Street art meets community at Denton’s ‘Island of Misfit Toys’ graffiti art show

Drivers cruising down East Hickory Street Tuesday evening slowed to take in the vibrant splashes of color rising across a massive wall at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, where graffiti artists — seasoned and novice — worked in full view of the public. Paint cans hissed as hands moved quickly, creating bold designs that transformed the blank surface into a mural.  As part of Denton’s “31 Days of Halloween,” the Greater Denton Arts Council’s “Island of Misfit Toys” event, a live graffiti experience, invited the community to view and participate in street art on Oct. 8.   The showcase featured 39-year-old graffiti artist Edward Martinez, also known as Eder Tron, who aimed to celebrate the often misunderstood art form while providing a legal and creative space for the community to contribute to a graffiti wall.  Visitors had the opportunity to create their masterpieces, working alongside Martinez on large canvases set up outside the venue.  “We’re excited,” Krissi Oden, GDAC executive director and Denton resident, said. “Graffiti is such a beautiful art form, and we want to find ways to celebrate it as much as possible.” Oden expressed enthusiasm about the event’s inclusive environment, adding that the show reflected the mission of the...