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Nov 20, 2014
What is real art and what isn’t? Can some graffiti be considered to be art? In this story, a spate of clever, elaborate and detailed graffiti and “guerilla art”, signed by “Wiz”, has been appearing throughout the city. Mayor Dumfrey, who portrays himself as a strict “law-and-order” politician (and who is running for re-election), is determined to stamp it out. He considers the street art to be obnoxious vandalism with no artistic merit whatsoever. Meanwhile, Ian and his friends Julia and Oswald, debate the issue of graffiti as real art. Eventually Oswald is discovered to be the elusive graffiti artist. He reveals that his street art has been a protest against the city’s reduction in hours and staffing at the local art gallery. When the indignant mayor tries to catch Oswald red-handed, his friends and the entire high school come together in a heart-warming show of support for their fellow student, who has impressed them with his talented art and his genuine concern for the future of the city’s art gallery. An engaging, fast read with a great ending, Tagged focuses on a thought-provoking, relevant issue. Author Eric Walters took his inspiration for this tale from a real street artist in Toronto, “Deadboy”, who became known for his humorous depictions of Mayor Rob Ford (who famously declared “war on graffiti”).