ABOVE: Queen West uses art to stop graffiti. Jackson Proskow reports.
TORONTO – Toronto’s Queen Street West area is about to get an anti-graffiti facelift.
Councillor Mike Layton and members of the West Queen West Business Improvement Area launched a new initiative to tackle the problem of graffiti in the neighbourhood by installing art pieces on planters.
The West Queen West B.I.A. estimates it spends around $30,000 per year to clean up graffiti on walls in the area.
The community has partnered with Masters Academy of Decorative Arts and Street Art Showcase to create a public art exhibit entitled ‘Streetscape Art Gallery’.
The goal of the project is to “encourage more art while reducing vandalism.”
The art pieces will also use patented technology that makes printed art look as if it were painted on with a unique protective coating, which applied, will allow vandalism to be wiped clean.
On each image there is a QR code that will allow people to scan the piece of work to get information on the art and artist.
“This is about giving opportunity to all types of artists including those who are not street artists or muralists with the opportunity to show their work in public spaces to as many people as possible free of any fees,” said Stefanos Lialias, Executive Director, Street Art Showcase in a media release.
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