Art Tour: Toronto's "Graffiti Alley"

ART TOUR: Toronto’s “Graffiti Alley”

By BD Marie அughes

Originally submitted to TAMBOURINE Magazine www.TambourineMagazine.ca - February 12.2008

Even in the dead of winter, Toronto’s downtown “Graffiti Alley” remains an energetic riot of colour. If you’re rambling around downtown at any given time and want to see what it’s all about, a good starting point is Queen St. W. at Spadina. Walk about half a block south of Queen W. along Spadina and you’ll find the hidden masterpieces welcoming you in.

This is a concentrated area of wall to wall graf. You will find an array of styles, subjects, and “statements”.

Since 2002, Style in Progress, a non-profit organization that promotes urban culture by producing exhibits and events, has hosted the event (with owners’ permission, naturally). In October 2005, through SIP, Bell Canada commissioned the painting of 10 utility boxes. Community feedback was so positive that, in October 2006, Bell commissioned 40 more. That commission covered utility boxes in the Jane & Finch neighbourhoods, as well as those in Queen St. W. downtown. Alas, favour in all things artist waxes and wanes. SIP wasn’t able to secure financial backing in 2007 to host the event. On the positive side, the existing graf was not removed and remains as a tribute to the urban art scene.

Whether you feel this type of art exists at its best in an illegal form (“bombing” under the guise of dark) or in “legal” hosted events, you won’t be disappointed in a walking tour regardless of the time of year. As an aspiring musician, I am passionate about any avenue in which art can be viewed and expressed. Graffiti Alley is one of those places, to me, by its sheer will of existence, only furthers that passion. When you have time, check it out. It’s all fenced up now but try to find “the secret swing”.