Save Roadsworth

[Whoa]

If y'all know about Street art, then you are familiar with the name Roadsworth!

Last week Roads Got busted, and they claim that what he does is ''VANDALISM''

I Found the Detective in charge of the case and i find it would be really helpful to roadsworth and his family if we can send letters of disagreement and explaining to them that this is art, decorating the streets with actual eyecandy, instead of potholes and cracked asphalt or cigarette butts

This is the Adresse to send mail to (NOT hate mail!!!!)
Inspector Annie Prevost
Police de Montreal
855 Cremazie East
Montréal, Quebec
H2M 2T7

Some of Roadsworth Work

Roadsworth (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zekesgallery/sets/13388/show/)
Roadsworth 2 (http://www.woostercollective.com/2004/07/profile-roadsworth.html)

Please take the time to write a letter of support!

[Alchohlics_Anonymous]

hmm nice idea. but i dont think it will work, support letters wont change the law and the police already know about it, so it would be illegal for her too let him scott free without a reason. i dunno, maybe theres a loop hole, but even though i dont think it will work i'll still write a letter to help out. his stuff is gooood.

[Whoa]

i wanna start a petition or a manifestation (friendly)
i know a letter is a long shot but still, the guy isnt doing anything bad!
thats what's so frustrating

[i_eat_clam]

i kno some one who knows someones borther who can take the Detective out......













to "lunch" if you get my drift..

[Whoa]

yes


yes i do
but i hope the bitch gets E-COLI

[i_eat_clam]

Originally posted by Whoa@Dec 10 2004, 04:02 PM
yes


yes i do
but i hope the bitch gets E-COLI
oh you want him to use the "little bunny".... or the "big bunny"?
http://www.toiletnet.com/fat_tony.gif



but back to reality... he does some sick stencils....

[The Most Sadistic]

he draws on the ground

wonderfull

[Zeke]

Howdy!

For all of you who are willing to watch while Roadsworth goes down, the Canadian Charter of Rights guarantees a person's right to expression.

Being busted for making art is not good in the "free" world. Even if their are laws against vandalism.

Zeke

[Msfyt]

funny how you use your right of expression now on bombingscience after you get caught!!

[SLY]

its vandalism still and he knew hed get caught eventually

[scary dreams]

Lets all be free and do whatever we want without penalty... :rolleyes: *flutters spirit fingers... :rolleyes: I hate to be bitter, but the truth is getting into this art we call graffiti, you know that you are taking a risk, you know this, don't get all hush puppy cause some cat gets caught, that's just a part of the struggle.

[Whoa]

http://img50.exs.cx/img50/4757/fattony2hn.jpg
But My Friend Begs To Differ

[MAST]

not sure about this, zeke you can tell me what he thinks about it if you know, but i'm pretty sure roadsworth understands, unlike some of you...i'm not saying its good that he got arrested, i'm just saying, art or no art, it is against the law, and mail won't change the law...i hope his sentence is very short, did he do enough to consider it a felony(even though graffiti really isn't wrong at all)?

[pSYKAOz]

bah since its art with a decent lawyer hell get off easy... well easier then say some1 getting busted for doing tags... even if the damage is less... up to him to prove i ncourt that hes more then a random rebel and that he has a msg hes trying to show in a world where he feels oppressed... that outta make the judge look at him under a nicer viewpoint...

[CaptSnuffy]

free roadsworth!

[i_eat_clam]

Originally posted by Whoa@Dec 10 2004, 04:55 PM
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/4757/fattony2hn.jpg
But My Friend Begs To Differ
dont forget his friends.....

http://simpsons.metropoliglobal.com/fotogramas/aabf05/19.jpg
:ph34r:

[Tony]

ayyy, take my picture down. :ph34r:

[Tony]

Originally posted by pSYKAOz@Dec 10 2004, 03:20 PM
bah since its art with a decent lawyer hell get off easy... well easier then say some1 getting busted for doing tags... even if the damage is less... up to him to prove i ncourt that hes more then a random rebel and that he has a msg hes trying to show in a world where he feels oppressed... that outta make the judge look at him under a nicer viewpoint...
for once..




i agree with psykaoz :huh:

[Whoa]

