Charlottetown councillor, graffiti artist seek compromise

The Charlottetown city councillor in charge of police services doubts that a recent crackdown on graffiti in the city will work, and is looking for another solution.

Coun. Rob Lantz has been in email communication with a graffiti artist discussing the problem, which Lantz agrees is a serious one.

"No property owner should be expected to put up with this. It's a real problem and it's a cost to them," Lantz told CBC News on Thursday.

Charlottetown police have made arrests of graffiti artists recently, trying to get a handle on the problem, but Lantz doesn't believe that's where the ultimate solution lies.

"I don't think we're ever going to get rid of this problem by just wiping it away every time it appears and chasing them around trying to catch them in the act," he said. Lantz believes a better answer to provide a legal venue for graffiti.

"I think it would have to be somewhere where it would be seen. I think they want this stuff to be seen,' he said.

"Perhaps there would be a property owner that would donate the side of his building, perhaps if his neighbours agreed that they wouldn't mind. It can be done tastefully and I have seen really fantastic artwork in other cities."

Halifax has a designated wall for graffiti where artists can make their mark legally and their work remains on display for a while. A graffiti artist going by the email name of Nova MacWriterson has been exchanging anonymous notes with both Lantz and CBC News, and supports the idea of a designated wall.

"A graffiti wall would be an excellent plan for the city," MacWriterson wrote to CBC News.

"It would give all the graffiti artists with the necessary skills the venue to showcase their work to the public without having to worry about painting the wrong building or being apprehended."

Lantz hopes to hear from other graffiti artists and local businesses about the idea before he takes a proposal to city council.