Shaman of the Lower East Side

American poet, publisher, photographer, film maker, and self-described multimedia shaman, Ira Cohen has died at the age of 76 in New York. NY Arts Magazine in 2008 called his life "a sort of white magic produced by an alchemist who turned his back on the establishment in order to find God, art and poetry." Michael Rothenberg, editor of Big Bridge magazine, said in an interview, "Ira was a major figure in the international underground and avant-garde. In order to understand American art and poetry post-World War II, you have to understand Ira Cohen." Read More