MARTHA COOPER

In 1984, photographers Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant captured the imagination of a generation with Subway Art, a groundbreaking book documenting the work of graffiti writers who illegally painted subway cars in New York City. The 2009 edition of the book is now available in a new, slightly reduced format. Henry Chalfant's images of the trains retain their impact, while Martha Cooper's narrative pictures tell the story. In the introductions, the authors recall how they gained entry to the New York graffiti community in the 1970s and 1980s and describe the techniques that they used to photograph it. Afterwords report how the lives of the original subway artists have unfolded, and chronicle the end of the subway graffiti scene in the late 1980s and its unexpected rebirth as a global art movement. This is an essential book for all fans of graffiti, stunning photography and 1980s-cool.

Martha Cooper has the reputation of beeing the first and foremost photographer of emering Hip Hop culture in New York City. Her book, HIP HOP FILES - Photographs 1979-1984, makes a significant part of her extensive and unique archive accessible for the first time. The book documents the beginning of the phenomenon, now known as Hip Hop. The publication of many of her photos in the early 80s, disseminated the culture both at home and abroad. Along with the photos are quotes and statements from the people appearing in them. The book celebrates its 10th birthday in 2014 and was published in three different languages: german, english and french. The book includes a thoughtful introduction by ZEPHYR as well as essays by CHARLIE AHEARN; PATTI ASTOR and POPMASTER FABEL, participants in the early Hip Hop scene.

The painted trains you see in this book are as much a part of the past as the nickel fare and the Second Avenue El. The Transit Authority has successfully enforced a "zero-tolerance" policy on subway car graffiti for the past few years, although the tunnels remain canvases for spray-can artists. From the point of view of most riders, the subway is better off without the graffiti, however, some of the work in this book is truly beautiful and one can feel some nostalgia for the run-down subways of the 1970s. Enjoy some the finest urban folk art America has produced and enjoy today''s clean subway as well.