Redirecting their talent
Sarah Rivero, 17, adds touches to an artwork as part of the Skillz ‘N Action program, which teaches how to build on the skills of graffiti tagging to create art without vandalism. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
Skillz ‘N Action teacher John Zender Estrada reaches for some of the tools of his trade. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
Skillz ‘N Action teacher John Zender Estrada, left, offers Fernando Cardenas, 16, some tips on a mural that the class is painting as part of a group project. Estrada himself once rolled with tagging crews and contributed to the L.A. graffiti movement in the early 1980s. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
Skillz ‘N Action participant Ramon Marcos, 20, of South Los Angeles says he now understands that graffiti has a place outside of defacing property. The L.A. Trade Technical College student recently convinced a shop owner to allow him to paint her storefront. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
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Marcos Lopez, 13, an aspiring artist in the Skillz ‘N Action program sketches a drawing that he will paint onto canvas. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
