The Sinful Works of Joseph Larkin

by Chuck Foster
August 2008

There are too many great artist in this city for a monthly publication to ever keep up with. It can be a harrowing task for a publisher to pick one artist from the many for our front cover each month, even more so when people ask, " What are you going to do next month?", referring to our July issue with a Nazi flag waving behind a hot chick. I believe art compliments itself, as does free speech. With that in mind, I believe the works of Joseph Larkin easily compliment the controversial images we used last month with local photographer, Aurum. This month, Joseph's works will twist the mind, tweak the soul and send the religious right into a fury - once again.

My first question for Joseph had to be about the darkness in his art, where it stems from? "I view Art as the gravity and motion that creates balance in the universe. It's more than just microcosmic inspiration, it's a universal truth. Art is a god that no one has to kill for and anyone can love without rules. It is change, it is intake and discharge that lasts forever. There are lots of subjects I love to portray, the human form being a point of reference that most can relate to. I adore insects and other arthropods, deep sea creatures, dinosaurs...pretty much any animal, though mainly obscure types you just don't see everyday. And mainly carnivores. Then there are monsters. The lovely, lovely monsters. When I was about 9 or 10 I went through a phase for several months where I would draw creatures with several heads, and that's pretty much all I would draw. It started out with just a few heads sprouting like pumpkins and as it went on the damned things wound up with about 30 or 40 of them, all different."

My fourth question for Joseph was, "Is there a statement to your work?" "Yes! I believe that my work shows glimpses into interesting inner-worlds and interprets the one we all share in such a way that is very easy for a lot of people to relate to. Let's face it- everyone has an obfuscated aspect to their personality. I think most of us attempt to accept and embrace it at some level. A great many of us keep this part hidden so we have a space behind the face we show to others to get really messy in without throwing the bigger picture into disarray. I like to try to build bridges across the void between them by sharing some of the activity behind my own mask. I try to break the ice a little in that way."

Having suffered the pains of self-promotion adversities first hand, I asked Joseph Larken how tough it is trying to survive as an independent artist in Seattle? He says he's "more interested in engaging in the process of creation and finding new sources of inspiration than I am in the whole PR angle of art". However, in a nutshell, he says that "being an independent artist means whatever you want it to, and success is measured by one's own expectations, goals and desires"

On that note, he also says that he's "doing pretty good so far." And that he is. Two of the photos we asked to use for this article was already claimed by Cemetery Dance Magazine and CthulhuSex magazine.

As a successful artist, I asked Joseph if he had any advice for upcoming artist. "Indeed", he said. "Work as often as you can at the highest level of your abilities. Study, practice, research and improve. Make your chief aesthetic goal to surpass your own personal best every chance you get. You'll go farther being your own worst critic than as your own greatest admirer."

With the Seattle Night Life Ordinance constantly hiding in the shadows, dagger in hand, I wondered what Joseph Larkin thought about Seattle's art scene. "I've been here only a short time in the Northwest, but what I have seen of the scene here seems pretty good- there are lots of great, talented artists in this region. There are also lots of fine galleries and other venues that show excellent work. Artist Trust has been a huge source of information and opportunity and there are other excellent local arts agencies and resource groups too."

If you remotely enjoyed the antics of Joseph Larkin, you can find his art and such, in his own words, at: "Art/Not Terminal Gallery downtown for the group show this month and I'll be at the opening on Saturday August 9th from 7:00 to 9:30PM. Pop on down, like I said these things are a blast. At the end of September I'll be doing a solo show at Artcore Studios on Airport Way in Georgetown. That's through November, which means it'll be there for Hallow e'en, so that's got me pretty excited! I have donated a piece for the "They Shall Walk" charity auction in September at the New York Fashion Academy in Ballard. I also annually donate a rabbit related piece to www.MakeMineChocolate.org (OK, so I have a soft spot for the rabbits. Hell, it can't ALL be fire and brimstone, can it?) Sometime next year I'll be showing solo at HaLo Studio and Gallery on Capitol Hill. That's a huge space, so there'll be a ton of work there. I can always be reached through my website at www. josephlarkinart.com and I have a large gallery section there. That's a good place to inquire about the availability of any piece in particular you might have seen in person, on the site or in print and to contact me regarding exhibitions."