.
If you are interested in commissioning a mural for your property by local graffiti artists - not tags but creative aerosol art - please contact me via my email ravensview at gmail dot com . Or you can contact the Keepsix Artist Collective , we have coordinated several local murals so far, for the pool at Jack Purcell Community Centre, Photolux Studios, Hillary's Cleaners, and Genest pool.
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.
I have worked for several years in this area of graffiti mural promotion. From my initial photography of back alley art I developed more interests and links into the culture of Hip-Hop, and now volunteer in several youth-related areas. I've developing contacts and some "best practices", and would be glad to act as liaison to help make your mural a success. I've worked with Community CAVE, a group based in Toronto that does these community transformations. I have also 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'm also associated with the youth group Sketch here in Orleans. Our mission in Sketch is to enable and empower local youth to create "somewhere to go, something to do".
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 click here.
For links to some positive articles on graffiti, murals, and legal walls click here .
I've added a "how-to" guide here for those interested in running a community transformation event. I also have a slide presentation I can give to your group, on graffiti terms, styles, and murals, that is illustrated with many photos from my files.
For my graffiti photos, if it's your art, or you know whose it is - please let me know and I'll gladly add the credit.
I'm also on Facebook, to connect with some of the groups I work with, and update them on related graffiti news and opportunities. I'm admin for an Ottawa Graffiti group there too.

