Graffiti artist Randy B sprays on a fresh canvas in Tempe's Hayden Lawn. Students participated in a graffiti clinic led by B on Monday at the Tempe campus to launch a week of events under the Urban Sol movement. (Photo by Dominic Valente)B was introduced to graffiti at the age of six and has been interested in street art since then. People in his community started recognizing his skills, which landed him many jobs painting graffiti murals and doing graphic design. He is a full-time artist and is involved in many projects.
Participants in the clinic learned the different types of graffiti, as well as the various styles. B focused primarily on tag style, the quickest and most basic form of graffiti writing. A tag is typically a depiction of an artist's name and is used to gain recognition.
Evidence of the first forms of graffiti first appeared in the L.A. River in the early 1940s. This form of graffiti was inspired by Blackletter, an Old English font. By the 1970s, evidence of gang graffiti began to evolve. Different styles vary between different neighborhoods and gangs.
B demonstrated graffiti techniques on three white panels. Participants in the clinic followed his lead. The panels used for the artwork will be used as mats for the coming dance competition on Friday, which is one of the events under the Urban Sol Movement, a week of events that aim to bring together urban Phoenix culture and schools within the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
Melissa Britt, who teaches at the institute, said many students enjoy taking part in the events.
“Urban Sol is basically a jam or gathering that highlights different hip-hop elements featuring graffiti, MCing, urban dance, DJing and music,” she said.
The movement began four years ago and was originally called Civil Disobedience because the birth of hip-hop and urban culture came from the idea of civil disobedience, Britt said.
Since the organization was created, there has been an increase in membership every year.
Global health sophomore Stephanie Waddell said she heard about the clinic through her art class.
“I never really had an interest in graffiti until I heard about this clinic,” she said.
Global health junior Hayley Miller is captain of the Hip-Hop Coalition, a campus dance club. She learned about the clinic from members of her club who participate in Urban Sol.
“I have always been interested in graffiti, but I’ve never tried it until today,” she said.
Reach the reporter at kgrega@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @kelciegrega
