4

&

-or property owners. The pieces

Graft

iti removal
brings in money

PERRI Demm and Chris Burke are a graffiti artist’s worst

nightnare.

Burke, a North Vancouverite, and Donim are partners in Goodbye Graffiti, a six-
person graft removal company that promises to “get it off and keep it off”.

They started out ove years ago and want to expand across Canada, ‘They also
want to sell their proprietary graffiti removal formulas internationally.

“Can you imagine how successitl we'd be worldwide if we actually cleaned up
this whole city and there was no graffiti problem?" says Damm, who estimates his
crews have caused 100,000 tags, throw-ups and pieces to disappear.

Burke, who has a chemistry degree from University of Watcioa, stresses env
ronmentally friendly removals and preaches against so-called graffiti-proof paints
and coatings. Grafhti-proofing costs t60 much and doesn’t really work in the long

run.

It can cake minutes for a tag or throw-up to be scrubbed and hosed aff. A piece

could take more than a day.

Gondbye Graf is keeping up with solutions to the latest developments, like
“scratchini” — graffiti scratched into glass.

Graffis has been around for more than 5,000 years, says Damm, and likely will
be around forever. That means there will be no shortage of walis for his company

to clean,

“Cities grow and urban centres grow,” he says after removing a throw-up with

Burke on tealley wall of Lower Lonsdale’s historic Aberdeen Block. “Graffiti

grows with them.”

Domm and Burke ride around Greater Vancouver in their “custom-designed
war wagon” — a truck stocked with a variety of clea
water, liydraulic spray system to safely blase graffiti off v

ning goods and an ultra-hor
walls:

Clients pay monthly fees beginning at $24 a month to be on Goodbye Graffit’s Ever-Clean pro-

gram. Goodbye Graffiti patrols clients” businesses and removes graffiti whenever it appears. They also

do jobs on a one-off basis.

“Graffiti affects business, it affects people psychologically. It'll kill retail sales in no time,” Domm
says. “Nobody has any interest going into a store that’s covered in graffiti. They can’t imagine what’s

More free walis called for

From page 3

where it’s not bothering any-
one,” says Dubois. “There’s
art all over the city that no one
knows exists and they’re com-
pletely. hidden.”

But a free wall like the flea
market parking lot is cherished

writers

Each piece has similar
dimensions and the writers
have an unwritten code of con-

‘possible. without “having: t to:
ish and without fear of police
e of an irregular basis.
a more experienced
artist will choose a dry, day or
night to write over a piece by a
less~ rienced artist.
fe usually prime the wall
with a coat of paint, sometimes
we like to plan our production,
maybe there's a message
involved. Other times it’s just
going off and making it look
hice with a can, colour and
shape,” says Mejia. “A lot of
it’s more abstract.” :
Dubois and Mejia want to
open a gallery in Vancouver
“next year to celebrate the art
and educate those who don’t
understand it and may brand it
as criminal. They also wouldn’t
mind finding merchants who
want their style of art to adorn
their store.
“Ie’s just an expression. We
feel we have to continue.

~ People started it, passed it

along to us and now we want
to pass it on to f

tions.”. .

And

hich will be 1ést for”
good when Versatile Pacific’s

We specialize in
custom desi
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Lower Lonsdale land gets i¢ . ¢

redeveloped in the next few
ears, After thar, writers won't
ave a free canvas.

“Give us more wails! The
city needs more walls, then
tagging will slow down,” says
Mejia. “By not allowing us to
do what we want to do, it’s
only going to fuel the anger to
go out and destruct.”

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Sunday, August 22, 1999 - North Shore News — 5

7 ra

inside. This little bit of an investment really pays of.”
Domm dcesn’r buy the theory that free walls — like the one at the old Pier 96 flea market park-
ing lot — contain graffiti. Graffiti attracts more graffiti, he says,
“It's a very good political platform to say let's put up a free wall and let the kids put up their work.
But is that person going to come back later and clein up the neighbourhood around Ai I don't
— Bob Mackin

think so.”

tf you have been injured in an auto accident

Ciesinwn?
Stephen Anderson

922-8881
SAGER ANDERSON LAWRENCE
Barristers 8¢ Solicitors
235-15th Street, West Vancouver

PUB FIT FOR A QUEEN

A

There is a new’ pub at the
im corner of Queens and Lonsdale,
Rat least that is the way it looks.

The Queen's Cross Pub was

Bestablished in 1979, and in

of its

half a million dollars, this

Mpopular pub has been §
transformed into a bright §

Band airy venue with a 9
renewed focus on
fauthenticity and quality.

Management bad the

B good taste to ask the local

Hi clientele what they would §
like to sce changed. The
overwhelming — majority

Bwanted to maintain the

s English Pub theme. .

Armed with their quest,

the owners traveled to

8 England to study the land

Rof pubs first hand. When

M they returned, work began

on a second floor seating area,

A building a new bar, designing an

# entry, and focusing on sourcing

out unique | furniture and

Bfixcures to maintain the pub's

A English feel.

L.

A beautiful frente entrance has
been created featuring tile and
oak flooring, stained glass and
antique light fixtures. Once you

make your way into the pub, the

@

; Dave Crown, Shars & Teri Short

invite you to the Queen's Cross

first thing you will notice is a
huge stone fireplace inset with

“tilework. Hanging! in'frone of

the fireplace is an antique

chandelier that used to belong

to a church in Manchester.
5)

" DAILY SPECIALS

ey

NEWS

England. a
To the right sits 2 new pool
table with lots of elbow room.
To the left is the new oak bar
accented with stained glass,
which now seats 12 instead
ofonly4.
.. Huge windows bring in
‘lots of light and a wide

stairway takes: you to al:

pf ‘ ‘thie Welstiots
CHRIS Burke of Goodbye Graffiti removes a “throw-up” from the alley wall of the historic
Aberdeen Block in Lower Lonsdale. The company waniis to cigan up Vancouver.

y

mezzanine featuring a view §
of downtown, as well as a
view overlooking the main §
floor. The “upper floor @
offers a new dimension to™
the pub and allows for§

’ booking private parties.
Another dramatic

change is son.ething chat fh

only a non-smoker would
iS notice.

A. double © air-f

conditioning unit that ist

said to keep the air smoke

free.
pub looks

fantastic. Its unique decor

This rejuvenated local.
absolutely fl

makes it worth visiting and ics f
superior level of service and]
quality ‘of food, make tt worth f

staying,
What ‘was once old is new

oe

"one

Lunch & Dinner
YOUR CHOICE OF SOUP & SANDWICH, -
PASTA OR FEATURE ENTREE.
*2nd item must be cf equal or lesser value
offer expires September 30/99

Queen’s Cross Neighbourhood -Pub- - -.
and Cold Beer 8¢ Wine Emporium:. .+
2989 Lonsdale Ave., N.V. 980-7715

again, and it is fit fora Queen. @-