Tracing back the origins of artist Josh Pearson’s foray into the seemingly random associations of his alphabet ghetto, we arrive to Michigan in the 1980s, when the Tampa-based artist spent his childhood collecting random objects and dismantling them to create what he called “inventions.”
This habit would find its way into his artwork, and at 17, when he began showing his work and illustrating for tattoo artists, he started incorporating colorful collages of magazine clippings after running out of supplies. Tattoo imagery began creeping into his paintings. The rearranging and overlapping of his work and creative pursuits began to inform everything he does today.
In his new alphabet of creatures, which will be on display for the launch of his first book, Alphabhetto, he further explores the limitations of our perceptions of everyday objects and living things in a format akin to the A-B-C books we read to children. See Pearson’s images and celebrate the launch of his book this Saturday at the Collective in downtown St. Pete.
CL caught up with Pearson recently to find out how his ambitious book made it to the printing press.
“The initial idea for the book came to me," he said, "while driving in Ybor, I saw an electric company van with a traffic cone attached to the front and I laughed to myself because it reminded me of a rhinoceros. When I got home I did a few sketches of the idea, some mostly rhino others mostly truck until I found the perfect balance of both. Animals have always been my favorite subject matter to draw so once the rhino worked itself out I wondered what other animal machine hybrids I could find. As a kid I looked up at the clouds and saw animals in them the only difference now is I keep my eyes on my city.”
CL: Your bio mentions that childhood pastimes you call "inventions" inspired your work. Could you elaborate on how these influenced the book?
JP: … “They consisted entirely of trash I found in the street. My pop used to call me “Junkyard” because my pockets would be filled with metal scraps, wood and paper that I found on my way home from school. I would build things out of those scraps, some functional some decorative but I hated throwing things away because I saw potential in that garbage. That mentality influenced the book in two ways. The first way is direct because I used scraps of paper I cut out of magazines to create all of the background collages in the book. The second way is conceptually by looking at inanimate objects in new ways we can see potential for something more."
What have your peers and others — and others' kids — said about the book?
"Feedback from fellow artists has been good; I collaborated on this project with two of my favorite artist/Graphic designers Eleanor Grosch and Lenna McWhorter they helped me with layout and typography of the book. Feedback from non-artists has been mixed. It is an alphabet book that has a colorful children’s feel but the subject matter is not always sugarcoated (hand guns and hypodermic needles). Some parents won’t read this to their kids and that’s OK with me. I have been confronted about this topic and I feel that these are issues we need to talk to our kids about. They are not easy conversations but the problems are real and I chose to address them. The kids that have seen my book love it, and I have had parents thank me for making something they can also enjoy while reading it to their child. The messages are subtle and only raise the questions, because I certainly don’t have the answers."
What will be on display at the art show, prints used for the book? Will there be other works by you in addition to those? Is it a solo show — completely?
"This is completely a solo show all 26 of the original paintings from the book will be on display as well as limited-edition prints and posters of alternative layouts. I will also be showing eight paintings from a new series and a sneak peak of the new book project. I am also bringing out a number of paintings from the past years so there will be a lot of art to see."
Where are you grown-up-wise and domestically speaking?
"I am 31 years old, I am married to an amazing woman and we are working on a family of our own."
How do you feel about being an artist living in Tampa?
"I moved to Tampa from Minneapolis, but I love Tampa, I’m not going anywhere. I have amazing friends and family that supports me and the local talent is always inspiring. I work as creative director for a design firm called Creative Arts Unlimited Inc. and the team there is are equally inspiring and supportive. It is not an easy city to make a living as an artist, but the artists that are here grind it out every day and make it happen."