Originally posted by Tony+Dec 10 2004, 06:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Tony @ Dec 10 2004, 06:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-pSYKAOz@Dec 10 2004, 03:20 PM
bah since its art with a decent lawyer hell get off easy... well easier then say some1 getting busted for doing tags... even if the damage is less... up to him to prove i ncourt that hes more then a random rebel and that he has a msg hes trying to show in a world where he feels oppressed... that outta make the judge look at him under a nicer viewpoint...
for once..




i agree with psykaoz :huh: [/b][/quote]
what is this world coming to :o

[yuki]

It's tasteful, witty, and elegant, but is it still graffiti? Unfortunately, yes. If we start to write letters for roadsworth, we might as well write letters for all the writer's in the "free world" who have been popped for throwin' paint and ink on property abroad. Sorry, but I don't think this will help the situation. Also, they will more than likely want to make an example of him in order to strike fear into the rest of the graff. hedz out there. Peace.

[SLY]

Originally posted by CaptSnuffy@Dec 10 2004, 05:32 PM
free roadsworth!
put him away for ever! hes a danger to society because he paints on teh roads and covers liens up and mayu confuse the elderly etc... hes fucked

[Whoa]

sly is the perfect example of what happens when we dont paint with a mask on
your brain is fumed my friend

[Skore_One]

well there isnt a case if the arresting officer suddenly dies tragically before the court date and cant testify *wink wink*

[SLY]

Originally posted by Whoa@Dec 10 2004, 07:09 PM
sly is the perfect example of what happens when we dont paint with a mask on
your brain is fumed my friend
i worn once didnt like it never worn one again. also ive chilled dozens of times where i jsut painted for liek 30 mins and its in closed areas and nothign happend my snaut has been weird colorus and my eyes are perm fucked up form mist but ohw well masks dotn help the eyes

[DNA]

FREE ROADSWORTH. i love his stuff

[pSYKAOz]

Originally posted by Whoa+Dec 10 2004, 06:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Whoa @ Dec 10 2004, 06:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Originally posted by Tony@Dec 10 2004, 06:02 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-pSYKAOz@Dec 10 2004, 03:20 PM
bah since its art with a decent lawyer hell get off easy... well easier then say some1 getting busted for doing tags... even if the damage is less... up to him to prove i ncourt that hes more then a random rebel and that he has a msg hes trying to show in a world where he feels oppressed... that outta make the judge look at him under a nicer viewpoint...
for once..




i agree with psykaoz :huh:
what is this world coming to :o [/b][/quote]
hehe maybe its cuz thats what my lawyer told me yesterday haha...

only for me its not applicable becuz of the places i got arrested for (hard to prove i was doing it for nething other then vandalism and getting my name up)

neways i think it applies pretty well to his work

[Flow]

Originally posted by Whoa@Dec 10 2004, 07:09 PM
sly is the perfect example of what happens when we dont paint with a mask on
your brain is fumed my friend
But he has a point. When people are altering things that are there for the safety of the public, it could be a bad thing. If my art was putting a big green circle over all the stop signs, would that be art? Of course that's an extreme example but you get my point. An argument can be that the public's safety may be threatened.
Don't tell me he didn't know that what he was doing is illegal.
Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I want him sent up the river, just that campaigning and arguing that "It's art man!" is ridiculous.

[pSYKAOz]

hehe though flow u where lucky cuz every1 liked your stuff cuz 'it was art'

i duno what im saying nemore...

whataver... haha

[SLY]

Originally posted by Flow+Dec 10 2004, 10:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Flow @ Dec 10 2004, 10:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Whoa@Dec 10 2004, 07:09 PM
sly is the perfect example of what happens when we dont paint with a mask on
your brain is fumed my friend
But he has a point. When people are altering things that are there for the safety of the public, it could be a bad thing. If my art was putting a big green circle over all the stop signs, would that be art? Of course that's an extreme example but you get my point. An argument can be that the public's safety may be threatened.
Don't tell me he didn't know that what he was doing is illegal.
Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I want him sent up the river, just that campaigning and arguing that "It's art man!" is ridiculous. [/b][/quote]
holla at ur boi dawG! lol wow he said i had a point! ME SLY, HAVE A POINT! yeah like those fags who put those "eating animals" sticks on stop signs so it says "STOP EATING ANIMALS" but even the stop eating animals is not as abd as paitnign the street or how the hip young kids say these days STRAAAT

