Justine Green: Bed Space

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Author: Heather Eck

Justine Green, Bed Space,  Oil on Canvas, 12"x9"

Imagine the tiny, cramped interiors of a hospital closet. A harshfluorescent light is causing organic shadows to escape from the stacked spare bedsonto the walls behind them. A stifling relationship between organic shapes andgeometric interiors starts to appear.  
This unusual space and relationship is what inspired Tulsa artist,Justine Green, to create her Concept/OK piece titled, Bed Space. Using paintas a medium, Green was able tofurther enhance the expressive relationships between shapes and form thatsurface within the piece.  I was able to learn more of her intent aswell as the specific process she took in creating the piece. 
Q: What do you want your piece to sayto its viewers?JG: I would want theviewer to have a bodily response to the imagery despite the absence of thefigure. The intimate scale of the work should invite the viewer to come closeto the piece. The viewer should have a sense of familiarity with the subjectbut not in a way that describes a narrative.
 Q: Technicallyspeaking, how did you execute this work?JG: This work is afinished painting. My interior paintings begin from observation and includeobjects I find in life. In the process there comes a point when directobservation ends and improvisation and invention take over. This distancecreated by abandoning observation allows for the painting to take on a separatelife where I can exploit certain moods or atmospheres.
Q: What is your favorite medium inwhich to work? Why?JG: Paint, particularly oil paint,is my favorite medium. There is a never ending fascination with taking what isbasically mud- oil and pigment- and smearing it onto a surface to createrecognizable forms.   I allow for a lot of time to elapse whilemaking a painting. This time allows for new ideas and drastic changes to begenerated before the painting is finished. The physicality of my marks often givesevidence to a history of changes. I like how these marks place significance onprocess and its role within painting.
The Concept/OK:Art in Oklahoma exhibition welcomes to the public through February 16,2013  at the new Tulsa Arts and Humanities Council’s Hardesty Arts Center.Admission is free of charge. See www.concept-ok.org formore information.