When The University of Memphis decided to make use of the blank space on the walls surrounding The University Center construction area, The U of M art department answered the call.
Conceived earlier in the spring, the project titled "Soul Food II" was a piece of passion for some art students who decided to focus their work on the hip-hop culture. Or at least that was the case for Leigh Anne Black, a junior art major, who claims the influence stemmed from listening to hip-hop music and break dancing.
"It's a difficult medium actually," she said referring to the graffiti along the construction wall. "I didn't understand it."
Through her interest in hip-hop and support from her boyfriend, another graffiti artist, she found passion in another art form.
Last spring, the space planning department at The University approached the art department with a project in mind. The department contacted art professor Cedar Nordbye and told Black and another student about the project proposal.
Staff in the art department said Nordbye and his students decided on a graffiti project.
The result was an array of shades of multiple colors and giant letters on the wooden fence that is now surrounding The University Center's demolition site.
Fred Alberson, then chair of the art department, said initially The University had a few oppositions, but things eventually got underway.
Beginning in mid-June, more than 20 graffiti artists came in from out of town and began helping Nordbye's students work on "Soul Food II." Some of the artists came from Nashville, Alabama and Texas.
The University provided the material, but the rest of the crew came "because that's something they wanted to do," Alberson said.
Most of the graffiti project has now been covered up.
Black is not disappointed despite spending five or six extra days outside spray painting in heat and humidity.
"I don't know what The University is planning on doing with that wall," Black said. "But an element of graffiti is that it's not permanent, and artists have to come to terms with that."
