5 comments about Autograf: New York City's Graffiti Writers.

1. Basically an ok book for the ny scene. Not much in the way of content though. Not much pieces, mostly local bombing and pics of some of the writers with their eyes blurred.



2. I love the idea of the book~ A "blackbook" that's alive with photos of the writers....but truth be told, this book is nothing less than a quickly assembled capital venture...Many of the writers in this book are questionably "all city" and about a third of them ARE'NT EVEN FROM NEW YORK~!... It was obviously put together by someone who looked no further than 2 DEGREES OF SEPARATION to find the artisits for the book. It is neither a fair representation of NYC graffiti nor an artisitic feature book... You will see handstyles ("tags") of the featured artists, but there is little more than a handful of actual WORK from writers.... It is an interesting take on graffiti documentation and I suppose a nice addition to an already well established collection of such books... but you'll flip through it once and never pick it up again.



3. All these writers have crazy ups. CURRENT All City bombers or at least All Borough. The paint markers are so perfectly reproduced and glossy it looks like they wrote right on the page. As for this kid who gave it a 1/5. He's an idiot, straight up. Who knocks on handstyles!?!?! TAGS are an essential form of graff. THE ORIGINAL and most common. You think all those pioneers you listed didnt put up 1000's of insides and tags? U think the writers in this book "dont know who blade, seen, dondi... are?" OF course they do! THEY LIVE AND RELATE TO THEM. DO THE WORDS "KING" MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU!?!?! If anything YOU DONT KNOW THEM! You watch style wars and think you know something. Hey buddy we've all seen it. Get you head out of '82 and open up to the 2000's. Oh wait... you aint from new york...... so go back to Graffiti.org and go sweat some legal Daim production from Germany. HERB!
   (Sorry for the rant. But if your a real writer from NYC you WILL love this book.)



4. Claw is so hot, I bought it just to stare at her...........



5. PLEASE... to all of the people who are saying that the artists in this book are not good and their art is garbage... you need to look into the history of graffiti to see your facts. Sure some of the artists are not THAT popular, but if you TRUELY knew anything about the history of our beloved art form, you would be so amazed by this book. Lady Pink is probably one of the most influential graffiti artists in the world. These cats are the artists that truely made graffiti what it is today. FUTURA, DOZE, Lady PINk, Kaws, and stay high 149 were TRUE GRAFFITI ARTISTS. No matter how talented the so called "graffiti kings" in NYC are in the present day, they will never bring a revolution like those artists did. Many of the so called "kings" of our generations have yet to even paint a train! How can you be so disrespectful to your elders. Thats like being a fine artist and insulting dali, because he was not to your taste. Please get some respect...
   
   
   
   ...and by the way... this book rules! So next time you want a graffiti book to your liking... make sure you dont get an informational book like this that tells you about the past graffiti writers who are the masters, get one about some lame cats who tag theyr name on the side of an abandoned building without even making a statement... hmmf

2 comments about Design Graphics: Drawing Techniques for Design Professionals (2nd Edition).

1. I have found that this is a good reference book for beginner to intermediate design sketches. Helpful tips and great illustrations.



2. I had Peter Koenig as an instructor at Florida State University where he taught these terrific tools of the trade. I didn't realize how valuable they would be until I, myself, became a designer in the field. I will be teaching an Interior Design course on sketching this term and will be using the knowledge from this textbook to help my own students to perfect their ability to communicate their ideas to their clients. I have the first edition but would like to see the sencond as well. Thanks Professor Koenig!

No comments about Baroque (Icon Editions).

1 comments about Rem Koolhaas: Conversations with Students (Architecture at Rice, 30).

1. This book results in a very interesting overview about the problems of the big-scale in the hybrid buildings, with the privilege of been told in the first person by one of the most important builder of the contemporany city.

No comments about Issues in Curating Contemporary Art and Performance (Intellect Books - Readings in Art and Design Education).

2 comments about The History of Greek Vases.

