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Graffiti For Humanity In Toronto

The eternal question surrounding graffiti is whether you consider it art or vandalism, and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is coming down on the side of art. ROM recently opened Housepaint, Phase 2: Shelter, the first exhibition on the subject of street art in a major Canadian museum. The exhibit features 10 canvas houses of different sizes painted by 10 of Canada’s leading street artists. The pieces are meant to draw attention to the social problems of poverty and homelessness in Canada and around the world.

One of the featured artists, Patrick Thompson, aka Evoke, is a hometown boy who has been part of the Canadian street art scene for more than 15 years. His work has been seen throughout Toronto and Ottawa, where he has also been active in the community. Thompson has become a heavyweight in the graffiti world for the distinctive "freestyle" tags he leaves on city streets and freight trains. He recently told the Town Crier he is glad his chosen profession has been debated with such vigor:

I don’t think graffiti art should get a good rap, it’s good to talk about things ... agitate people in a way most things don’t agitate them.

The houses will be on display at ROM until Sunday, July 5, when they will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.

Related Stories:
· Royal Ontario Museum [Official Site]
· Beautiful Art, or Wanton Destruction? [Town Crier]
· The Tao of Thompson [Ottawa XPress]

[Photo: Town Crier]