FRONT DOOR BOOK
Edited with ANGEL "LA2" ORTIZ, MARCO HELLRAISER, and TRIBY L.E.S.
Publisher: O.H.W.O.W. | Our House West of Wynwood
3100 NW 7 Avenue | Miami | Florida | June 2009
SKIP TO: Bookcover & Description +++ Struggle for Art +++ Selected Pages +++ Slide Show +++ ThriveElectronic BeatsHyperbeast +++ Highsnobiety +++ Slamxhype +++ Solspot +++ Art Collectors +++ Honeyee +++ Freshmansally +++ Inquiringmind +++ Refind Express Journal +++ Mzee +++ Sang Bleu +++ Variant
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
BOOKCOVER & DESCRIPTION
The Front Door photos are a summation of everything I have ever learned. The photos are taken in front of the door at 161 Essex Street, which leads into Clayton Hats, Clayton Gallery and the Outlaw Art Museum. This also happens to be the place I live. The front door represented two things for me: It was the Wall of Fame where I played host to many of the local graffiti writers and it was the background for many of the shots from the Hall of Fame. The period represented is from 1985 to 2002. The vast majority of the photographs were of Hispanics who lived on the Lower East Side. The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there." | Softcover, 9 x 12 inches, 160 pages, different paper stocks and more including over 100 pages of full color original photographs and 56 pages of documented oral history by those who lived it.
STRUGGLE FOR ART | SCOOPY'S NOTEBOOK
Clayton Patterson wants City Hall to keep its hands off his front door. Last week, The Villager profiled the Lower East Side documentarian and his new "Front Door Book," which includes a collection of the many photos he took of local people posing with the door as backdrop in the 1980s and '90s; the door itself was a favorite canvas for local graffiti writers, a use which Patterson encouraged. In the 1980s, he even kept track of the stock exchange's volatile rises and falls on the door, listing the daily averages in magic marker. Patterson said he's definitely not going to sanitize the entranceway to his Essex St. home and gallery, or let the city power-wash it, either, adding it's just one more reason why he's not voting for Bloomberg. "The city is telling me to clean it or they will. Yet it is my door," Patterson fumed. "Has New York City come to the point where we all have to be exactly alike?" … In other street-art news, Jim Power, the "Mosaic Man," called to say this time he has really been pushed to the limit, and that it could be the end for his fabled East Village Mosaic Trail of decorated lampposts. "I can't continue without funding," he said. "It's getting to the point where this project could be over — after 25 years." He said he's thinking of suing the city for the 50 lampposts of his that were destroyed during Rudy Giuliani's time as mayor.
SKIP to SLIDE SHOW
REVIEW by Lincoln Anderson and Rita Wu
'FRONT DOOR BOOK' OFFERS WINDOW INTO A COMMUNITY
Front Door Book" at Alife Presents on Rivington St., where an exhibit of his Lower East Side
photography and video work is currently showing. Opposite page, one of the photos
from Patterson's "Front Door Book."Clayton Patterson and Elsa Rensaa
at a recent book-signing event for Patterson's new "
Thrive NYC photo by Lincoln Anderson
A new book by Clayton Patterson offers a view not only into a more gritty Lower East Side of not long ago, but also into the well-known documentarian and artist himself.
"The Front Door photos are the summation of everything I have ever learned," Patterson writes in the "Front Door Book." "The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there.".
The shots were taken in front of the door at 161 Essex St., home to the Clayton Gallery and Outlaw Art Museum, and also home to Patterson and his common-law wife, Elsa Rensaa.
The door became known as the Wall of Fame, a canvas for the creations of local graffiti artists. Meanwhile, in what he called the Hall of Fame, Patterson picked from the photos he took of people in front of the door and displayed them in his gallery's window, pasting up 32 new ones every week..
