New York (22.06.2010) ::
In the 1980s, the East Village served as New York’s counter culture epicenter. In sharp contrast to the overpriced and yuppie-occupied East Village of today, heroin addicts, squatters and poor artists filled the neighborhood. The Pyramid Club was a nightlife staple, attracting the East Village’s bohemian population. Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol and Madonna are among the more famous faces who showed up in the club, which held hardcore and drag queen nights.
Lower East Side denizen and resident documentary photographer and filmmaker Clayton Patterson shot the Pyramid Club drag queens of the 80s, capturing the eccentric and over-the-top make-up and costumes. Patterson’s portraits from that era are now on display at Esopus Space in the Greenwich Village. Documenting Style recently talked to Patterson about his experience photographing that subculture.
How did you discover the Pyramid Club?
Peter Kwaloff, now called Sun PK, lived around the corner and I took his photo in front of my front door. He mentioned that he did drag performance at the Pyramid Club -I thought cool- sounds like an adventure, and that was it
What made you want to photograph the drag queens who frequented the club?
It was an exciting creative adventure. It was photographing performance artists who continually invented characters and personalities. And it was fun.
What years did you document the club?
Drag Queens, 85-88, mostly.
What was the scene like there?
The scene was spontaneous, creative, inexpensive to participate in—friendly, welcoming, open, adventurous, fun—very neighborhood, very downtown, very LES, mixed racially—gay and straight.
Compare the style of that era to the state of New York style at present.
That was a scene that had continuity to it. It did not end when the evening was over. It connected to the community. It overlapped with so many other scenes—Hardcore, art, performance, poetry, dance music—in other words the community because it was possible to afford to live here—creative people were living creative lives and most of their life was taken up being an artist. Drag performers were also artists—so they did their other art during the other times.
What’s next for you?
Getting the Clayton archives in order, making art, getting onto the next adventure. Last one just finished was the NYC International Tattoo Convention, next is probably the fall Wildstyle tour, getting the LES Jewish People’s history book into print and finishing the NYC Tattoo history book. And on the look out for new adventures—getting LA II AKA Angel Ortiz his proper credit- getting No!art history straightened. out.
Clayton Patterson: Pyramid Portraits, on display through July 15 at Esopus Space, 64 W. 3rd Street, #210, +1 212 473 0919
