Harrison 

Curator: Here we have Joshua LaRock’s figurative piece titled “Harrison.” Although not dated, it certainly speaks to LaRock’s interest in the tradition of portraiture, filtered through a very contemporary lens. What's your initial reaction? Editor: Oh, that kid is just too cute for words! Seriously, it feels like looking into a sepia-toned dream. There is so much detail – and yet everything blends together like the perfect memory. It reminds me of being little and utterly content surrounded by the stuff you cherish most. Curator: Absolutely. This painting is rife with a palpable sense of domesticity. Note how LaRock captures the nuances of childhood, positioning the figure in an intimate setting, replete with his personal effects, the dog bowl, and even his favorite stuffed animal and toy. It reflects, perhaps, an examination of the impact of social conditioning. Editor: Dog bowl or tiny hat rack... seriously though! Conditioning? Perhaps. I see a pure kind of presence. He looks like he is right here and right now. There's something really special in the way LaRock paints a child, without sentimental goo. Curator: Goo is certainly absent, yet this very realness raises questions of power and representation. Who has access to these intimate glimpses? Whose childhoods are validated, and whose are overlooked? Editor: See, this is why I love talking to you! You just gave this gorgeous painting some extra-dimensional oomph! The fact that this one image can also talk about who has and hasn't got... Makes me appreciate even more the artist's effort. And to think, I almost saw the kid only as cute... Curator: Well, art should prompt questioning. I’m intrigued how LaRock utilizes classic realist painting techniques while still fostering, consciously or not, broader social dialogues. What final impression do you glean? Editor: The image as a whole tells the beautiful story of this particular boy’s present: The present that is here and gone. He is precious... Curator: He certainly is. Thank you for lending your impressions to this exploration of “Harrison.”