Customer Reviews

Graffiti NYC

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

GRAFFITI NYC looks at graffiti, one of the most controversial, and certainly the most prevalent art forms to have manifested itself in the last fifty years. Through text and images graffiti's `ground zero', New York City, comes alive through the eyes of Martinez, who has been part of the `scene' for more than thirty years developing and documenting the cities street art since its inception nearly 40 years ago. His work, along with that of artist and photographer NATO and editor/curator Antonio Zaya, highlights the vocation of over 150 of today's best contemporary graffiti artists, or `writers'. There are quotations from a wide range of individuals involved, including those occupied in law enforcement, cultural commentary, and politics, along with those of the artists themselves. This is, without a doubt, an unapologetic celebration of contemporary graff. "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance"

Mr. Martinez hits the spot with this true-to-the-game pictorial of recent and current writers in NYC. It's drenched and drippy with no-excuses, raw street, straight up. The quotes by various writers are just as raw. Only trouble I had was navigating from the index to un-numbered pages when I wanted to reference particular photos. Aside, a must-have for anyone down with the most relevant art form of our day.

If you are looking for a book about pretty, glossy full color murals and pieces, don't buy this book. If you want a book about dirty, illegal, real graffiti, keep reading. The book is more of a photo essay on bombing, and the quotes throughout are great. I would recommend the book to graffiti fans, more casual readers should probably check out graffiti world or something like that.

This book is just a complete waste of time. Its more of a photography book rather than graffiti. The pictures are either pictures of paint shoes, random people, or some good throw ups that get ruined by placing them on the crease. Nothing is labeled and no order is set. The quotes inside the book are good but either city officials or the same artists over and over. My recommendation is to buy another book.

Although one would think it is no longer questioned as a "legitimate" genre of art, Graffiti NYC seeks to further document this deep and powerful movement. The book is beautifully designed and provides an interesting look at the recent history (21st century) of graffiti.

if you can get this book cheap and you like bombing and the bombing lifestyle, then get this book. the only problem with it, is that it feels like it was thrown together real quick and sold. its not put together very well, but theres some dope photography in there.

This book offers a very unique perspective that you don't see every day except on the gritty streets of
New York City. It is for serious-minded people who are interested in the mechanics of graffiti; tags and
throw-ups. We liked this book and found it exciting. If you're looking for Pieces or Murals, this book isn't
for you. This is where graffiti starts.

This book is less a graffiti book and more of a photography book. Every other page is a picture of paint on shoes. The fact that they call this a graffiti book really pisses me off. I expected to see grimy NYC bombs, but instead there are more marker tags and shoes than anything else. [...] If you like pictures of paint on shoes I recommend this book, if not save your money. The only funny thing is the corny [...] white guy they have next to a Noxer bomb... it was mildly humorous.

Want big drippy tags, outlines and throwups? Get this book.

Nice and grimy, with a good variety of stuff and definitely some cool old and new names. I liked the graff quotes section too.

My only dislike is that the book at times seems to focus on particular crews and is somewhat ignorant about street art and writers of different styles (photo of a dissed Dalek piece, using the term unknown or quirky for writers they should really know). I'd prefer the book had a more universal target, but maybe they feel that this particular cross-section has the grimiest styles, which is sort-of true, but they're leaving out lots. Still, for such a low price, this is a great book to get for nice dirty graff.

OK as another reviewer put it barely has any full colour murals. It more shows you graffiti where it gets done at street level. Think dripping ink tags, hastily rushed throwups with the dirty background of NYC surrounding it. Granted it wasn't what I was expecting when I ordered it and was thinking of the awesome talents of NYC's rich graffiti history but it is still a unique and interesting photobook showing the hustle and grind of getting your style on.