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Clayton: Comings, goings…and lots of graffiti

L.E.S. documentarian Clayton Patterson was out and about covering goings-on in the neighborhood.

The late Jimmy Webb’s boutique I Need More, at 75A Orchard St., between Broome and Orchard Sts., has closed up for good. Webb, who was formerly the longtime salesman, buyer and manager and Trash and Vaudeville, on St. Mark’s Place, died in April at age 62.

A memorial left outside the closed I Need More boutique. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)
A farewell note to Jimmy Webb, whose boutique has permanently closed. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)

Meanwhile, sculptor Tom Otterness, who spent time outside the city during the pandemic, has returned to the Lower East Side. He’s know for his public artworks, including “Life Underground,” inside the subway station at 14th St. and Eighth Ave. Riffing on capitalism, the permanent installation features more than 100 whimsical cast-bronze figures.

Public-art sculptor Tom Otterness is back in the neighborhood. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)
Inside Otterness’s place. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)
The artist back at work. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)

Patterson also snapped shots of plenty of new graffiti on buildings and storefront gates. As the pandemic continues amid the still-slowed-down economy, a lot more graffiti is popping up, and not just related to the protests.

A bank-turned-nightclub remains closed — and has become a canvas for giant graffiti bubble letters. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)
In shades of the 1970s and ’80s, more graffiti is cropping up on roll-down gates. (Photo by Clayton Patterson)

3 Comments

  1. Clayton Patterson Clayton Patterson July 25, 2020

    Yes same Tom. Over 40 years ago, as a young and stupid artist, he made one of the largest mistakes of his life. He has admitted that point. Since then he has matured, raised a family, had a number of dogs over the years, and given much back to the city. Across the street from where I live is the PS 20 school playground. There is a large bronze Tom Otterness frog there that kids love and play on everyday. Tom turned into one of America’s most loved sculptors. We have to believe that people can change. Tom grew up and changed. People can change.

  2. Gerry Val Gerry Val July 20, 2020

    Is this the same Tom Otterness who shot a dog to death in order to film it?

    • zip mahoney zip mahoney July 24, 2020

      the very same

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