People from all over the neighborhood came to pose for Patterson, sometimes ringing his doorbell in the middle of the night to have him snap their photos — and get their moment of fame in his window. The book's first picture shows a group of young men at 4 a.m. holding up a lighter, eager to see the latest Hall of Fame display. read more
Published in : THRIVE | New York | November 2009
REVIEW by Jim Feast
"PATTERSON'S FRONT DOOR"
Can we agree that the bulk of current American art criticism and reviewing is remarkably shallow? Not only because contemporary art criticism embraces whatever set of ideas is modish, but also by exhibiting no grasp whatsoever of these ideas' contexts or implications. As Robert Morgan has recently reminded us, this sad eclecticism is filled with blind spots, allowing it to grasp the significance of one important artist while, at the same time, ignoring an equally important, but shadowed, artist..
Although readers may follow me thus far, they probably won't agree with my prescription for how to better the situation which is: through the cold bath of theory, an immersion in, and use of, the great German aestheticians, chief among them, Georg Hegel (1770-1831)..
These reflections, possibly over-simplified, are brought into question by the publication of a collection of photographs by the avant-garde artist Clayton Patterson, entitled Front Door Book. Here is an artist of formidable creative vigor, who has shown in galleries and other venues, but has been much misunderstood, perhaps because the correct Hegelian categories were not applied. read more
Published in: Artscape Magazine | New York | Winter 09/10
electronic beats | June 4, 2009 | by Judith Busch:
Lower East Side biker character Clayton Patterson recently released a new book titled "Front Door Book" together with the OH WOW Gallery in Miami. The book focuses on the period between 1985 and 2002, which was a particularly tumultuous time for downtown New York. But instead of zooming in on the drugs and the grit (as he has already done), Patterson turned his lens on what he saw as the Lower East Side's native - mostly Hispanic -- population. — From tough little kids to Rat Pack-era hipsters to shirtless gays in hilarious '80s jeans to unconventional families, Patterson chronicled more than street fashion- he found a window into the soul of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. And he found it all right outside his front door. — Patterson has been photographing and filming the Lower East Side for the past 30 years and was recently the subject of the amazing documentary film Captured. The book is available on oh-wow.com..
● Source: http://www.electronicbeats.net/News/Lifestyle/Clayton-Patterson-s-Front-Door-Book.
electronic beats.at | 5. Juni 2009 | von Judith Busch
Der passionierte Biker von der Lower Eastside Clayton Patterson hat in Zusammenarbeit mit der OH WOW Gallery aus Miami sein neues Werk Front Door Book veröffentlicht. Es gelingt ihm ein ungewöhnliches Portrait von New York zwischen 1985 und 2002 zu erstellen. Anstatt seinen Blick auf die Drogen und Strassenszene zu richten, wie er es bisher getan hat, thematisiert Patterson in diesem Fotoband die in Downtown (mit meist spanischen Hintergrund) lebenden Einwohner...
● Source: http://electronicbeats.at/tag/front-door-book/
hypebeast.com | by Eugene Kan | June 4, 2009
The O.H.W.O.W. published Front Door Book has recently been released. Authored by Clayton Paterson, the book features an in-depth and intimate encounter with New York's rich cultural background. Paterson has ventured into places where few dare to go to grab stunning visual imagery of some of New York's most eclectic personalities. Below is an excerpt of an essay by Clayton Paterson which effectively outlines the premise of the book. Two versions can be purchased at O.H.W.O.W., the boxset at $60 USD includes Paterson's DVD documentary "Captured" while the book itself runs for $38 USD. — The Front Door photos are a summation of everything I have ever learned. The photos are taken in front of the door at 161 Essex Street, which leads into Clayton Hats, Clayton Gallery and the Outlaw Art Museum. This also happens to be the place I live. — The front door represented two things for me: It was the Wall of Fame where I played host to many of the local graffiti writers and it was the background for many of the shots from the Hall of Fame The period represented is from 1985 to 2002. The vast majority of the photographs were of Hispanics who lived on the Lower East Side. The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there.
● Source: http://hypebeast.com/2009/06/front-door-book-by-clayton-paterson/
highsnobiety.com | June 3, 2009, 01 | Posted in Books & Magazines
Archivist, artist, and designer (among many other things) Clayton Patterson has documented life on Manhattan's Lower East Side since the mid-1980s. The Front Door Book presents images and recollections of the people that have, in Patterson's words, formed "a summation of everything I have learned." The photographs in the book were taken outside of 161 Essex Street (Patterson's home and gallery space), through the years 1985-2002.
