Graffiti can be a positive in Windsor

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS

NovaNewsNow.com

The Windsor Recreation Department invited local youth to participate in a free graffiti art workshop Aug. 9-10 with the final project showing off a spray-painted mural to the town.

The artwork created was a large graffiti piece commemorating community recreation within the Town of Windsor and it was decided the finished mural should be hung outside Dooley’s on Gerrish Street.

Windsor Youth Worker Anthony Wood says the workshop provides a new window of opportunity for youth who possess more creative interests. “Obviously there are people around who enjoy graffiti. We wanted to help give them a chance to do this type of art in a way it could be appreciated instead of erased and covered up,” he said. “The class allows youth to become active within the community and involved in a productive way,” Wood said. “I want to get the youth involved in this area as much as anyone else.”

The local youth participating in this year’s second annual graffiti art workshop were Leigh Melanson, Ryan Hunter and Nick Flynn. Running the two-day workshop was Halifax-based graffiti artist Theo Gardner.

The aim was to teach youth about the history, technique and importance of focusing on legal graffiti, Gardner said. “This workshop gives youth something to do that’s aesthetically pleasing with a positive turnout for the rest of the community. “This is the first workshop I’ve ever done, but I love painting and thought if there was an opportunity to spawn a new graffiti scene in Windsor, I’d take it,” Gardner said. “It gives them something to do besides drugs, alcohol and crime.”

Leigh Melanson, 13, agrees. The workshop provides youth with something positive to do. “There’s not much going on around this town and I like art,” he said.

The graffiti-style art was really creative and the workshop was fun, Melanson said. “I’d probably recommend it to my friends if it happens again next year and I would definitely do this again.”

Ryan Hunter, 15, says the workshop was good and everything about it was fun. “Plus, it gives something to the town,” he added.