[glue]

Originally posted by SLY+Dec 10 2004, 10:12 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SLY @ Dec 10 2004, 10:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Originally posted by Flow@Dec 10 2004, 10:02 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-Whoa@Dec 10 2004, 07:09 PM
sly is the perfect example of what happens when we dont paint with a mask on
your brain is fumed my friend
But he has a point. When people are altering things that are there for the safety of the public, it could be a bad thing. If my art was putting a big green circle over all the stop signs, would that be art? Of course that's an extreme example but you get my point. An argument can be that the public's safety may be threatened.
Don't tell me he didn't know that what he was doing is illegal.
Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I want him sent up the river, just that campaigning and arguing that "It's art man!" is ridiculous.
holla at ur boi dawG! lol wow he said i had a point! ME SLY, HAVE A POINT! yeah like those fags who put those "eating animals" sticks on stop signs so it says "STOP EATING ANIMALS" but even the stop eating animals is not as abd as paitnign the street or how the hip young kids say these days STRAAAT [/b][/quote]
:lol: they do?

[SLY]

yeah ur from toronto glue im shocked that u didnt remember all those stop eating animals and oter stop shit oens and arent you down with the liongo they say "STRAAAT" cuz thats how the real thugs be holdin it down

[DjTerrestrialConcept]

His shit is definetally sick but it is vandalism since he is stenciling on local property w/o permission. I would like to see him walk, but I dount it will happen.

[Whoa]

i've been studying the case, its not necessarily ''vandalism'' more like, i cant find a word for it.............. im a huge fan of RW and to see some bitch cop bust him pisses me off!
I Mean its not everyday you walk downtown and see chains,vines and plug outlets on the streets! We're so use to seeing throw's, but i cant remember the last time i ve seen an actual line up of people with camera's taking pictures of a throw downtown!
anyways, like i said im a big fan of roadsworth and it pisses me off that he got busted!
i hope he doesnt quit his game, cause he's keeping montreal's streets real! (literally)
you can close the topic now, im done!
thx for the posts people
peace

[MBTA]

kid, just get off the jock and focus on doing your own art or something

[Whoa]

Originally posted by MBTA@Dec 12 2004, 10:40 AM
kid, just get off the jock and focus on doing your own art or something
meh shut your face!
You probably dont even know who or what this guy does!
so just get outta my face

Kid <_<
im probably old enough to bang your moms
MILF
:lol:

no but for real, shut up :)

[Asshat]

Originally posted by CaptSnuffy@Dec 10 2004, 05:32 PM
free roadsworth!
Ha, I hope you just stop here, that was by far the most worthless post ever.

[DNA]

for those of you who dont know who he is, i will share my bountiful collection of stolen pictures of his work. :D

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/4235/anklechain.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2382/candles2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/628/crosswalkbarbedwire.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/9392/crosswalkbarbedwire2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/3302/crosswalkbullets.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2198/crosswalkfootstep.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/6799/crosswalkvelvetposts.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/5093/electricaloutlet.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/6012/hatchcover.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2302/lasso1.jpg
more...

[MBTA]

yeah, he does good work, so what. so do tons of people
people get busted dude
are you going to start a campaign for every artist you like that gets busted?
fucking pointless

[DNA]

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2342/lasso2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/1153/lasso3.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/5815/lasso4.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2922/lightswitch.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2776/loudspeaker.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/4097/loudspeaker2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/5478/owl1.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/4300/owl2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/1525/owl3.jpg
more...

[DNA]

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2382/securitycamera.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/7066/securitycamera2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/1733/securitycamera3.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2955/sewerlidcan.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/4696/signature42.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/6031/signature43.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/9489/velvetposts.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/7825/velvetposts2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/6867/vine.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/6424/vine2.jpg
more...

[DNA]

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2034/vine3.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/6919/vine4.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/1320/vine5.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/4599/zipper1.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2288/zipper2.jpg
http://img23.exs.cx/img23/2991/zipper3.jpg
http://img114.exs.cx/img114/4097/loudspeaker2.jpg
:D all done, if anyone has differnt pictures post them.