● Source: http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/2009/06/03/clayton-pattersons-the-front-door-book/
also in: http://www.iphoto.org/2009/06/clayton-pattersons-front-door-book.html
slamxhype.com | June 2, 2009 | by James Oliver
O.H.W.O.W. have created another another impressive publication with a we are all to familiar with here at SLAMHYPE. THE FRONT DOOR BOOK by Clayton Patterson, is an impressive representation of this person who we featured in issue 1 of THE NEW ORDER. — The Front Door photos are a summation of everything I have ever learned. The photos are taken in front of the door at 161 Essex Street, which leads into Clayton Hats, Clayton Gallery and the Outlaw Art Museum. This also happens to be the place I live. — The front door represented two things for me: It was the Wall of Fame where I played host to many of the local graffiti writers and it was the background for many of the shots from the Hall of Fame The period represented is from 1985 to 2002. The vast majority of the photographs were of Hispanics who lived on the Lower East Side. The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there.
-excerpt from essay by Clayton Patterson
● Source: http://slamxhype.com/art-design/the-front-door-book-by-clayton-patterson/
solspot.com
The O.H.W.O.W. published Front Door Book has recently been released. Authored by Clayton Paterson, the book features an in-depth and intimate encounter with New York's rich cultural background. Paterson has ventured into places where few dare to go to grab stunning visual imagery of some of New York's most eclectic personalities.
● Source: http://solspot.com/hypebeast/front-door-book-by-clayton-paterson
the art collectors | CLAYTON PATTERSON BOOK RELEASE | June 2, 2009
Legendary downtown documentor, Clayton Patterson has just releaseded a new book with Miami based, OH WOW Gallery. The Front Door Book is of 160 pages of nearly two decades of photographs taken by Patterson in front of the main door leading into his home and elusive gallery. — If there's any question of where A-Ron got the idea for aNYthings back door photos, look no further. — He describes it better than we can: "The front door represented two things for me: It was the Wall of Fame where I played host to many of the local graffiti writers and it was the background for many of the shots from the Hall of Fame The period represented is from 1985 to 2002. The vast majority of the photographs were of Hispanics who lived on the Lower East Side. The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there." — This one's worthy of adding to your book shelf. Buy it here, or get it along with a DVD of the documentary film Captured, which turned Patterson into the subject.
● Source: http://blog.theartcollectors.com/2009/06/02/clayton-patterson-book-release/
blog.honeyee.com | by Jose Parla | June 4, 2009
This new book is out from my Lower East Side friend, photographer Clayton Paterson. Clayton has been working on this project for years and its great to see it finally come to life.
● Source: http://blog.honeyee.com/jose/
Freshmensalley | June 2, 2009
The Front Door photos are a summation of everything I have ever learned. The photos are taken in front of the door at 161 Essex Street, which leads into Clayton Hats, Clayton Gallery and the Outlaw Art Museum. This also happens to be the place I live.
● Source: http://freshmensalley.com/post/117067318/clayton-pattersons-front-door-book-38-00-the
SANG BLEU | June 3, 2009 | by Ben Perdue
The Front Door photos are a summation of everything I have ever learned. The photos are taken in front of the door at 161 Essex Street, which leads into Clayton Hats, Clayton Gallery and the Outlaw Art Museum. This also happens to be the place I live. — "The front door represented two things for me: It was the Wall of Fame where I played host to many of the local graffiti writers and it was the background for many of the shots from the Hall of Fame The period represented is from 1985 to 2002. The vast majority of the photographs were of Hispanics who lived on the Lower East Side. The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there." Clayton Patterson
● Source: http://sangbleu.com/2009/06/03/the-front-door-book/
● also in: http://blogue.us/2009/06/03/i-walking-out-the-front-door/
Inquiringmind | O.H.W.O.W. PRESENTS THE FRONT DOOR BOOK
O.H.W.O.W. who are notorious for publishing some great work and providing the art community with stellar art shows/parties from their in house studio in Miami recently put out "The Front Door Book". The work of Lower East Side/New York City legend Clayton Patterson gives an up close look at photographs taken in front of the door at 161 Essex street.
