[doublehelix]

Here's a great little film about Martha Cooper, a photo-journalist who documented the emerging graffiti/hip-hop scene in New York in the late 70s/early 80s:
current.com/items/89085250_the_hip_hop_files

[EYESAW]

Spot on gotta love m.c.. Shes a legend if it was not for her and Henry Chalfont, giving us all the pictures in spray can art and sub way art most of us would not be wrighting today.. and there would be no street art seen out side of new york.. with these two books they inspired kids all around the world to try graffiti.. respect

[felix]

Thats the shizzle fo sure - I take it you have seen Wild Style, if not do it.

[Prescription Art]

Style Wars is 10 times better than Wild Style. Essential viewing.

isohunt.com/(Removed)_details/14827373/style+wars?tab=summary


Thanks for the clip though, Martha Cooper is a legend...

[felix]

Thanks PA

[Ged]

Jul 20, 2008 1:59:16 GMT 1 ®at said:

Everyone into graff should see style wars.... double DVD came out not too long ago with some bonus stuff on it.
Think its Region 1 only, but well worth buying....back to where it all began...

Here's a 10 minute trailer for the DVD



Going to have to get a copy of that

Slightly off topic but Martha Cooper is a prime example that people should never stereo type those who have an appreciation of graffiti. Passing her in the street, you would never guess that she's hung out with the likes of Dondi and was one of the first people to document the B-boy movement. A pure legend!

[Ad Hoc Art]

Ad Hoc Art proudly presents...

Going Postal
by Martha Cooper

Book Release and Sticker Show

Opening Reception: Friday, February 20th, 7-10pm
Sticker Show on view for 2 more days: Sat Feb 21st, Sun Feb 22nd (1-8pm each day)



Postal stickers have long been a preferred substrate used by street artists to get up. Of course, because stickers from the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL and FedEx are so readily available, most of these stickers get lost in the fray, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

That’s where graffiti photography legend Martha Cooper comes in. Shooting the origins of hip-hop and graffiti cultures since the late 1970s in New York City, and later all over the world, Cooper’s well-trained eyes know how to recognize deft sticker art. Here then is a collection of more than 200 photographs of some of Cooper’s favorite handmade postal stickers from around the world, done by some of the scene’s better-known artists and the anonymous.

Cooper has compiled a collection of photographs shot in numerous cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tokyo, Berlin and Amsterdam, featuring postal-sticker art created by FAUST, CHRIS STAIN, C.DAMAGE, GET2, COSBE and many more.

Going Postal documents how an old-school method has burgeoned into another rich facet of the world’s graffiti cultures.

please contact us with any questions:
Ad Hoc Art
49 Bogart Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206
www.adhocart.org

[Ad Hoc Art]

Going Postal
by Martha Cooper

Book Launch & Sticker Exchange

Opening Reception: Friday, February 20th, 7-10pm
Sticker Show on view for 2 more days: Sat Feb 21st, Sun Feb 22nd (1-8pm each day)

Postal stickers have long been a preferred substrate used by street artists to get up. Of course, because stickers from the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL and FedEx are so readily available, most of these stickers get lost in the fray, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

That’s where graffiti photography legend Martha Cooper comes in. Shooting the origins of hip-hop and graffiti cultures since the late 1970s in New York City, and later all over the world, Cooper’s well-trained eyes know how to recognize deft sticker art. Here then is a collection of more than 200 photographs of some of Cooper’s favorite handmade postal stickers from around the world, done by some of the scene’s better-known artists and the anonymous.

Cooper has compiled a collection of photographs shot in numerous cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tokyo, Berlin and Amsterdam, featuring postal-sticker art created by FAUST, STAIN, C.DAMAGE, GET2, COSBE and many more.

Going Postal documents how an old-school method has burgeoned into another rich facet of the world’s graffiti cultures.

Sticker Show participating artists include...

Aiko, Blanco, Bob, Blip, CBeauty, c.damage, Celso, Chris of Robots Will Kill, Claw, Cosbe, Creeper, ELBOW-TOE, Faust, JML, Rednose, Royce, Chris Stain, stikman, and many more!

[Ad Hoc Art]

Check out the Village Voice article on Martha Cooper's new book, "Going Postal", here:
www.villagevoice.com/2009-02-11/art/photojournalist-martha-cooper-focuses-her-famous-lens-on-postal-street-art/

And check out Wooster Collective's post about it here:
www.woostercollective.com/2009/02/martha_coopers_going_postal_this_friday.html

[BK83]

I'll be there for sure. Should be good.

[Ad Hoc Art]

Here are some photos from last night's "Going Postal" book launch here at Ad Hoc Art along with the show Martha Cooper curated, which had a postal theme. Images are from guero's flikr page. Enjoy!









also...

Artist c.damage took some great shots of the actual exhibition which you can find on her flickr here:

www.flickr.com/photos/c_damage/

enjoy!

