- February 18, 2011 • 1:55 pm PST
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photography by Layli Samimi-Moore
One version of the story of South Los Angeles' Manual Arts High is that it's a failing school, a dropout factory. But, thanks to the 101-year-old school's innovative art department, another tale is swiftly emerging—a narrative that has students tapping into their creative energies and using street art to express their social and political voices. In the past three years, the campus has become home to museum quality work by dozens of street artists—everyone from international stars like Belgium's Roa, to locals like the Yo Collective, designers of this pyramid, to the students themselves. Art teacher Mark Ayala takes us on a visual journey.
photography by Layli Samimi-Moore

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