[Whoa]

word!
ignore the ignorant
MBTA
if you dont like this thread why the fuck do you come in a post?
Up the ante on your number of posts?
Get lost

[MBTA]

what are you, a baby? if you think a letter-writing campaign by a few of roadsworth's dick-riders can "free" a graffiti artist, you're a lot more "ignorant" than you say i am. dude. what he did is illegal. he's going to get in trouble. and it's too bad too, he has nice work.

[Whoa]

Originally posted by MBTA@Dec 12 2004, 06:04 PM
what are you, a baby? if you think a letter-writing campaign by a few of roadsworth's dick-riders can "free" a graffiti artist, you're a lot more "ignorant" than you say i am. dude. what he did is illegal. he's going to get in trouble. and it's too bad too, he has nice work.
:lol:
where do i begin!
first off im not trying to ''free'' em ya retard, i just want the people of the justice system to realize what he does isnt as bad as they make it out to be!
so they can go ''easier'' on em
whatcha think of that quote king?
now, make like a tree and leave

[infer_two]

Originally posted by SLY@Dec 10 2004, 11:03 PM
yeah ur from toronto glue im shocked that u didnt remember all those stop eating animals and oter stop shit oens and arent you down with the liongo they say "STRAAAT" cuz thats how the real thugs be holdin it down
what ever happened to sly? :( he just dissapered so sad.

[seap!]

I love how he added to the shadows of certain objects.
Some of his work can only be appreciated at night.
He really played with it.

[element503]

even though its street art its still vandalism. i dont think he belongs in jail or anything but what he does is illeagal and theres no argueing. his stuff is creative tho.

[Slob]

its creative from an artists point of view

its distracting from a drivers point of view, confusing also. road signs are supposed too give you direction, if its some misc. shit on the ground peeps may get confused.

thats my 2 cents.

[element503]

and i took your 2 cents and ran.

[bruce]

Originally posted by Slob@May 27 2005, 05:39 PM
its creative from an artists point of view

its distracting from a drivers point of view, confusing also. road signs are supposed too give you direction, if its some misc. shit on the ground peeps may get confused.

thats my 2 cents.
i see what yor sayin...but like most of that stuff isnt really misleading to drivers...its on zebra stripes..or the parkin spot designators...

all those strip clubs with their bigass neon signs on st cath are more distracting to drivers...

yes what he did was illegal..but the city coulda easily found a more offensive scapegoat...

[Flow]

You volunteering?

[MitNGEK]

free him

[bruce]

Originally posted by Flow@May 28 2005, 12:32 AM
You volunteering?
hahaha.
no..
even youd make a better scapegoat than i. :P

[alarm]

dead thread

[minor crimes]

he has dope stencils... i dnt see how a letter is guna do much tho

[not_hammer_time]

If y'all know about Street art, then you are familiar with the name Roadsworth!

Last week Roads Got busted, and they claim that what he does is ''VANDALISM''

I Found the Detective in charge of the case and i find it would be really helpful to roadsworth and his family if we can send letters of disagreement and explaining to them that this is art, decorating the streets with actual eyecandy, instead of potholes and cracked asphalt or cigarette butts

This is the Adresse to send mail to (NOT hate mail!!!!)
Inspector Annie Prevost
Police de Montreal
855 Cremazie East
Montréal, Quebec
H2M 2T7

Some of Roadsworth Work

Roadsworth (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zekesgallery/sets/13388/show/)
Roadsworth 2 (http://www.woostercollective.com/2004/07/profile-roadsworth.html)

Please take the time to write a letter of support!




it IS vandalism, as much as anything else, if you want to do graffiti, then you must understand that it is AGAINST THE LAW, you must accept the calculated risks, that you take, and a bunch of kids trying to tell cops that graffiti isnt vandalism, just supports the "retard revolutionary" stereotype that graffiti writers have


and since this thread is old as fuck he's out now

[Vagrant]

nice job bumping a thread that was started in 04 and hasn't has a recent post since 06

[Facedorateur]

Does anybody knows if the case is closed?

