Buffalo Rising Online

Mar 4th 2008, 3:03pm By Elena Cala Buscarino

Celebrating Diversity. The Charter School for Applied Technology (CSAT), though deeply embedded in the more staid aspects of learning subjects based on precision, nurtures another side of students with a basis in creativity.

Diversity. It's the message written on the students' new graffiti wall, commissioned by mentor and calculus teacher, Shawn Ward, and paid for with the students' in-house community service dollars earned over the years. The artist, Bryan Dorothy, said that he's never done illegal graffiti, adding, "I didn't start painting in this style until I was 18 or 19, and I wasn't very good. By the time I was good, I was 24 or 25, the penalties were huge, and I wasn't going to risk being arrested." Dorothy, who also designs tattoos and graphics for clothing, is adamant about making the distinction between graffiti, which is illegal, and graffiti-style painting.

(Bryan Dorothy and Shawn Ward)

Completed on Friday and Saturday nights, the students had not gotten a full glimpse of the wall until our visit. According to Ward, the students are shocked that the school would allow them to have this type of art. As they inspected it closely, they noticed that a quote from Ghandi was included.

When asked what she thought about the wall and asked about how it fit into the school, Heather Parish said, "Our school is constructive and academic based. I'm shocked but happy."

Gloria Kazmierczak said, "Through art, we are able to show self-expression. Graffiti in a business oriented school is a sign of that."

As to whether or not graffiti style art is art at all, Amanda Baker said she sees this mural as art. "You can show a lot of people the same picture, and everyone's interpretation is different."

Renee Mines agreed, saying, "No two pieces of art are the same. It's not all skulls and rainbows."

To which Ward, whom the students call their advocate, added, "But sometimes it is."

The students were unanimous in thinking that tagging--in any form--is ugly and is vandalism. Paige Thomas, another student said that it was the message and whether or not it was positive or negative that drew the line between art and vandalism, to which Renee and Heather said, "No...It's still vandalism if it's done anywhere other than a dedicated wall."

As to mixing Graffiti and Ghandi, Renee said, "It's sexy," and then giggled, saying that it was the only adjective she could come up with.

"These are straight edge students," Ward said. "We are lucky enough to have a principal, Carrie Dzierba, who is supportive of a lot of things, especially promoting tolerance." Ward himself grew up in a small town, going to public school near Ithica. He feels that bringing this urban element into his school of 400 top-notch students is a way to introduce them to both tolerance and diversity.

On our way out, Ward was greeted by a student coming down an adjoining hallway. "You're beautiful, Mr. Ward," she said.

He laughed, "Well, thank you."

To which she replied, " Just beautiful."