Windsor graffiti artist continues blatant vandalism

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Drouillard Road resident MIlena Chojnacki has a message for the person who has been using the “KURS” tag, along with poorly drawn recurring characters, in graffiti throughout the city.

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“Could you stop?” begged. “It’s not funny.”

Ford City is among the most recent areas of Windsor to have been vandalized by “KURS.” On October 15, Chojnacki and other Drouillard Road residents were dismayed to find the label and its associated drawings repeatedly in black spray paint throughout their neighborhood.

Chojnacki was left with a “KURS” face on her doorstep. “It took me a couple of days to get it off,” he said Tuesday. “I cried. It scares me a little. Someone outside my door doing this, in the middle of the night?

Ford City BIA President Shane Potvin said “KURS” left a mark on more than two dozen locations on Drouillard Road last week, from businesses to residences to public property.

“All the way from Tecumseh Road to Richmond Street,” Potvin lamented. “This guy just walked down the street and drew on every surface he saw.”

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Doors, sidings, and garages of private homes have been targeted by “KURS,” along with storefronts, bus stops, transformer units, construction sites, and the side of a box truck.

“Just painting because this truck has stayed here forever,” read a message left by “KURS”.

Potvin, who is a graphic artist, said he sees no value in the “KURS” work, which usually consists of a hastily spelled name and a big-lipped caricature or a cane man with a joint.

“This is pure vandalism,” Potvin said. “It is so sloppy. It has affected many people. Really disappointing. “

Last month, “KURS” was busy on Ottawa Street, scribbling on properties sometime between the night of September 24 and the morning of September 25.

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Kate Gibb, director of services at Drouillard Place, believes the tagger’s spree across Ford City occurred between the night of October 14 and the morning of October 15.

Since then, many homeowners have tried cleaning up or covering up the graffiti, but Gibb said he still sees a lot.

“It’s a big hassle,” Gibb said. “It is inconsiderate and very unnecessary. And for all the good things happening in Ford City, it’s upsetting to see this kind of thoughtlessness. “

“There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason… You know, there are other ways to get attention. This is not art, this is nonsense. “

Windsor Police have been investigating “KURS” since the Ottawa Street vandalism last month.

Potvin said he has since learned that there has been evidence of “KURS” in the city center.

As for the suggestion that notoriety is exactly what the tagger wants, Potvin said he believes the issue needs to be brought to light in order to bring the criminal to justice.

“It needs to be publicized, and it needs to be in the media, because it needs to get caught,” Potvin said. “The more people know about it, the more people will report it.”

“I don’t care if he’s playing on his ego. He’s terrible at what he does. “