This profile of Toronto policeman Scott Mills is a couple of days old, but it’s a cool read. Mills partners with businesses to provide legal space for graffiti artists in back alleys. Check out the space in Broadcast Lane, which Mills helped to set up, and a neighbour’s reaction:
The article praises Mills’ efforts to help street artists channel their work legally, but despite Mills' popularity, criticism abounds, too. Opposition to commissioned graffiti generally takes two forms – those who think it has no inherent value and validates illegal tagging, and those who see it as selling out. Reading about Mills, who seems genuinely passionate about the artists he works with, it’s hard to object to his work, and looking at the photos, I can’t help but feel envious – I’d be happy to volunteer my back alley uptown, though I suspect my neighbours and landlord (slash mother) might feel differently. Then again, the mystery and secrecy imparted by illegal graffiti is a huge part of its charm – how exciting was it to wake up on May 10 this year to proof that Banksy had graced Toronto’s streets? So is Mills a champion for alternative art, or a patronizing cop who doesn’t really get it?
I haven’t decided, but in the meantime, I’m busy browsing Toronto street art in Torontoist’s Vandalist column – more recommended reading/viewing.
Video by LegalGraffitiArt.
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