Ottawa graffiti artists say more legal spaces, better education could lead to fewer complaints

On a busy Saturday morning in downtown Ottawa, graffiti artist Mique Michelle is working on a new mural decorating a storage container for the ByWard Market’s new skating rink. As the work takes shape, passersby stop to watch. A teenaged boy says, “Nice painting!” Two middle-aged women admire from afar, then ask how long the process takes. Michelle says these positive interactions are common when she’s out painting: “I’m a big fan of the process, of being communicative,” she says.  However, Michelle says misconceptions around graffiti art can cause people to assume anyone with a spray can is behaving illegally or harmfully. Mique Michelle’s mural in ByWard Market depicts a wintry bouquet of native plants, including spruce, birch and Labrador tea. [Photos © Cara Gordon] Graffiti is considered vandalism by the City of Ottawa when it involves unauthorized writing or drawings on public or private property. However, many artists argue the distinction between graffiti art and vandalism is misunderstood. As an extension of hip-hop culture, graffiti art has historically been a voice of social conscience, Michelle says, referencing the Berlin Wall and Keith Haring’s art during the AIDS crisis. Michelle says she believes the city conflating graffiti and vandalism places...