Toronto, ON – Mayor Rob Ford may have started his campaign to eradicate graffiti in the city, but there’s one wall he won’t be able to touch. Paradigm Shift is the name of the installation that graffiti artist KWEST created for The Mascot’s One Year Anniversary Show, and it takes up an entire wall of the art gallery. A massive 3-D representation of KWEST’s tag with the use of hardboard and spray paint, the piece is a fine example of how graffiti is finding its place in the world of contemporary art. The Mascot is a strong supporter of urban art and invites Mr. Ford to take a second look at the art form he considers vandalism.

Check out pics at 1LoveTO.com

KWEST

Kwest is a graffiti artist and master carpenter whose striking work can be seen across North America. He began writing graffiti in 1993 with a focus on freight trains. He quickly became one of Canada’s premier freight painters. Never one to fear traveling on his own, Kwest took his first cross-country freight-hopping trip from Vancouver to Toronto in 1999. Since then he has done countless hops, which have led to lifelong friendships with crew members on the West Coast of Canada and Southern California.

Along the way, Kwest picked up a new craft — carpentry. He soon combined his skills to produce new bodies of artwork, and it was evident the two talents complemented each other well. He creates wood sculptures that are just as sharp and intricate as his graffiti. His pieces have been shown in numerous galleries, but Kwest is not limited to the art world. His woodwork has been commissioned by private residences and retailers like Toronto’s Nomad and Stussy, as well as DQM in New York City. Much of The Mascot is also the result of his exceptional workmanship.

This is Kwest’s second show at The Mascot, after exhibiting at the café’s grand opening in 2010.

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