1. Its a very good book, well documented. The only issue that is was important to improve, is to change at least some photos from Black and White to Color. Art documentation demands many times to see directly the pieces colors



2. Though this adds to a field which has been dealt with before, the book presnts a fresh and insightful viewpoint. It will be valuable to all students of Greek history and chronolgy, and modern "pot throwers" everywhere.

1 comments about Eric Stanton: The Dominant Wives and Other Stories (Taschen 25th Anniversary).

1. Excellent product!! A+++++ If your a fan of firm handed women, or the naughty boy's themselves, you will love this book. Good artwork from Eric Stanton who knows a firm female! And edited by the fantastic Dian Hanson! You really can't BEAT the price either.

2 comments about Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972.

1. I lived through this era and my original 1972 copy is well used and full of loose pages. If you want to find out how the tracking of turtles is art, or how Lawrence Weiner came to write phrases on walls as his art work or simply how the synergy of people working with ideas about process as an artmaking technique came to rule this is an valuable piece of first hand reporting. Looking to explain Sol Le Witt to my college students on his recent death this book gave me samples of his interactive drawings they could try.



2. I first read this book about twenty years ago. I am glad to see that there is a new edition. It had a major impact on my development as an artist. The author discusses the trend called "conceptual art" which flowered in the time period mentioned in the title (late 60's through early 70's). These artists rejected the craft of art and the creation of objects themselves seeking instead something more fundamental. Ms. Lippard calls this "resonance" and uses descriptions of various pieces to explore this concept. Though "conceptual art" has long since passed by, the analysis in this book is still current and applies more than ever in our "post-modernist" period.

1 comments about The History of Gardens.

1. Christopher Thacker would be a delight to meet in any historically significant garden. Thacker's luscious use of writings and poetry interspersed with historical detail and visuals give the reader a lavishly satisfying overview of the history of gardens.
   This book enriches our knowledge of cultural diversity and the exciting significant historical figures who lay hidden in the gardens. Thacker inspires us to go explore the garden with all our senses like appreciating the look, bouquet, taste and personality of a fine fruit wine.

1 comments about Titans Companion 2.

1. Mr. Cadigan again proves he's the master researcher of the comic book world. I've tried to imagine all the work he's gone through to get all this material published--and I just can't. All the phone interviews, internet research, the unpublished art; it must take a herculean effort to get it put together.
   
   With my schedule it took me about a month to finish the book. And it did take some effort to keep all the various Titan teams, writers, and such, organized. One sad reality became obvious: some of the reasons that some stories and characters take a nose dive is due to editorial decisions or business reasons. And here, I thought everything was part of the writer's master plan. Boy! Was I wrong.
   
   There are many enjoyable interviews. J. Torres (writer of the Teen Titans Go comic book series) displays an incredible zeal and passion for the animated and comic book characters, Chuck Dixon is another enjoyable piece, discussing his work on the Nightwing and Robin comics and how his views concerning how Dick and Barbara Gordon are perfect for each other. This is the reverse of how current Titans writer, Judd Winick feels, who at the time of the article, seems to prefer a Nightwing/Starfire relationship.
   
   The Peter David and Todd Nanuck essays go into their Young Justice years, supported by some great art by Nanuck (I love his dark Arrowette sketch).
   
   As for the animated version of the Teen Titans itself, we are given a variety of interviews including one by head producer Glen Murakami who discusses the controversial series ending, "Things Change." While the mixed feelings are addressed, Murakami displays some confusion and ambiguousness on why some fans have a hard time with the ending.
   
   Also,I wish there could have been more feedback on the later run of the Marv Wolfman run. In particular, on why both Raven and Garfield seemed to go "evil" by the time the eighties series was cancelled.
   
   In a few years, there might be more material for a third volume. I can think of one internet animated Titans interview with the producers that could stand inclusion. But I hope Mr. Cadigan would do another Justice League companion first.
   
   Lastly, kudos to whoever helped pick all the photos and art (published and previously unpublished). You did a great job.
   
   Enjoyable read.
   
   
   JThree
   Williston, ND
   carolyn@dia.net