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Inspiration Wall

OF COURSE, ART ISN’T CONFINED TO MUSEUMS OR THE HOMES OF THE WEALTHY. SOMETIMES YOU’LL FIND IT RIGHT ON THE STREET.

GRAFFITI IS A TYPE OF ART THAT HAPPENS ALMOST ANYWHERE. GRAFFITI IS WORDS OR PICTURES DRAWN OR PAINTED ON WALLS WITHOUT PERMISSION. SOMETIMES IT IS CONSIDERED ART, BUT OTHER TIMES IT CAN BE CHARGED AS A CRIME.

IN THE CASE OF ONE FLORIDA SCHOOL, THE STUDENTS GOT SPECIAL PERMISSION TO KEEP THEIR SCRIBBLINGS ON THE WALL.

KELLY GROSFIELD REPORTS.

KELLY: THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM IN THE GYM HAS BECOME THE HOT TOPIC AT PALM BAY PREP ACADEMY.

A STUDENT WHO WAS FEELING DOWN AND WROTE A NEGATIVE MESSAGE ON THE BATHROOM WALL, IS NOW BEING ENCOURAGED BY GIRLS ALL OVER THE SCHOOL.

KATHLEEN FONTAINE / PALM BAY PRINCIPAL: "A YOUNG LADY, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WAS IN DISTRESS AND WROTE THAT SHE WAS VERY UNHAPPY AND FROM THAT, ALL AROUND HER MESSAGE, THERE WERE POSITIVE MESSAGES."

KELLY: MESSAGES LIKE "STAY COOL", "YOU'RE LOVED" AND "BE STRONG" FILL THE WALLS OF THE LAST STALL IN THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM.

BUT WRITING ON THE WALL ISN'T NORMAL... MARKING THEM IS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.

KATHLEEN FONTAINE / PALM BAY PRINCIPAL: "WE PAINT OVER ANY GRAFFITI ON THE WALLS IN THE BATHROOMS AND WHATNOT AROUND SCHOOL, AND THEY ASKED IF WE COULD LEAVE IT UP AND IF IT COULD BE AN INSPIRATIONAL WALL. I SAID, LET'S TRY IT."

KELLY: THE "INSPIRATION WALL" ALSO KNOWN AS "THE HAPPY PLACE STALL" HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH POSITIVE COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS HOPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ANGELA SCHMIDT / CURRICULUM COUNSELOR: "IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE APART OF, THAT THEY COULD LIKE CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND COULD MAKE THEM HAPPY AND FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES."

KELLY: ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY WILL MONITOR THE MESSAGES AND AS LONG AS THEY STAY POSITIVE, THEY WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO KEEP WRITING AND EXPANDING THE WALL.

IN PANAMA CITY, KELLY GROSFIELD.


Find Out More


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Video: PBS LearningMedia, MN Original, Graffiti Artist Peyton Scott Russell | Explore the fundamentals of this street art form.