Customer Reviews

Graffiti Women: Street Art from Five Continents

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Street artist/fine artist Nicholas Ganz, author of Graffiti World, offers urban art enthusiasts a second round of exceptional research and art compilation, this time concentrating on the pioneering contributions of women to contemporary graffiti writing and artwork. Having always been a part of the street art front lines, female graffitisans are typically overshadowed by the men in the ranks due to sheer numbers rather than any lack of innovation or talent. Ganz, along with author Nancy Macdonald and co-conspirator Swoon have produced an exhaustive narrative that tells the intricate story of graffiti writing women. Included are the artist's personal stories and their insights into the male-dominated urban art world.

The Ganz collection, like his earlier work, promotes the efforts of praiseworthy, marginalized artists. In the case of Graffiti World that marginalization occurred as a result of the art form itself. In Graffiti Women, it's not the "second-best", urban artist that is lauded but the women who are graffiti writers that receive the exhaustive and well-deserved coverage. Although the author's intent is not to be divisive, it is unfortunate that our cultural approach to acknowledging one another centers around labeling people as either "blank" or "female blank". In Three Artists: (Three Women), Anne Middleton wrote:

To identify an artist this way, as a woman, has never been a merely parenthetical remark. The qualification has customarily been offered as a limit to, rather than a guarantee of, suitability for the artist's role - with mostly irritating results for the artists themselves. (2)

Nicholas Ganz does a unparalleled job of describing the contribution of almost two hundred women who work in the urban art genre. His book will continue as a permanent part of my small but well-loved collection and I will continue to wonder whether the world is best served by keeping the commendation of exemplary women separate from that of men.

A really good selection of women involved in the graffiti scene, that documents a portion of each of their work well.
Altho their are a few obvious female writers that are missing from this book, like Misery, Diva or Barbara and Eva 62, the book generally covers a good selection of writers and has some awesome coverage of some of their work!
An awesome book highly recommended!

Graffiti Women is a great book for either the collector, or the first time buyer of street art, also this edition comes with a dust jacket that is also a fold-out poster of art within the book!
Never before has there been a better compiled book on Women artists from right around the world, also includes background and history of Artists.

Great pics of graffiti by women. Bought as gift for my son and he LOVES this book...says every time he looks at it he sees something new. Can't put it down.

This book is a awsome graffit book,with writers from around the world loaded w/ there best pics and a lil doc. on them below ,i really dig it it's FRESH! I also own the other book ''graffiti from 5 connitients'' and i would have too say this book is better but they both make a good collection i would deffinetly recomend this too real graff writers that are looking for something that they can hold on too and enjoy for a long time.

To look at all the SICK burners done by women, and read their comments and thoughts was a bit overwhelming for me. In a good way... it makes me proud, and gives me inspiration. Its well done, fair, good quality and decent length. The art of graffiti itself is (usually) gender-less, but the culture is NOT. The bits about each artist clearly illustrate every woman has a different take on it.
Reading this book and looking at the photos gave me chills down my spine. I no longer feel the alienation that I've began to experience being involved in this subculture. I will have this book for the rest of my life, and it will have the spine taped due to so much use.
Oh, and this book ISN'T a chick book. It is for ANYONE who writes or appreciates graffiti. Point blank. A lot of guys I know could use a book like this... and perhaps read it as well as look.
No brainer.... BUY IT if you are reading the reviews to see if you might like it or not.

The artworks and tags in this book are amazing! I think it is so cool to have women be displayed for their work. The book was jam packed with colors and background on a phenomenal group of women from all over the world!

the book was in excellent condition! love it. it inspired me to continue with art.

my girl loves this book. she loves how so many women are into this stuff. she loves readying about how women as well as men change how we see are envoriment! it's creasy sick bombs in this book.

This is a must have for anyone interested in graffiti art or the under appreciated work of many brilliant female artists. This book gives a narrative of many female graff artists who are in the shadows of their male counterparts. Ganz describes the struggles of these women, as well as digs into their lives to reveal the meaning behind their art. The poster that comes with it is also a great addition.

This reminds me of a movie I have seen recently,Who Does She Think She Is? House Party Kit. It also delves into the lives of the struggling female artists. If you liked this book you'll love the movie. If you've seen the movie and haven't read the book, then I highly recommend checking it out. You'll love it! Ganz's work makes for an excellent read.