This artist-led virtual Neighbourhood Walk will expose the beauty and significance of legal and illegal graffiti in Scarborough and Toronto, through the authentic lens of local graffiti artist Jehiel Douglas. By giving an in-depth and artistic spin on a stigmatized topic, Jehiel hopes to give viewers the inside scoop on the graffiti community at large.

"I find that a lot of the artists and non-artists I know have good or bad opinions about graffiti, but say they don’t understand graffiti at all; However, they’re always intrigued when I tell them about it. I think we’re only capable of appreciating something as much as we understand it."

Jehiel Douglas is a 24-year-old graffiti artist born and raised in Toronto and currently living in Scarborough, Ontario. Since kindergarten, he was into “word art” from the way he would creatively write his name or the date. Growing up, he would take every opportunity to express his creativity with words until he discovered graffiti at the young age of 12, and the rest is history.

AGOinsider: What does ‘neighbourhood’ mean to you?

Delisca: I'd say that my definition of neighbourhood is defined by the everyday interactions I have with the people around me. Even the people who I only see every now and then, with the little context I’m given, I can piece together snapshots of their development. Like the neighbourhood kids aging, or the new parents or even a grieving family. All these people who are close to me leave me with this sonder fondness for them. And I think we're all silently wishing the best for each other.

AGOinsider: Do you think graffiti will always be stigmatized?

Delisca: I personally think graffiti is well on its way to being destigmatized. With the efforts of Toronto Public Library and local arts organizations like Unity Charity, more legal graffiti and public art has been visible in the city. I do think there’s a strong stigma around the people who create graffiti. Graffiti can be used as a form of protest, against displacement, gentrification and racist statues, but for the most part these pieces of work tell an incredible story of a community by the people who live there.

AGOinsider: Do you think art plays an important role in building community?

Delisca: I think It will always play an important role in community building.Well, for me personally, I got into community building by attending a local art workshop at Cedarbrae Library. That one workshop led to me knowing my community on a deeper level. I think art plays a vital role in integrating communities, especially if it’s a majority immigrant community.

AGOinsider: What has being part of the Youth Council, especially during this time, offered you?

Delisca: The AGO Youth Council has offered me an opportunity to engage with ideas and problems bigger than myself.

You can catch all the Neighbourhood Walk events on the AGOYOUTH Instagram.