● http://www.inqmnd.ca/blog/?tag=clayton-patterson
The Refind Express Journal | June 3, 2009
Clayton Patterson is a designer, artist, and archivist who has documented life on Manhattan's Lower East Side since the mid-1980s. The Front Door Book presents images and recollections of the people that have, in Patterson's words, formed "a summation of everything I have learned." The photographs in the book were taken outside of 161 Essex Street (Patterson's home and gallery space), through the years 1985-2002.
● Source: http://refinedvanguards.com/blog/?p=2451
blog.mzee.com | 5. Juni 2009
Clayton Paterson hat sein neues Werk namens "Front Door Book" released, um seine eigene Geschichte des kulturellen Hintergrunds von NYC zu erz�hlen. Hier ein Auszug aus dem Klappentext: "The front door represented two things for me: It was the Wall of Fame where I played host to many of the local graffiti writers and it was the background for many of the shots from the Hall of Fame The period represented is from 1985 to 2002. The vast majority of the photographs were of Hispanics who lived on the Lower East Side. The L.E.S. in the '80s and into the '90s was not the hip place it is today. For the most part, the photos were representative of people who lived in the section that outsiders considered dangerous and that was normally out of bounds for those who had no business being there."
● Quelle: http://blog.mzee.com/feat/mzeeblog/2009/06/05/front-door-book-von-clayton-paterson/
Variant | Glasgow, UK | Issue37/38 | Spring-Summer 2010 | by Mark Pawson
When I first visited New York in the mid-1980s the Lower East Side (LES) seemed to be sporadically dotted with small street-level windows full of photos, prints, drawings, and other interesting objects. These ad hoc displays looked intriguing but it was hard to tell if they were notice boards, entrances to galleries, shops and studios, or just the creatively decorated front window of someone's apartment? Having read Clayton Patterson's Front Door Book, I discovered that the storefront at 161 Essex Street was at various times a gallery, shop, studio, workshop, community notice board, and home. For 30 years it's been the headquarters of artist and activist Clayton Patterson, who's tirelessly documented his neighbourhood in photographs and on video. His 3? hour videotape of the 1988 Tompkins Square Park Riot led to as much controversy in New York as the 2009 capturing of Ian Tomlinson being attacked by riot officers in the City of London did in the UK. Clayton Patterson's front door photos were a long term collective portrait of his neighbourhood. From 1985 to 2002 each week he took hundreds of photographs of local residents in front of his graffiti encrusted front door, displaying a selection of them the next week on the constantly changing Hall of Fame notice board in the front window. This large format, full colour book reproduces 300 front door photos of families, workers, teens, courting couples, bowery bums, and kids who look far too young to be out on the street on their own. Patterson also managed to charm the local tough guys and bad boys into flashing smiles for his camera. Spanning a period during which the LES, once generally considered by outsiders as a drug- and crime-ridden no go area, had been 'cleaned up' and succumbed to the pervasive forces of gentrification and hipsterization, skyrocketing rents mean that many of the predominantly Hispanic LES locals in Clayton Patterson's photos have been displaced forever. The photos are accompanied by Patterson's extensive reminiscences of 30 years as a socially engaged LES resident, of a 1980s career as a hat designer making distinctive baseball caps embroidered all over with vibrantly coloured urban tribal symbols, and curator of tattoo and outlaw/outsider art exhibitions, together with oral history recordings and interviews with local characters like graffiti artist LA2 (who was Keith Haring's mentor and collaborator for a significant period of Haring's brief career and has largely gone unrecognised and unaccredited). Clayton Patterson's Front Door Book is a rare gem of a book, crammed with a wealth of information and seldom heard voices.
● Source: http://www.variant.org.uk/37_38texts/6pcreations.html
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