Graffito

Rating:
Summary: Excellent balance
Review: I found this book to be a great insight into the artist talents and motivations of graffiti artists. It also gave a view into the law enforcement and priviate property issues. Excellent book!

Rating:
Summary: Loose research and poor layout.
Review: I painted graffiti from the age of thirteen 'till the age of twentytwo, I know some of the most prominent people in this field and I have made a name for my crew. I'm settled down now and make a living as a Graphic Designer, so I consider myself a valid critic for this book, I am not a writer(book) so please bare with my sloppy writing. These are MY opinions so don't sweat me The book is a wonderful attempt of trying to make graffiti more understood but there seems to be certain things that annoyed me about the book. The writing consisted mostly of quotes from graffiti painters in the "Northern California" part of the U.S. Eventhough the quotes were pretty explosive they did not stand by themselves, and came across as fashionable or "cutting edge",they had a type of MTV commercial feel to them. I felt like someone was trying to sell me on the whole graffiti thing. The book was only skin deep as far as research goes, with this I mean, that if you are not a graffiti painter you are left with very little content after reading this book. Most of the pictures were of poor quality murals and it seemed like the author made small efforts to expand his horizon, reaching out to different types of painters and law enforcement agencies. It seems to me like the author knew some graffiti painter and said one day -"Hey lets make a book". So he started making his book and only talked to his one graffiti friend, including that graffiti friends circle of friends. I said that the murals in this book were of poor quality. I know of several great graffiti painters in the U.S that are easy to get in touch with that create awsome "burners" (murals), frankly, I think most of the artists that were represented with some exeptions are horrible graffiti artists. I was also dissapointed with the comments of most artists, but that is besides the point. As a graphic Designer I have to speak out on the lay-out and general design of this book. It is horrible, sometimes text is layed over textured backgrounds that make it nearly impossible for the reader to understand. It is very hard to read some parts of the book. Thumbs up to whoever took the photos. The photographer captured the sensations of going out at night and painting, I feel that the photographer did more real explaining and commenting about the art of graffiti than the author and angry painters put together.

Rating:
Summary: Nice...not thrilling but nice.
Review: Mike Walsh did this book more as a vehicle to promote his newly aquired design degree than as a graff book. He spent no more than two years researching and taking flicks although most of the graff you see was donated by graff writers and not flicked by Mike himself. This is not a graffiti book. It is a graphic design book which just happens to contain graff in it. It's obvious to a real graff junkie that this book is lacking but to an outsider it's a peek into a different world and that isn't such a bad thing. For those people wanting an in depth look at our culture, read Craig Castleman's book GETTING UP. Now THAT"S a real graff book.

Rating:
Summary: Toys will like this
Review: Some guy who has no connection to graffiti tries to play expert. Typical over educated stupidity.

Rating:
Summary: Can't Be Beat!!
Review: This book shows the tru hiphop culture at work. IT shows both sides of the story .This book is the shiznit

Rating:
Summary: just getting up
Review: this book was just a book, i didnt get any literary value from it. just more fliks for the mental, so that aint bad, kinda steep price for pictures tho. figure they have to cover the cost of a glorified scrap book. better book is "THE ART OF GETTING OVER". jsut wanted to get internet ups. Disillusioned From Reality. 2000 and on....

Rating:
Summary: digging it in LA
Review: This is one helluva book. Big on graphics...great black and white photographs...an excellent show of San Francisco Bay graffiti by someone on the outside who takes the objective viewpoint. It's the only graffiti book I'm aware of that includes quotes from the abatement side of the issue...this makes it more accessible and interesting than other graffiti books that show mostly color photos with little content. I also like the way the author approaches the graffit issue as a cultural phenomenom that is widely misunderstood. The author is most intererested in why this phenomenon keeps growing and why these kids are compelled to put their art in public places...it's also refreshing that Walsh in his introduction explores the idea that both sides of the issue(the graffiti writers vs. the abatement organizations)actually need each other and fuel each others causes. The graphics are powerful and fresh. The rough, chaotic style that Walsh used to design the book really mirrors its subject...and the black and whites really give the book an added dimension. If you appreciate art and want an objective view on this very interesting and misunderstood subject buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Knocked me out!
Review: Wow! This book is a graphic and photographic bonanza. It gets down to what the writers think and feel and there's also comments and quotes from the law. Even though the text is difficult to read in a few places it fits in with the rawness of the subject matter. The interview quotes are great. Walsh takes this subject and puts his take on it from both an artistic and journalistic point of view. His dynamic interpretation with great black and whites and graphics make this book sing and a real collector's item for anyone who appreciates experimental book design. Walsh is definitely on to something with his new exciting brand of photojournalism. Reliable sources tell me that he's been working in Taiwan for a few years and now putting together a documentary photography book on Taiwanese culture. I'll be waiting for it.