Clayton’s Corner: Remembering Ira Cohen

Acclaimed photographer-poet-filmmaker Ira Cohen passed away April 25, 2011 at the age of 76. He was also known for co-developing the Mylar Chamber photography process which distorted the output in a unique manner; it was utilized to snap subjects like Jimi Hendrix and William S. Burroughs. Cohen’s legacy was celebrated with a memorial event on a recent Saturday at the Living Theatre, and Clayton Patterson was there to document. Herewith, another installment of Clayton’s Corner.

Patterson reminisced about his relationship with Ira Cohen in a Villager article last month, stating:

The N.Y.C. period Ira was active and created in was a time when individuality counted, and original outside-the-box thinkers, creators and visionaries were respected. Rent was cheap. The cost of living was affordable.

But then art got turned into a commodity, a product that was loved for the profit a “smart” collector or artist could make buying and selling the merchandise. The dealer became more important than the artist. Hype created money, which trumped the intrinsic value of a work of art.

For more on Clayton Patterson, head on over to his website.