[Vagrant]

http://spacing.ca/art-roadsworth.htm

A divided highway The graffiti of Roadsworth has Montreal's politicians and police contemplating the differences between art and vandalism
by Laura Boudreau
photo by Peter Gibson
: : : : : : :
The grey area between graffiti and vandalism is more than theoretical for Roadsworth: his controversial street images have turned pavement into politics in the city of Montreal and rekindled debate about the nature of public art.
Peter Gibson, the man behind the Roadsworth graffiti identity, began taking to the streets of Montreal in the early mornings of late 2001, spray-painting cyclist symbols on roads to protest the lack of bike lanes and paths in the city. Gradually his street images developed into increasingly symbolic displays of civic and environmental critique: pedestrian crossings on the Plateau Mont-Royal turned into giant footprints; orange stencils of barbed wire lined crosswalks; heart monitor-like spikes and valleys punctuated centre lines on roadways. Bemused Montrealers, many thinking that the city commissioned the road stencils, were left to contemplate the significance of these images.
The pieces were "very simple, open-ended, ambiguous,” says Gibson. “They were also somewhat integrated with the environment — the street, the road markings — giving them an almost subliminal quality.” Gibson adds, “I think my intention was to create a language that would function as a form of satire, accentuating the absurdity inherent to certain aspects of urban living, urban space, [and] public policy.” But evidently something got lost in translation: Montreal police arrested Gibson on November 29 last year and charged him with 51 counts of mischief, the charges carrying maximum penalties ranging from $200 to $5,000.
Gibson defends his works, claiming that they create free dialogue within the city’s commercial monologue. An economic, anti-ecological imperative holds the city hostage, Gibson says, and this deference to industry is symptomatic of the hypocritical way laws are applied in the city setting. As Gibson notes, “We aggressively pursue graffiti writers for scrawling their names on a wall across from a massive backlit billboard advertising Big Macs.”
Despite the claims of police that the Roadsworth images are a threat to public safety, Gibson argues that what they actually threaten is the corporate monopoly on public space.
Many Montrealers agree. Chris Hand, Director of Zeke’s Gallery on the Plateau, says that “at the street level — and elsewhere — there is a tremendous amount of support for Peter. I have yet to hear anyone say that they didn’t like what he did, and the only complaints are to vague ideas of public security. After I show them pictures of what [artist] Maclean did [using red tape to change “ARRET” signs to read “A R T”], it causes them to realize that, in comparison, Peter’s work was very benign.”
Gibson’s trial begins in January 2006, but his impact on Montreal will likely still be contested long after the courts decide his legal fate. Public space is full of competing and contradictory messages, but where is the line between public acts of self-expression and selfish acts of public vandalism? Roadsworth’s case highlights this debate surrounding art in public space.
Pop culture expert Dr. Tim Blackmore of the University of Western Ontario sees “L’Affaire Roadsworth” as a missed opportunity for discussion about public art. “I’m sympathetic to Roadsworth’s politics and like his art, but that’s not the issue. I get the sense that a lot of what Roadsworth is doing is basically stickin’ it to The Man. I’m little convinced that road art will do this. It will cause The Man to allocate more money for repainting.
“I think it’s a serious mistake for Montreal to drag Roadsworth into court,” Blackmore continues. “If I were in the position of advising the city, I would suggest that they meet with a collective of the graffiti artists and begin discussing public art seriously, allotting space for freestyle of all kinds.”
Gibson agrees that access is key: “If I were a city councillor, I think I would designate a lot of public space as free space — space where one could express anything.
“I love life in the city,” Gibson says. “I love the possibility for cultural and economic exchange.” It is, however, the collision between art and commerce in the public sphere that both inspires and infuriates Gibson, fuelling his unconventional form of protest: “Painting images on the street is actually a very innocuous gesture in the face of the problems that exist. We are living in serious denial if we feel that business as usual is going to ensure our continued survival and well-being.”
: : : : : : :

UPDATE January 23, 2006: All charges against Gibson have been dropped. His punisment is a minor fine and 40 hours of 'community work' -- specifically artwork of his devising in The Plateau area of Montreal.

ALL CHARGES DROPPED


close this

[JETPACK!!]

