Graffiti 365 [Hardcover]

Jay Edlin (Author), Andrew Witten (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2011 | Series: 365

Graffiti 365 delivers the first real insider's view into the contemporary graffiti and street-art scenes, as well as their antecedents. A fun, wide-ranging survey of the international graffiti movement, this book uses more than 600 rare, previously unpublished, or legendary images to introduce and describe important artists--from Blade to Banksy--and styles--from bubble to wild. Along the way, Graffiti 365 covers different eras, cities, legendary walls and crews, police and public responses to graffiti, and more.
The author of Graffiti 365, J.SON, has been an artist and historian of the graffiti movement for decades--he started writing graffiti in 1973 and retired in 1984. Unparalleled in its breadth and depth of coverage, Graffiti 365 is a wide-angle snapshot of an entire movement.


Graffiti365.com

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jay “J.SON” Edlin has written for The Source, Blaze, and Mass Appeal. He recently was interviewed for Jon Naar’s Birth of Graffiti. Andrew “Zephyr” Witten is the author of Dondi White: Style Master General and has written for Vibe, The Source, and Juxtapoz.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 744 pages
• Publisher: Abrams (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810997444
• ISBN-13: 978-0810997448
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 2 x 6.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Graffiti & Street Art

More About the Author

As a graffiti writer whose career spanned from the early 70's to the early 80's, I have participated in a few of the so-called Golden Era's of subway art. I would never refer to myself as a legend or pioneer. Those accolades are best bestowed by others. I would categorize myself as a journeyman writer who stood next to greatness without ever being great myself. I have always been passionate about documenting the movement and look forward to sharing my knowledge with everyone. I hope to remain informative, not derisive.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intellectual's Coffee Table Book November 29, 2011

By Daniel Feral

Format:Hardcover

GRAFFITI 365 is a deep book that covers graffiti to street art and back again. Perfect for the hardcore fan because of the details and breadth of coverage; But also perfect for the casual reader, because of its beautiful design, photography and readability. The author is J.Son/Terror 161, who is one of the original writers from the early seventies, so you know it's coming from first-hand knowledge and from the heart.

Martha Cooper sums him up best: "J.SON knows the origin of every tag and piece since the dawn of time. He's my go-to guy whenever I need clarification on an obscure graff factoid. Graffiti 365 is destined to become the Google of graffiti and street Art" (from graffiti365.com).

When calling the book "the Google of graffiti," I'm assuming Ms. Cooper is referring to the book's information design. The book offers many ways to search for information, above and beyond the contents page and its alphabetical, rather than chronological, organization.

My favorite of these organizational features is the internal page number referencing sprinkled throughout the body of the text, like hyperlinks on a web page. These page numbers constantly refer the reader to other sections of the book that are being discussed. So, if you don't know Futura, you will immediately know where to go look him up. Also, there are in depth glossary and index sections in the back, which complete its status as a reference book for scholars and OCD fans alike.

Also deserving of high praise are the forward by Zephyr and the introduction by J.Son. Both are beautifully written from the perspective of adults who have the insight of hindsight about their activities as adolescents and the maturation of their subculture over the years into a worldwide movement. They bring new understandings to the cultural context and early history of graffiti, and also give a graffiti writer's take on the rise of street art that followed.

As a final note, particularly for scholars, if you are working on an article or thesis about graffiti and/or street art, this book is a must for all the reasons stated above. It is one of my top five graffiti and street art books this year, along with other scholarly tomes, such as The History of American Graffiti by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon; the Art In The Streets MOCA exhibition catalog; and Trespass by Carlo McCormick. Great company to be in.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Look at a Unique Art Form November 27, 2011

By L. Nietzer

Format:Hardcover

Graffiti 365 is a comprehensive look at the unique art form of graffiti and street art that can be enjoyed by all. Not only are there colorful examples of artwork, this book also includes a brief history of each artist. Being able to learn more about this art form and these artists, as well as seeing their artwork photographed in it's actual location, was a treat. Being a teenager in the 1970s who grew up outside New York City, I actually can remember seeing some of this artwork on subway cars and buildings.

But this book is not just for those of us who can relate to seeing these images in our past; it is appropriate for anyone interested in art or learning more about this expansive form of art that has been ignored in the past. In fact, on Thanksgiving my 20 year old nephew couldn't put Graffiti 365 down. Coincidentally, he happened to be wearing a Shepard Fairey tee shirt and was excited to find this street artist included in the book. Graffiti 365 would make a great holiday gift.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book about a unique form of expression October 27, 2011

By Paul D Parsekian

Format:Hardcover

This book provides a sweeping survey of graffiti art, including the styles and artists, materials used and techniques, and even an article about the vandal squad (a NYCPD team dedicated to apprehending graffiti artists). It's a great book to page through at random. The characters behind the work come alive in vivid detail. There's Owen Dippie, who did striking full-face portraits for Biggie Smalls. Keith Haring is here -- at one point he was asked by police officers for his autograph rather than being arrested. These are by no means stories about only the New York scene -- the book covers art and artists from other American cities and around the world as well. It's beautifully designed and photographed, with each page edged in a unique color as if spray painted on.

The author must know what he is talking about. Jay "J.SON" Edlin grew up in New York during the 70's and 80's. His frank retelling of his heyday in the foreword makes interesting reading. He slyly includes a description of his own work in the book -- under one of his other monikers, Terror 161 -- complete with third-person description, just like everyone else he covers.

I must say, I used to think of graffiti artists as just a bunch of thoughtless delinquents. The true story, as told in this impressive book, is much more nuanced. I keep it on my coffee table with other art books I'm proud to share with my guests.