Clayton Patterson

Join us in celebrating Lower East Side History Month with a conversation between legendary photographer Clayton Patterson and Overthrow's Entertainment Director Power Malu, two longtime champions of this neighborhood’s vibrant counterculture.

Through the lens of photography, we’ll explore how as activists Clayton and Power have kept the roots and essence of the LES alive through dramatic changes in the neighborhood. The do-it-yourself spirit embodied by both Clayton and Power’s approaches to community engagement has sustained the storied origins of this rich and complex district.

The conversation will take place at Overthrow New York and be moderated by Magnum Foundation’s Noelle Flores Théard.

Clayton has lived and documented in the Lower East Side since the 1980s. Out of his Front Door Photos series, for which he made portraits of local passersby outside of his Essex Studio, came the recognizable “Hall of Fame” window where he’d regularly rotate new images. Looking back at the archive, this artistic intervention served as an Instagram of the era for many Latinx residents who would return regularly to see the new displays.

Power was born and raised in the Lower East Side. In addition to serving as Entertainment Director at Overthrow, Power is an artist, an actor, and the coach of the Bridgerunners group. He also serves on the board of Rhymes Over Beats, a hip hop theater group. A well known local advocate, Power uses his position as a community builder to unite people through art and fitness.

Overthrow New York isn’t just a boxing gym. It was once New York’s counter cultural epicenter, home to a legendary community space that defined the rebellious culture of East Village in the 70’s and 80’s. Overthrow is a place where punks gathered to agitate the system, educate the masses, and organize the revolution.

This event is a part of Lower East Side History Month, an annual celebration of the rich and diverse history of the Lower East Side. Learn more about other events, exhibitions, tours, and learning events happening in May!