More than just unusually balmy weather drew the small crowd to the sun-soaked nook near the woods. Dogs splashed in the lake as people gathered to celebrate the official unveiling of the Free Speech Mural Wall on Feb. 8. The triangular wall, located on the edge of the lake behind the old tennis courts, is the brainchild of senior Sam Sklover, a sculpture major.

“My goal is for it to get much use and for people to explore their creativity,” said Sklover. “I want people who have no experience to enjoy it (as well). Graffiti needs practice and you need a place to practice where you can’t get a felony.”

The wall provides a place for people to hone their spray-painting skills as well as space for tagging without repercussions.

Though this is an important aspect of the project, promoting self-expression is another major goal.

“The only purpose for it is for people to come express themselves on it,” said a recent alum who did not want his name printed. “They can put stuff up for people to see and not worry about consequences, and if someone doesn’t like it, they can go over it.”

Though the opening was this past Sunday, people had already tagged the wall, including two rival “graffiti crews” who spray painted and whitewashed over each other’s designs in an escalating tag war.

“In graffiti, the rule is if you can’t do it better, don’t cover over,” said Sklover. However, he added, “it’s considered flattery to have a piece put over yours, if it’s good.”

The response to the wall was generally positive, although the nature of it drew some criticism.

“I think it’s an interesting idea, but I think it removes the illicit nature of spray paint,” said first-year Brian Jones. “It makes it less fun and sort of gentrified.”

Despite this, Jones was among those who took advantage of the provided spray paint and tagged the 12 -feet-tall wall.

Sklover constructed the wall last semester from pressure-treated wooden boards attached to frames that were nailed to posts which had been sunk into concrete. About 30 people from varied social groups, from artists to athletes, helped with the wall’s construction.

“One thing I learned is that the art department can count on the football team,” said Sklover.

Members of Senate, which funded the project, expressed concerns about possible profanity and vulgarity on the wall, but so far there is no evidence of offensive tagging. Lynn Grissett, a senior at UNCG, was impressed by the nature of the graffiti.

“Seeing this, it also makes me appreciate graffiti more because most graffiti I’ve seen in cities is some offensive stuff,” said Grissett. “But this stuff seems more positive, so I really do appreciate it.