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Elicser Show: Well and Good

Well and Good (formerly M-One-11) on Queen West, has brought the work of one of Toronto's premiere graffiti artists indoors. By hanging Elicser's work in their back room gallery, Well and Good is part of an art show that is truly citywide.

Whether they know it or not, everyone in Toronto is probably familiar with Elicser's work - its all over the place. The painted stump tree on Queen St., across from The Silver Snail - thats his. Once you recognize his tag or the art itself, he becomes a ghostly presence in the city; Elicser is a friend you never see but are constantly reminded of.

However, not everybody wants to be friends. Elicser was interviewed about graffiti removal in Coach House Books' fall release "State of The Arts: Living With Culture In Canada". In Nadja Sayej's essay "Leaving Their Mark: Street Art In Toronto", Elicser comments on the reaction his work gets from the Toronto Police Service's Graffiti Eradication Program (GEP): "I kind of love it. Its opening my eyes to another art form: graffiti removal as beautiful... they're priming my spot" -now that's the power of positive thinking!

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Seeing opportunity where others wouldn't has allowed ellicser to engage with this city and it's inhabitants in a way that few artists do. The variation of venues and canvases, from a huge wall on the side of an old building, to a dead tree, to the back of a trendy clothing store really grabs my attention. The work constantly pops up in different scenarios, inviting me to see it in another light, from a different perspective. Here in Toronto, whether you head over to Well and Good or just walk down a main street, you get the chance to do the same.

Well and Good Clothing Gallery, 561 Queen Street West


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