Artist Joseph on White Street. Click to see full outfit>> — Photos by Nicole Wasilewicz.If there was any moment I could have been convinced that time travel existed, it was when Joseph turned the corner on a desolate White Street minutes before a weather meltdown. In a sunny and clear sky appeared a massive dark cloud, and walking towards me was what seemed to be a WWII deserter.
Joseph, Artist/Musician/Writer
As Joseph approached, and his cowboy boots became apparent, the decades moved in closer until an early ’90s Johnny Depp stood before me — that time when Tim Burton met the James Dean bad boy of 21 Jump Street, Depp managing to keep both identities at once. Joseph’s classic demureness matched with hard-earned dog tags managed to keep him looking sincere, unlike many of his neighbors who grasp at eras past for ironic appearances.
Where are you from?
Northern Pennsylvania, but I’ve been living in New York for a long while. I’m right here in McKibbin.
What do you think your clothes say about you?
My clothes say… that it’s hot.
Would you say that your neighborhood has inspired your style aesthetic?
No. I think I’ve always dressed pretty wildly. I guess here I just blend in to some degree. Whereas [where I'm from], I kind of just stood out and it was in a negative way, really. People came after me, tortured me. I had to get out of there.
So you’re saying people treated you negatively because of the way you’re dressed?
Well, people who didn’t know me. Other people, I really inspired some people. It was controversy. That’s why I like it here — everyone’s just doing their own thing.
What do the dog tags represent?
I was in the army. Not that I really support the military agenda, it’s just something I did. I wear the tags everyday — I like the way they look and they were really hard to get. The cost me ten million pushups. I almost ended up in the Middle East. They are probably my favorite accessory.
If there was one thing you could change about your look, what would it be?
I don’t know. I guess I would wanna look just like Jude Law. [laughs] I mean, if you’re asking me to change, I would wanna be him.
Is there one trend you’d really like to see disappear?
Bad graffiti, but the good graffiti we should have more of. Experts only please.
Seriously July 21st, 2010 at 7:15 am
snooze
pearl July 23rd, 2010 at 12:10 pm
hottt indeeed.
Nino July 23rd, 2010 at 3:41 pm
“unlike many of his neighbors who grasp at eras past for ironic appearances’
Some of you people should be shamed of yourselves.
If it werent for these ‘old people neighbors’ and Archie Bunkers these hipsters transplants, self titled artists and princess brats from long Island ‘Whatever’ would not have a place to land.
As thanks they continue to piss all over us then wonder why they are hated and beaten with umbrellas
Miss Wasilewicz’s shoud work in a pet store housbreaking puppies and Ferrets with her blog.
-N
Nicole July 24th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Nino, let’s have coffee and work out our differences.
sweetser July 25th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Not every word posted on this site is an attack on the old timers. I read the line about “neighbors who grasp at eras past for ironic appearances” to be a comment on the hipster types who clearly try too hard to look retro. Anyway, this dude’s style is a bit bizarre, but you gotta give him credit for earning the dog tags.
Nino July 26th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Maybe when I get back from vacation…..no funny stuff. I heard about you new hippies !
Professional Alternative July 26th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
God Nino, you really need to brush up on your reading comprehension. Clearly they’re talking about even more ridiculous hipsters than this guy, not your typical grease-stain slobs. But in general you’re right, it’s best not to make the natives angry because the only way they have to express themselves is through violence. As you demonstrate, they certainly don’t have much in the way of words.