Graffiti As Art Takes Center Stage At Groves High School

BIRMINGHAM (WWJ) - Graffiti in Birmingham? It happened Tuesday at Groves High School when renowned street artist Kobie "Rift" Solomon paid a lunch time visit.

Solomon is one of several artists mentoring the kids who will recreate panels for the side of Toast Restaurant.

He says the high school kids were very enthusiastic.

"One of the kids from each senior class, one of the seniors from Seaholm and one from Groves' art class each designed a piece, and each will be doing one of the panels," said Solomon. "The panels ended up being bigger than we had initially planned because they are tackling a piece that is six feet tall and eight feet wide, it's pretty big for a kid."

He said one of the things that graffiti artists do is sell 'cool' whatever the invisible thing cool is; street artists are usually able to buy and sell it. "If Birmingham wants to buy in, that's fine," Solomon said. "I'm not selling out."

He notes that there is a big difference between street artists and taggers and muralist.

"They are not even in the same breeding anymore, one thing is a game and the other is serious, kids run around tagging stuff making garbage, making everything look ugly ... it's not good for anybody," he said.

Solomon told WWJ that he was impressed by the enthusiasm of the students at Groves, and welcomes the recent emergence of street art in Detroit.

He said the city has lagged behind other areas of the country.

The murals will be unveiled on June 6th, then will eventually be auctioned off for charity.