The Art of Getting Over: Graffiti at the Millennium

by Stephen Powers

What started as simple street movement, a way to assert individuality and pride, has blossomed into much more: Graffiti is everywhere. From Sprite commercials to "The Source" magazine to Soho art... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312206305
• ISBN13: 9780312206307
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.8" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

Getting Over Before You Are Gone Over

This book is a piece of history. It is important. There are some nice anecdotes. There are also some great pictures, and that's important because a lot of this art is temporary. Which is part of its beauty. So it is important that people know some history. The history of graffiti is too vast to cover it all in such a short book, but the personal feel (and viewpoint) that Powers employs make this history come alive. The fact that New York City's Mayor Rudy sent his graffiti task force into Mr. Powers' residence to confiscate computer hard disks and other info related to this book because he didn't like the activities of Mr. Powers is a further indication that it is important that this information be preserved. Acts of nonconformity often become co-opted and defused. Therefore it is essential that people remember the past so that it can't be used against them and sold back to them in the form of a Sprite commercial or as a pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans. Consumption isn't rebellion. The act of purchasing this book isn't rebellious. To "get over" on a society that wants to erase dissent, you need to read this book and preserve history in your memory so that it can't be sold back to you in altered versions."The Art of Getting Over": Read it. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

ESPO Drives Luxury Cars

Steve Powers is one of the greatest modern day artists. His first foray into the world of autordom is a smashing success and a great sign of what is to come from this street hero. His local political activism and work with underpriveliged children is an example we should all follow. How many legendary grafitti artists do you know who will pull up in their Cadillac El Dorado, put in 6-8 hours of volounteer work at an orphanage, campaign against the tyrannic Mayor Guilliani and still have the energy/focus to create a prolific art masterpiece all while alluding the NYC Grafitti Task Force? The answer is none and that is why Steve Powers can forever charge it to the game while mainaining a zero balance. I'm not sure what that means but it sounds pretty good. ESPO is the Best, Yo.

finally a graffiti book by someone from the inside.

I for one would just like to say that I am thrilled to see Steve's book doing as well as it has. I grew up in New York, writing graffiti and I am happy to see the story of contemorary graff told from the inside by someone who knows. "The Art od Getting Over" is the best graff book of the last decade, if you don't know, now you know, buy it. Oh, and if you live in New York and want to see the billboard for the book, look above the Whitney Museum billboard on Layffayte and Great Jones. That's what I'm talkin about.

Marcel Duchamp, John Heartsfield and Blade, too!

Any book that mentions John Heartsfield, Marcel Duchamp and the graffiti kings of New York, Philadelphia and beyond should, with no doubt, be categorized as a six-cylinder firecracker.

i keep picking it up.

filled with full color imagery from early graffiti days of the late 60's to works from last year. Oldschool and newjacks will all see something they can feel connected to. The example driven chapters give a feeling there is always room for more rather than a definitive wrap up of this hugely growing subculture.The book is unique in that its not an introduction it's more of an advanced course.the art of getting over is more than pictures and stories that it contains, it is the appreciation that recognizes there are many stories untold and to unfold in this graffiti game.big up to espo and the urge to see your name on the blvd.