Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Garmon.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I grew up in a family of five children. It was wild, but I wouldn’t trade what learned about dealing with different temperaments. I was homeschooled and my parents put emphasis on individual expression and criticism thinking.
The Christian church remains an important part of my life even though its shortcomings. While I disagree with some expressions of Christianity, (the crusades, homophobia, sexual repression) I’m thankful for church still. It gave me a good grid to use and eventually break out of. It’s boring to swallow everything religion serves without challenging it. It’s also boring to be the angry-at-church person. I’m neither.
Church gave me an outlet to play music with peers and practice leadership. There’s an ineffable thing that happens when you get a bunch of people singing in unity. I love that.
For better or worse, my life didn’t follow the tidy plan I had to get married at nineteen and be a music pastor. I’m thirty and single and rarely attend church right now. Instead, I continue finding more ways to express myself.
Please tell us about your art.
I write songs, poetry, make images, I’m a killer beatboxer, love arranging flowers, interior design, women’s street fashion.
I always have healing in mind when I create, even if it’s subconscious. Art has the power to heal the soul – the maker and the observer both. It’s usually when I’m just very honest that it seems to have the most impact.
At the end of the day, I want to make a bunch of shit and heal the world.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I don’t know much about being an artist in the grander scheme. Maybe I need to study history more. But in general, I want to see artists creating in a more symbiotic way. I love Atlanta for that. I recently did a photo shoot with friends Meagan Jain and Dan Almasy. I had a rough idea for a music video, but it ended being really playful and exploratory. You just can’t buy those vibes. Frankly, in other cities like cough, L.A. there’s so much competition it’s easy to get lost and discouraged. It’s hard enough to make a living in art. So, for the love of God, just be sweet and find win/win solutions. There’s a creative practice for you: always find that synergistic win.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have music on Spotify/Apple Music/etc. under Joshua Garmon. I would love for you to hear it!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 4042194114
- Email: joshuagarmon@icloud.com
- Instagram: joshuadavidgarmon
Image Credit:
Dan Almasy, Elizabeth Day
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