Manual Arts High School - LA's Street Art & Graffiti Hall of Fame (pt. 1/2)

Manual Arts High School has been doing some amazing things with its art program. Not only does it have programs and classes focusing on street art and graffiti which really engage the students, but it is also serves as a Hall of Fame for some of LA's, and the world's, top street artists.

It still has the shiny glossy floors like most any High School and the smell of school lunch, but the walls Manual Arts HS are like a museum, and some have said it compares to MOCA.


The comparison to MOCA is more than fair. M&F first travelled all the way from Hollywood to this High School in S. Central last December to capture the new giant Roa mural, who was in the MOCA show (and, in our opinion, the piece at Manual trumps the piece at MOCA!). Representatives from MOCA have visited Manual Arts, and plan to again soon.

M&F had the opportunity to visit the inside of the school this weekend. We found out that both inside and out, the walls at Manual Arts High School are adorned with art from some of the biggest names in Los Angeles, and the world.

Roa, Faile, Buff Monster, Atlas, Axis, CBS, Koffie, Inept, Cat Cult, Branded, Smear, SmogCity, Restitution Press, Rabi, Cyrcle, Yo Peace!, Ewsoe, PDB, Ruets, Zozo, 2 cents, Bonks, AL, Auger, Tastes Like Gold, Acme, Shark Toof, Eye One, Skypage, Cache, Eye One, are just a few of the All-Star's on the walls of Manual Arts High School. And, what is really cool is that the students also get to create their own art and hang it up amongst all of these big names, which is a really empowering experience. And a couple of notable street artists have even launched from the school's art program including Leeroy and Hackum Sackum.

This whole art movement at Manual Arts High School has been expertly curated by art instructor Marco Ayala. Marco is energetic and charismatic, and his passion for art is clear. He explained to us his some of his ideas, and a lot of thought and careful planning goes into the placement of each piece. Marco is working on many levels, and he has a deep understanding of art and how it influences people. It was great to hear how the art in the school developed, and how it has done everything from giving the students a voice and something to relate to, to giving the faculty a brighter walk from the parking lot to the school.

The art really seems to be having an impact. The art program on the walls was started as a response to gang violence (more on that later). We were at the school on a weekend and the building was basically empty save for a few secondary education classes, and we still had half a dozen people come by, ask about the art, and compliment it. And the rest of the building is so drab--the insides of the classrooms are barren in comparison to the decorated halls, and the bathroom was literally the roughest looking bathroom we have ever seen in our lives. But the hallways are like a museum, and the students will still deface property that does not have art, but not touch the art. The respect for the walls that have art, especially in comparison to the rest of the school, is truly astounding.

This art has really seemed to strike a chord with the community. Marco is a strong believer that colors and art influence a person's mind, and the way he has brightened and inspired this community in S. Central Los Angeles is one of the most amazing things we have heard in a long time.

Stay up~