Vandalism or art? Seniors at Episcopal Homes learn about the art of graffiti with new mural

The art of graffiti is open to people of all ages, although when thinking about graffiti artists, images of teenagers and young people with spray paint cans might come to mind.   Residents of a senior housing facility in St. Paul took an interest in the art of graffiti after classes were offered by Twin Cities graffiti artist Peyton Scott Russell. He is known for his 12-foot mural of George Floyd he created for George Floyd Square in 2020. Now his nonprofit, SPRAYFiNGER, teaches the graffiti as a creative artform.   Peyton Scott Russell listens to the artists he instructed during an unveiling of a retaining wall mural at Episcopal Homes. Nicole Neri for MPR News Classes at Episcopal Homes started in the fall of 2020 during the social unrest in the Twin Cities area. The first class offered lectures about the history of protest music, which featured topics of hip-hop, breakdancing and graffiti. Interests in these topics eventually led to bringing in Russell to teach at Episcopal Homes.   Over the past two years, he has taught several different classes to residents of the senior living facility, which were grant funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board.   Gifts from individuals keep MPR...