Graffito [Paperback]

Michael Walsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 1996

The graffiti phenomenon taking place in urban America has erupted into a full scale war. The main weapons: aerosol spray paint versus hundreds of taxpayer-funded abatements programs. To the graffiti writer, graffiti is a secret language, an empowering form of self-expression, a screaming voice against an unjust, alienating society. To the upholders of social law and order, graffiti is "vandalism," an ugly and terrifying threat to social value, which cost U.S. taxpayers four billion dollars in 1995.

For two years, beginning in the fall of 1994, Michael Walsh immersed himself in the graffiti world of the San Francisco Bay Area. He took thousands of photographs, frequented train yards, went on all-night "bombing runs" with graffiti writers, prowled the Muni train tunnels at 3a.m., rode with graffiti abatement crews, spoke with small business owners who are frequent targets of graffiti, and tracked down key city officials and personnel directly involved with graffiti removal.

This powerful book delivers a raw, in-your-face account of this complex and controversial subject. It contains nearly 200 photographs, and quotes from over fifty interviews regarding both sides of the issue, and dispels many of the media-generated myths concerning graffiti. In this moving, articulate, visual account, Michael Walsh presents to us an urban phenomenon begging to be understood.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Graffiti is a kick in the face to the Gallery/Museum system, where the artist is pimped like a whore for the capitalist system, made into another commodity for people to buy—Graffiti art is free for all to come and view, no one can own it, it belongs to all of us."
- Eskae, Oakland, California

"I think graffiti is vandalism, pure and simple. To them, to get busted is like a Purple Heart. Nobody really slams the doors on those thugs. These graffiti vandals are causing people pain and grief. They think they're artists and have some right like free speech to express their individualism or artistry. If they want to be an artist they should go to work for a record company and do hip-hop CD covers. Graffiti might look good to them and their buddies, but the majority of the people don't want to look at that crap every day."
- Gary Doyle, Public Works Officer, Nuisance Crime Abatement Unit, Oakland, California

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (October 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556432313
• ISBN-13: 978-1556432316
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,437,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

American artist and author Michael Walsh was born Michael Joseph "Mike" Walsh on January 13, 1960 in Buffalo, New York of Irish, German, and Italian ancestry.

Walsh was a rebellious and adventurous youth, leaving Minneapolis for Florida at nineteen. He hitchhiked frequently, and journeyed to San Diego, California soon after he turned twenty. He resided in California for eighteen years; also living in Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1995, Walsh graduated from California College of the Arts in Oakland. The following year, in 1996, Walsh created the book titled Graffito, a photo essay of the graffiti phenomenon in the San Francisco Bay Area. The book was well received in the United States and Europe.

Walsh ventured to Prague, Czech Republic in 1997 and began work on Frontier Town, a photo essay which explores the remnants of forty one years of Soviet communist rule and occupation in Prague. In 1998 Walsh's work in Prague was cut short when he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in Photography to Taiwan. For the next two years, Walsh made frequent excursions with his camera to many regions of the island traveling by bus, motorbike, and train. Later he began recording some of his Taiwan experiences in writing. Cadillac Fin Suitcase, a collection of eighteen short works concerning Taiwan, was published in 2011.

Walsh lives in Taiwan with his wife and amor aeternus, Julia Wu.

Walsh's upcoming novella, titled Western Roads, will be available spring 2012. The work is an uproarious tale depicting Walsh's month-long hitchhiking journey along the California coast.

To view a sample of Walsh's Taiwan photography and artwork: http://michaelwalsh7.wordpress.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Loose research and poor layout., December 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Graffito (Paperback)

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.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In-Your-Face, May 18, 1998

By 

SCRIBE ([e-mail]) (NorthWest United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Graffito (Paperback)

GRAFFITO is not to be taken lightly. It paints graffiti artists and the hip-hop subculture in an informative raw light. Looking at both sides of the graffiti phenomenon, Walsh shows how the heroes/criminals of graffiti feel about their misunderstood art and how the public interprets it . I was very happy with the myriad of quotes from interviews with actual established writers who live, breath, and sleep graffiti. Although a little profane at times, this book does not cut any corners or leave any of the truthfulness surrounding graffiti out. Graffiti has and always will be revered by its participants and despised by it's enemies. I'm glad that Michael Walsh took the time to hear and voice the thoughts of those so immersed in it. A definite for any graffiti enthusiast. Good pictures too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars digging it in LA, March 3, 2000

By 

reader from Los Angeles (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Graffito (Paperback)

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.