Jane Jacobs' Mural Vandalized-Call For Respect

In April, 2007 a group of youth artists working with the Harbourfront Mural Project in Toronto participated in a community building laneway revitalization project led by the Toronto Crime Stoppers school police officer in conjunction with the City of Toronto, and www.communitycave.com . Art work depicting an image of legendary Toronto community builder Jane Jacobs was painted on the side of the former CBC building with the consent of the exisitng owners of the building.

In October, 2007, a five pointed star with a circle around it was painted in yellow paint over the image by an unknown vandal. The artists have made arrangements to fix the mural as soon as possible.

Any information on who may have done this vandalism, and the meaning of it, can be anonymously called into Toronto Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 or online at www.222tips.com .

A goal of the laneway revitalization was to give youth an opportunity to do legal graffiti art, and prevent vandalism. Another goal was to educate youth on community building. In this regard, the following is offered on the significance and history of the community building work of Jane Jacobs.

The following is stated about Jane Jacobs on the website www.cbc.ca .

With her astute observations about the way we live, Jane Jacobs dynamically changed the urban landscape. The author, activist, theorist and self-taught philosopher challenged the establishment with her ideas about cities and the economy.

Jacobs was most famous for her influential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, published in 1961. At the time, Jacobs's book was considered radical for its staunch opposition to the raze and clear urban renewal projects of the era. But Death and Life spoke to city dwellers who wanted to protect existing communities. Jacobs's book has since become a classic and is often cited as the bible for urban planners. For her prolific works and activism, Jacobs herself became known as the city guru and, as CBC's Hana Gartner called her: the incomparable "rebel with a cause."

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[saintfletcher]

It's not wickan. It's a yellow star. Jacobs is a Jewish name. Get the connection? This has more sinister racist connotations. The gay symbol was the pink triangle. Wrong symbol. Who did it? A graffiti artist wouldn't do this. This is a tag. You'll never know who it is. How can you remove it without damaging the image, well, I guess you've worked this out by now, this was a year ago. Blessings and respect to Jane Jacobs +^+^+ The Saint

[Terrekon]

definately not another graffiti artist. no real writer would go over a mural, esp. with sum gay star thing.

- SWiF

?SK crew

[VandalousMedium]

oviously witches

[BrentBates111]

You make a good point, but there are plenty of graffiti artist that graf are fucked int he head and only see it as vandalization. I mean im with you anything to prefect my graffiti style, its like oilpainting but i use the style of graffiti

[gloshglosh]

see but not every graff artist is the same. if i could just profect my art i would be happy because then i would have a portfolio of pictures to show businesses. plus with the internet you could still make a name for yourself..

[BrentBates111]

yea but graffiti is all about egtting your name out there so its never gonna be taken care of, its to get up and get your messeg out there. not to paint for free at a park were no one will ever see

[gloshglosh]

thats what you get for telling graffiti artists what to paint legally,, you make them paint boring scenery and faces and as a result other artists come in and make a mokery of it. Rather than giving Writers all these corny jobs that dont further there graffiti skills at all you should be creating graffiti parks were we can just enjoy the art,,

[squidley36]

Darn wiccans.

[hillcrestG]

yeah, its sad that some jealous toy destroyed that piece, but in general who cares. thats the game, every piece ever done will either get dissed, buffed, or fade away.

it shouldnt be a priority finding this guy. just find out what he writes, and go over it. he wont like it a bit.