Yeah i support Roadsworth 100%

why the fuck do you always bump dead threads. fuck off

[Vagrant]

http://spacing.ca/art-roadsworth.htm

A divided highway The graffiti of Roadsworth has Montreal's politicians and police contemplating the differences between art and vandalism
by Laura Boudreau
photo by Peter Gibson
: : : : : : :
The grey area between graffiti and vandalism is more than theoretical for Roadsworth: his controversial street images have turned pavement into politics in the city of Montreal and rekindled debate about the nature of public art.
Peter Gibson, the man behind the Roadsworth graffiti identity, began taking to the streets of Montreal in the early mornings of late 2001, spray-painting cyclist symbols on roads to protest the lack of bike lanes and paths in the city. Gradually his street images developed into increasingly symbolic displays of civic and environmental critique: pedestrian crossings on the Plateau Mont-Royal turned into giant footprints; orange stencils of barbed wire lined crosswalks; heart monitor-like spikes and valleys punctuated centre lines on roadways. Bemused Montrealers, many thinking that the city commissioned the road stencils, were left to contemplate the significance of these images.
The pieces were "very simple, open-ended, ambiguous,” says Gibson. “They were also somewhat integrated with the environment — the street, the road markings — giving them an almost subliminal quality.” Gibson adds, “I think my intention was to create a language that would function as a form of satire, accentuating the absurdity inherent to certain aspects of urban living, urban space, [and] public policy.” But evidently something got lost in translation: Montreal police arrested Gibson on November 29 last year and charged him with 51 counts of mischief, the charges carrying maximum penalties ranging from $200 to $5,000.
Gibson defends his works, claiming that they create free dialogue within the city’s commercial monologue. An economic, anti-ecological imperative holds the city hostage, Gibson says, and this deference to industry is symptomatic of the hypocritical way laws are applied in the city setting. As Gibson notes, “We aggressively pursue graffiti writers for scrawling their names on a wall across from a massive backlit billboard advertising Big Macs.”
Despite the claims of police that the Roadsworth images are a threat to public safety, Gibson argues that what they actually threaten is the corporate monopoly on public space.
Many Montrealers agree. Chris Hand, Director of Zeke’s Gallery on the Plateau, says that “at the street level — and elsewhere — there is a tremendous amount of support for Peter. I have yet to hear anyone say that they didn’t like what he did, and the only complaints are to vague ideas of public security. After I show them pictures of what [artist] Maclean did [using red tape to change “ARRET” signs to read “A R T”], it causes them to realize that, in comparison, Peter’s work was very benign.”
Gibson’s trial begins in January 2006, but his impact on Montreal will likely still be contested long after the courts decide his legal fate. Public space is full of competing and contradictory messages, but where is the line between public acts of self-expression and selfish acts of public vandalism? Roadsworth’s case highlights this debate surrounding art in public space.
Pop culture expert Dr. Tim Blackmore of the University of Western Ontario sees “L’Affaire Roadsworth” as a missed opportunity for discussion about public art. “I’m sympathetic to Roadsworth’s politics and like his art, but that’s not the issue. I get the sense that a lot of what Roadsworth is doing is basically stickin’ it to The Man. I’m little convinced that road art will do this. It will cause The Man to allocate more money for repainting.
“I think it’s a serious mistake for Montreal to drag Roadsworth into court,” Blackmore continues. “If I were in the position of advising the city, I would suggest that they meet with a collective of the graffiti artists and begin discussing public art seriously, allotting space for freestyle of all kinds.”
Gibson agrees that access is key: “If I were a city councillor, I think I would designate a lot of public space as free space — space where one could express anything.
“I love life in the city,” Gibson says. “I love the possibility for cultural and economic exchange.” It is, however, the collision between art and commerce in the public sphere that both inspires and infuriates Gibson, fuelling his unconventional form of protest: “Painting images on the street is actually a very innocuous gesture in the face of the problems that exist. We are living in serious denial if we feel that business as usual is going to ensure our continued survival and well-being.”
: : : : : : :

UPDATE January 23, 2006: All charges against Gibson have been dropped. His punisment is a minor fine and 40 hours of 'community work' -- specifically artwork of his devising in The Plateau area of Montreal.

ALL CHARGES DROPPED


close this please


end of page bump

[TASR]

fuck this guy, who cares about someone who draws on roads?

[not_hammer_time]

i lol'd

i thought that same shit but thought id at least try and be constructive with my comment...but yea, agreed...:cough: art fag :cough:

[Slushi]

Who cares anyway?

He did his thing and got pinched, it happens.