Where some people might see this painting as vandalism, John Odishaw sees it as art.
Photograph by: Gord Waldner , The StarPhoenix
Some people might call it vandalism, but John Odishaw and his wife are calling it an angel.
A piece of street art appeared a week ago on the door of the abandoned church they own.
The portrait of an aboriginal youth with long braids is a welcome addition to the rundown building, they said.
Her back is turned and it appears as if she is walking into the church.
"We are calling it our little angel," said Odishaw, who is currently renovating the old building he and his wife bought six years ago.
While records are sketchy, they believe the church is more than a century old.
For years, Odishaw has worked slowly to renovate the place, which had to be gutted in order to meet modern building codes. It once stood as a Mennonite church and was for decades occupied by Senior Citizens Action Now.
While the inside is coming along, the exterior of the building is rundown. The broken concrete walls still show evidence of gang graffiti that has been painted over or washed away.
The addition of the angel has given it some life, Odishaw said.
"I'd rather see that than the garbage that goes on."
As is typical with graffiti, Odishaw doesn't know who the artist is. Technically, the piece is illegal, since it was done on private property without permission, but the "angel" has struck a chord.
"It almost brings tears to your eyes," said Kim Brown, whose father is helping with the renovations in the old church.
"I sat there for 10 minutes and I just stared."
Another piece of graffiti a few blocks away in an alley behind 20th Street appears to have been done by the same artist.
There is plenty of other graffiti in the area, but not much of it appeals to her, Brown said. She hopes the piece can inspire other artists to make tasteful street art, she said.
"I wish the younger generation could see this ... do something worthwhile that brings a tear to someone's eye."
Odishaw said he wants to thank the artist for contributing to the building. Even if the door gets taken out during the renovations, he will make sure the art remains part of the building, he said.
cthamilton @thestarphoenix.com Twitter.com/_chamilton
A piece of street art appeared a week ago on the door of the abandoned church they own.
The portrait of an aboriginal youth with long braids is a welcome addition to the rundown building, they said.
Her back is turned and it appears as if she is walking into the church.
"We are calling it our little angel," said Odishaw, who is currently renovating the old building he and his wife bought six years ago.
While records are sketchy, they believe the church is more than a century old.
For years, Odishaw has worked slowly to renovate the place, which had to be gutted in order to meet modern building codes. It once stood as a Mennonite church and was for decades occupied by Senior Citizens Action Now.
While the inside is coming along, the exterior of the building is rundown. The broken concrete walls still show evidence of gang graffiti that has been painted over or washed away.
The addition of the angel has given it some life, Odishaw said.
"I'd rather see that than the garbage that goes on."
As is typical with graffiti, Odishaw doesn't know who the artist is. Technically, the piece is illegal, since it was done on private property without permission, but the "angel" has struck a chord.
"It almost brings tears to your eyes," said Kim Brown, whose father is helping with the renovations in the old church.
"I sat there for 10 minutes and I just stared."
Another piece of graffiti a few blocks away in an alley behind 20th Street appears to have been done by the same artist.
There is plenty of other graffiti in the area, but not much of it appeals to her, Brown said. She hopes the piece can inspire other artists to make tasteful street art, she said.
"I wish the younger generation could see this ... do something worthwhile that brings a tear to someone's eye."
Odishaw said he wants to thank the artist for contributing to the building. Even if the door gets taken out during the renovations, he will make sure the art remains part of the building, he said.
cthamilton @thestarphoenix.com Twitter.com/_chamilton
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