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25 Comments

news

Vandalist: We Do What We Must, Because We Can.

By Posterchild

Once a week, Vandalist features the best street art and graffiti from around Toronto. You should contribute.
cake.jpg

By Buttercream and Unknown Artist.

AT SIR DANIEL WILSON RESIDENCE, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO CAMPUS

Buttercream Sez: “I’m a budding street artist in the downtown area, focusing on postering and stencils. Most of my stuff deals with foodstuffs, usually different forms of baking (cakes, cookies, cupcakes, etc).”
Original work here.

Comments

  • tdotg2

    Ah, nothing better than damaging public property. Don’t we all feel artsy and trendy for thinking this is a good idea?

  • Mathew Kumar

    I think one is frosting and the other is chalk?

  • Posterchild

    Yes, one is frosting and the other is chalk.
    So, yeah, I’m afraid that the wall is irreparably damaged.

  • quest

    If I spit on a bus shelter and take a photo of it, can I be featured on Vandalist too?

  • Marc Lostracco

    Perhaps if you spit on a hydro tower and took a picture of it, quest.

  • alexdg

    props for a portal reference :)

  • iamnotdynamite

    every friday, the exact same two types of comments. this makes me realize how frustrating and futile most of our discourse about this topic is; no one’s view is going to change through discussion.

  • x_the_x

    Discourse is impossible because, on the one hand, many see vandalism as trite and shallow, and on the other hand, many of the trite and shallow enjoy vandalism.

  • iamnotdynamite

    thanks for the insult. you’re the exact sort of person who makes discussion fruitless.

  • antiboy

    I think this one is fun. It doesn’t seem to try too hard to make a point (and yet not make one at all – like the first billboard one).

  • Marc Lostracco

    Graffiti is interesting from an anthropological point of view as a record of human expression. When I saw the 2000-year-old graf in the ruins of Pompeii, I was amazed at how similar it was to today’s—and it pretty much said the same stuff: political criticism, sexual scribblings, and just random comment.
    As for its legality, I’d be super-pissed if someone tagged my home or my property, and although most of it is uncreative, lame-ass tagging, I find the good stuff completely fascinating and often beautiful. People sure get their dander up over Vandalist when we have no problem allowing cheap fluorescent backlit dollar store signage to uglify our city ad nauseam.
    At least this one is temporary…and edible.

  • rek

    I think I have a photo of a piece you did on a bench or silver garbage bin at UofT. I should send it.

  • ronotoe

    seriously, stupid people: stop posting the hate. everybody understands and is aware of your position. now go away. leave it alone. are you that lonely and starving for attention that you feel you have to keep posting the nonsensical disapprovals?
    it’s not for you. just leave it alone.

  • Karen Whaley

    This is vandalism! Why do you reward vandalism with a column in Torontoist? Buttercream frosting and chalk??? How disrespectful toward public property! Also, I’m filled to the brim with hatred toward creativity, and bran muffins.
    Signed,
    A concerned citizen

  • quest

    Thanks for the brilliant unsolicited creative advice (it’s so touching that you so often find ways to respond to my comments with such a personal touch), but I think I’ll stick to my plan and pursue my “spitting on a TTC shelter” masterworks series.

  • davedave

    Surprise, surprise – more stupid vandalism celebrated by Torontoist.
    “LET THEM EAT CAKE” in icing – you have GOT to be kidding. The pieces in the link from the Eyeball art show are even worse. But apparently, we’re not allowed to not like things posted here.

  • rapi

    apropos “stupid vandalism”..have you seen the last dimano article in the star….vandalism of the english language

  • Acadie

    This one is just lame, I was expecting far more from the Vandalist. So far seems very insignificant in any way, This is not the best of anything, but how lame can we go. I expect something unique, controversial , daring, artistic, bold, fun. So far mostly lame.

  • spacejack

    Wow, I think this piece has just raised the bar for radical graffiti around the world: imagine defacing your own dormitory with cake icing!
    This even beats that one time when I was 3 and drew on the living room walls with crayons.

  • oshawapilot

    Add me to the list of people who thinks that featuring graffiti here at Torontoist is simply a poor idea.
    As someone who has had to scrub this crap off the side of a vehicle once before, featuring it here and glorifying the act is simply wrong and simply gives many justification to continue.
    If a few of the people who are supporting this crap here were the ones who woke up one morning to find their (for example) garage doors, business, cars (to name a few) or whatnot was “Tagged” by a “vandalist”, I’d like to think your attitude towards it would change.
    My opinion towards vandalism is that it should be promptly removed, erased, or painted over, and the “artist” should receive as little reward or promotion as possible for his effort.
    Shame, Torontoist.

  • tourist

    it’s ironic that the frenchie doesn’t like the french revolution slogan.
    ha. ha.
    welcome to the world of street art. you poor suburban dwellers probably criticize creativity more than you do a commercial for your trashy tight levis… would you rather see that than some creativity? someone put out some effort for a reason and the only one to come up with any kind of analysis ties it to pompei and considers graffiti today similar to back then. show me the banksys, aboves, ups, and seens of pompei and we’ll talk.
    until then. keep up the good work Posterchild. TO obviously needs more space to discuss these things and get over the fact that grafitti isn’t going to be gotten rid of through ‘tough on crime’ politicians. props on bringing this forum to more public places than the usual lacking forums in bot filled discussions.
    T.

  • antiboy

    Comparing this totally biodegradable graffiti to someone defacing a car with semi-permanent materials is stupid and shows a real lack of understanding of the issues at hand. I’d like to see an example of how Posterchild condones vandalising cars and garage doors.
    Sorry your property defaced once before oshawapilot. Were you scrubbing the cake icing very hard?
    By the way, I met this pilot once and he was a real jerk. I guess it goes without saying that all pilots are now automatically jerks eh? (rolls eyes)

  • DaveH

    seriously, stupid people: stop posting the support. everybody understands and is aware of your position. now go away. leave it alone. are you that lonely and starving for attention that you feel you have to keep posting the nonsensical approvals?
    it`s for you.just leave it alone.

  • carbomb

    I think its hilarious that you haters can even hate chalk and frosting. You people kill me.
    I think this is a great example of creative street art. It’s fun, its harmless, and can even prove that there is a lot of people (here especially) that need to lighten up a little.
    It’s frosting people, frosting. Cheer up for fuck sakes.

  • Anonymousity

    You have all defaced everyones land with your houses and bricks and mortar a little paint or chalk or ink isn’t going to do any more damage than has already been done. So terribly sorry your delicate aesthetic sensitivities have been have been tortured and provoked.