[edmonds]

Hi,

Can anyone point in the right direction to purchase any of Martha Coopers Hip Hop File, subway art or tag town photos?

Obviously wont be able to get any edition pieces if they were ever available but would be interested in any decent quality reproductions or posters.

Have googled it but not found anything.

Thanks

[slowmo]

Not easy to find any prints or indeed posters, but there is a 25th Anniversary edition of Subway art?

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0500514542?ie=UTF8&tag=huckmagazi-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0500514542

Also a load of obey clothing using her images?

shop.obeyclothing.com/c-98-martha-cooper.aspx

Book for these shots

www.turntablelab.com/books_design/103/99/19872.html


Also found a link on a hip hop files exhibition stating images were available, digital prints on vinyl, contact Susanne Konig, [e-mail]. This was 2005 though, but worth an email I guess

[slowmo]

Looks like she still works there so you might get some joy

www.powerhousebooks.com/contact.php

[edmonds]

Thanks Slowmo,

Think I may just buy new copy of Subway art 25th edition and frame the images from that as it looks much bigger?

[curiousgeorge]

www.dnfa.com/search.asp?view=lotno&auction=13080&lotno=11&uniqueid=362490-4


Might be worth emailing a few auction houses too

[notworthit]

Here you go, it finished in feb, but there may be some bits left...

www.subliminalprojects.com/main/past/37/street-shots/

I've put the sales sheet up as a pdf here if anyone wants it...

www.kush.cc/cooper.pdf

[curiousgeorge]

Good work notworthit!!

[BlackRatPress]

hey if you are in london we have the 25th anniversary book launch of subway art coming up in june. Martha and Henry will be in attendance.

[djvlnt]

or maybe I can hook you up with one.
interested in henry chalfant too?

//D

[edmonds]

Thanks BRP

Anymore info on what you have planned for the event yet???

[BlackRatPress]

Book Launch for the 25th Anniversary of ‘Subway Art’ by Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant. Thursday 25th June 7 – 9pm.

On Thursday 25th June Black Rat Press will be hosting a book launch to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the legendary book Subway Art by Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant. In 1984 Thames and Hudson made the brave decision to publish a book of photographs of graffiti covered trains from New York subways. The original print run was limited to only 5000 copies. Subway Art has been in print ever since and the then little known scene which Martha and Henry documented has gone on to be an international phenomenon, in part thanks to the book itself. Black Rat Press are delighted to be hosting this event and that both Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant will be in London to attend the launch. The central pull out pages of Subway Art feature a train painted by legendary New York writer Blade. We are excited to announce that Blade will also be making his way to London this Thursday to attend the opening. For anyone interested in the history of graffiti this is a great opportunity to celebrate 25 years of its documentation and to meet some of this scenes legendary figures.

At the launch the gallery will be showing works by the Burning Candy Crew all of whom site Subway Art as one of the main reasons they started painting.

[Prescription Art]

Sounds great...

[Deleted]

agreed very cool indeed, nice one brp

[Agent Provocateur]

Will definitely be there!

[brut]

I know the Banksy show in Bristol is the biggest show around at the moment but what the black rat press are putting on this thursday is something very special & they deserve very high praise for putting on such a great event.
Many of today's top graffiti artists have been inspired by the images that Martha Cooper & Henry Chalfant put together in this wonderful book.I also believe this book to be the most important book in the graffiti genre.
I first purchased this book back in 1986 when i was 13 & still have it to this day.
I will not miss this opportunity to meet Henry Chalfant,Martha Cooper & blade & to be honest neither should anyone who can get to this show.These people are real history makers.
Thankyou black rat press.You have made a 36 year old very happy.

[carl]

Jun 22, 2009 20:16:09 GMT 1 brut said:

I know the Banksy show in Bristol is the biggest show around at the moment but what the black rat press are putting on this thursday is something very special & they deserve very high praise for putting on such a great event.
Many of today's top graffiti artists have been inspired by the images that Martha Cooper & Henry Chalfant put together in this wonderful book.I also believe this book to be the most important book in the graffiti genre.
I first purchased this book back in 1986 when i was 13 & still have it to this day.
I will not miss this opportunity to meet Henry Chalfant,Martha Cooper & blade & to be honest neither should anyone who can get to this show.These people are real history makers.
Thankyou black rat press.You have made a 36 year old very happy.

I totally agree with that. I cant believe that they will all be there. Those pictures have indeed inspired so many artists. Amazing.

[stillborncrisps]

It's "cite" Mike.

[BlackRatPress]

no gcse's

[notworthit]

I got this from the US launch a few months ago and it is seriously, seriously good!!!! For those that don't know it's twice the size of the original, hard back with lots of new pics that weren't in the old version. I'll post some pics up tomorrow if anyone's interested.