Since July producer-director Rory Owen Delaney has been working on a documentary about The Graff Lab, the Pico Union Housing Corporation and life in downtown Los Angeles. At the center of the film are Ricky Guerrero and Gloria Farias whose enterprising programs and teamwork have been uplifting the Pico-Union community for years. By empowering local taggers, skaters and jerks to create art, dance, music and small businesses, Ricky and Gloria aim to include the Pico-Union district in the gentrification of downtown LA while still maintaining their community’s distinct identity.

Delaney’s previous documentary “Toxic Soup” was recently acquired by The Documentary Channel and was an official selection of the 2010 Atlanta Film Festival, New Jersey Film Festival, Twin Cities Film Festival, Louisville International Festival of Film, the KahBang Film Festival and the American Conservation Film Festival, among others. Delaney is currently editing a trailer for the upcoming Graff Lab documentary. In the meantime he has posted some graffiti time lapses shot at the world famous Graff Lab on his vimeo and youtube profiles. The first time lapse features German graffiti artist Jason Holloway and LA-based Aldo. The second time lapse features California graffiti artists Serk and Savager.

Graff Lab Time Lapse – German Edition from Rory Owen Delaney on Vimeo.

Graff Lab Time Lapse – Cali Style from Rory Owen Delaney on Vimeo.

Zombie Flash Mob from Rory Owen Delaney on Vimeo.

Here are some of the more recent pieces that have gone up at the world famous Graff Lab located on the corner of Venice and Union in downtown Los Angeles. Every Saturday and Sunday the yard makes a colorful transformation that you have to see to believe. Ricky Guerrero founded the Graff Lab in 2006 after the Los Angeles public schools slashed their arts programs due to budgetary issues. The Graff Lab is an urban art gallery as well as a safe haven that is committed to developing positive art and artists.

Ricardo Guerrero, an artist and musician, is the founder of the Graff Lab in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles. The program aims to turn street taggers into skilled artists. There is only one rule: No gangsters. (Gary Friedman, Los Angeles Times / October 1, 2010)

Last week the LA TIMES ran a feature article on Ricky Guerrero and The Graff Lab. The Rick Rojas story appeared in the November 14th edition of the paper.

“The afternoon sun sears Louie Mesa as he stands on cracked pavement in a black ball cap, black T-shirt and dark jeans. The sweat on his brow doesn’t seem to bother him. He’s savoring his canvas.

The battered wall in front of him may be a hodgepodge of bright colors and scattered patterns from taggers past, but on this slate Mesa sees a dream.

He’s been in this spot for hours, arriving at 9:30 a.m. after a restless night, painting from memory a piece of art that has been sketching itself out in his mind for days. He’s illustrated his name with block letters and filled it in with silver paint and airy patterns.

Mesa said it was his third visit to the Graff Lab in the Pico-Union neighborhood, a weekend program that aims to transform street taggers into skilled artists. The Graff Lab offers space on walls that wrap around the office complex of the Pico Union Housing Corp. There is only one rule: No gangsters.

“It’s not defacing property; it’s an art form,” said founder Ricardo Guerrero. “They can be whatever they want, but when they cross through those doors, they are an artist.”

Read the entire article by Rick Rojas of the LA TIMES here.