pt. 2: Interview
Self Reliance
Lenworth McIntosh

Showing through April 3rd, 2020

1523b Webster St.
Oakland, CA 94612
info@part2gallery.com

pt. 2: Oakland is pleased to present Self Reliance, a solo exhibition by Lenworth “Joonbug” McIntosh. Internal dialogue can lead us to grow or create cognitive dissonance. What we believe to be wrong can be right and vice versa. The process of creation is just as important as the thing created. Unlearning and relearning. Acceptance. A fascination with something that seems new, but really isn’t. In this show, McIntosh explores the subjective nature of perception, the duality of simultaneously being right and wrong, and what you accept based on your experiences.

Lenworth “Joonbug” McIntosh (b. 1987 Jamaica, West Indies) is a visual artist, photographer, illustrator and designer based in Oakland, CA by way of Dallas, TX. His quirky wit, warmth, and diversity of pursuits give his work vibrant soul while his approach is indirect; he portrays things as they are without revealing all of the answers. McIntosh received his MFA in Fashion Merchandise from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco CA and has exhibited throughout the western United States.

-pt. 2:

pt. 2: - Your artist statement about this show focuses on internal dialogue and cognitive dissonance. Do you find comfort in contradiction?

Lenworth McIntosh - I do, there’s something beautiful about allowing yourself to be human, relinquishing the constraints of perfection. We do it each second of every day and yet we seldom notice—you can choose to change or choose to fight but change finds a way. We are our greatest strength and obstacle, simultaneously; I love it.

-How do you let yourself accept your train of thought (and translate that to a physical object or a visual image) rather than trying to rein in it and come to some sort of resolution? I act. The impulsive nature of that action pushes me out of the plane and, at that point I just enjoy the free fall. My parachute is the real me, it always comes through.

-Are there ways in which you feel that your work engages in a personal or cultural narrative? Ultimately, I’m a product of all my experiences and I’m not afraid to let them drive the work. No one has lived my life so who better to articulate the narrative?

-Humor seems to play a big role in your illustration and painting. How do you feel the use of humor operates in your work? Comedians are geniuses, they can deliver the most catastrophic of news with a straight face, and you laugh; it’s powerful and it works. That’s my approach, the indirect delivery of meaningful thought through something so communal and light as laughter.

-You’ve explored many different mediums and techniques over the years. What medium are you using primarily for your show Self Reliance (pt. 2: Oakland April, 2020) and in what ways do you think that this choice serves the finished work in ways that other materials may not? Do you select materials based on your concept or does your choice of materials drive the process/finished work. I’ve been overthinking painting with oil for so long but coveting it’s essence even longer. I also love printmaking; the toil and evidence of human handiwork. I’ll be working with both these as well as applying my default illustrative mediums of pencil and ink. You might also see an analog photograph. Honestly, whatever is needed to help make the show an experience holds priority over specific tools.

-You’ve been commissioned to do a lot of graphic design and illustration for musicians, brands, events, etc. How do you navigate a creative project with parameters that are set by someone else with a vision? I’ve built different personalities—I’m a Gemini—for different aspects of my career. When it comes to client work I’m in an optimistic mode, what can I bring to the table to enhance the vision and where can I offer key advice based on my experience. Thankfully, I’ve learned to loosen my grip on how things should be.

-Where is your studio? How does your physical space affect the way you work (if at all)? I’m in West Oakland, with five other creatives, three of whom are printmakers. Being in that space is great, there’s so much action, so much drive that I can’t allow myself to feel stagnant. Seeing those guys act has really done wonders for me getting my ideas out faster. “If not now, then when?”—Yoni.

-What do you like to listen to in the studio? Haha. It’s all over the place, I’ve made a playlist on almost every streaming platform. My nightly go-to is https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/night-blue-grapefruit/pl.4dc5b7d9144c45808022ccc372116df2 and I’ve been enjoying “Chances with Wolves Radio”, on SoundCloud, thanks Chrispy.

-How has your work changed over the course of your career thus far? Do you find your approach or process different than it once was? I feel my range has grown dramatically, I feel more excitement from creating the piece and less bound to a “Finished” piece. I’m trusting my taste buds more.

-Are there other concepts you want to explore further down the line? New processes/materials? I’d love to keep building on my characters, diving deeper into their being, deeper into myself—Beanboy, Man Wearing Hat, and the Birds.

-What do you do when you’re not in the studio? I’m usually walking around with one or all of my film cameras, I love digesting the world through my senses. Cooking in my kitchen.

-Favorite wikipedia wormhole? Favorite wormhole is definitely Tumblr. Have you seen my page? Wow. Freshkaufee.tumblr.com (on desktop) I’m proud of it. Also Pinterest.com/thebugs87

-Is there something about yourself you’d like to share that your audience may not know? I became a United States citizen, last month (February 2020). I’m always cooking something, if you know then you know how I get down.

-What advice would you give to your younger self? Ask your grandfather more questions, ask him what he was like at your age. Don’t let those American kids make you feel like you’re less than. Have more pride in your native tongue, keep using it, you’ll get all the pretty girls later, lol.

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Interview - Lenworth "Joonbug" McIntosh