The (HY.GEN.IC) is proud to present our first featured artist Joseph Poinski, a Sacramento native and four-year resident of San Francisco, California. While balancing his course load at City College and a part-time gig at Giant Robot, Joseph spends his time thrashing the various skate spots of SF, including the highly acclaimed Civic Center Library. Though his busy schedule might make it difficult for others to witness his infamous half-cab kick flip, the world should not miss out on his other undeniable talent. What most don’t realize is that Joseph posesses a rare expertise beyond his skating technique. Until now, this talent has been one Joseph has only shared with his closest friends and family.

Since picking up a camera in his early teenage years, Poinski has combined his love for skateboarding with his passion for photography, fusing the two into something greater. With his inimitable eye for skateboarding and devout dedication to mastering his beloved Nikon, Joseph Poinski is an artist. Catching frames of switch heel flips, frontside wall rides, and backside noseblunts, Poinski has witnessed it all. Over the course of four days, Joseph set aside time from his hectic schedule to share with the (HY.GEN.IC) team his appreciation of French culture, opinions about San Francisco’s various neighborhoods, and musings on the art of mastery.

IN.JOSEPH’S.MIND

A friend is someone who is willing to tell you when you’re wrong.

Anything great usually comes at an inopportune time.

Last night, I watched a really bad movie with a good friend. All in all, it was fun.

On Valentine’s Day, I hung out with some dudes, had a good time.

The difference between an art show and an art gallery is that art shows have free wine.

I’d rather live the rest of my life in San Francisco than have to go back to Sacramento.

I want a French bulldog. I would name it Gorby, short for Mikhail Gorbachev.

I like to pretend I can skate better than I actually can. So when I go skate, I try to live up to my imagination.

I never feel like I have it worse off than most people.

My favorite skate photos that I shot have all been long lens. My favorite fish-eye photo is one of Matt Field, but he told me not to use it because his neck looked super crazy. I’m taking a Photoshop class right now, so maybe I can figure out how to clean it up.

At a certain point, you have to understand that there are a lot of people who can do what you do and you have to find someway to differentiate yourself from them.

Upper Haight gets on my nerves sometimes.

Lower Haight is a lot better than Upper Haight…better cafes.

It’s nice to have a hundred dollars in your bank account at all times. Otherwise I’m always worrying why I’m spending my money to begin with.

Whatever the obstacle is, you can overcome it with determination or you can find an easier way around it.

When I was a kid, I wanted nothing more than to be a Jedi Knight.

Life is fantastic; it shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Sometimes I get stressed and I’ll revert into myself. I think way too much about what has already happened. From that point, I try to focus on the future.

Kid Cudi… I hear he makes music.

Super Nintendo is the second best video game console ever made. First place goes to Nintendo 64. People can hate on me, but I stand firm.

One of the raddest skateboard teams out right now is Rasa Libre; I really hope they blow up.

Yeah Right is one of the most influential skate tapes ever made. I mean, do you know who Mike Carrol is? His part is by far one of the best.

When it rains, it’s a good day to get nothing done. But sometimes it sucks if you been waiting all week to go skate and the one day you have off it rains.

I think one of the reasons I can’t sleep is because I spend too much time in bed.

You go through a lot of bs in school, but it’s worth it.

I could invite anybody to a party, as long as they weren’t photographers. I don’t like to talk photography with photographers.

The funniest person I know is me. The only person who understands that is my sister.

Music is still something I learn from my friends. I’m never on top of new music that comes out or bands that I should be listening to. My friends always introduce me. I’m on Last FM, but I don’t like any of the suggestions they refer to me.

Natalie Portman has never looked hotter than when she had a shaved head for her role in V for Vendetta. Dead serious.

An American Spirit is a blessing and a curse.

When I came to San Francisco, I realized I was a little fish in a big pond.

I was walking down the street and a bear came up to me. Told me he was my dad and I told him he was a liar.

I’m going to do twenty push-ups every  morning…but, probably not.

I grew up believing for sure I would have a steady girlfriend by the time I was sixteen. Didn’t work out.

Americans are told that aged cheese is bad. They have no idea what they’re missing.

My definition of a great brunch is French toast and some hash browns – maybe some scrambled eggs and definitely a black coffee.

 Sodium, according to this dude I saw on TV, should be completely eliminated from our diet. I don’t know why, but apparently it’s pretty bad for you. Hearing this news sucks because soy sauce is awesome.

Orangina is something I should have an attachment to because I have a fondness of all things French. In reality, it’s good, not great, and people always make fun of its name. (Oran-GINA)

The difference between day and night is that one is darker than the other. But in all seriousness, people are willing to have more at fun at night. I try to get sh*t done during the day.

There are trillions of magnetic particles in every single byte of data recorded by your CPU.

You need an entire life to become a master of anything. Literally anything. There is nothing that one can master without dedicating your entire life to it.

Relaxation is something I need to give myself more of.

All I care about is astrophysics and quantum mechanics. I don’t know anything about the subject matter, but when I have free time I try to read up on it.

Look, if you see me on Haight Street, do not ask me for a cigarette because I will not give you one.

Barack Obama, as much as I love the dude… at the end of the day, he’s just another politician.

The most interesting night I ever had resulted in a lot of regret the next day.

Seeing your name in publications is the best feeling ever.