Drawing from personal experiences, Justin Levesque creates artwork in a variety of mediums. Levesque recently agreed to be interviewed by Free Press’s Kathleen Wilber.
Free Press: What is your major and concentration?
Justin Levesque:I’m majoring in arts for a BFA and am concentrating in photography.
FP: What year/class are you?
JL: I’m a senior, graduating in the spring!
FP: What is the medium that you work the most with?
JL: In photography, I shoot primarily medium format film and I use an RZ-67 camera.
FP: How would you describe your artwork?
JL: Hmm, that’s tough. I suppose visually I would describe it as often clinical or sterile. However, some of my newer work is feeling really lush.
FP: Where do you get ideas or draw influence from to make your art? Do you have any continuing themes that you find pop up in your work often?
JL: Whenever I’m making work it always begins in one of three places: the material or emotional history of my Franco-American relatives, being born with a bleeding disorder (hemophilia) and my relationships with men (father, fellow hemophiliacs and lovers).
FP: What are you currently working on (in your spare time, for class etc)?
JL: Right now I’m working on some portraits for my upcoming show at the president’s office at USM. This new work is with people I’m beginning to form new relationships with. these relationships could be either brand new or a re-thinking or new approach to an old relationship. For instance, if you go to the show, you’ll see a photograph of my Nonnie (my grandmother). The woman I thought I knew her as growing up is really not the same person as I know her now or even who she possibly was then. I’m trying to close the distance.
FP: How do you see your art fitting in after you graduate?
JL: I find that kind of an odd phrase. It doesn’t really fit in, It’s just inherently part of everything I do. But in terms of long term plans or how am I going to make money? I want to go to grad school, get my MFA and start teaching.
FP: How have you grown as an artist during your time here at USM?
JL: Yea, or at least I hope so? I’ve had some amazing mentors here. I really owe it to them for asking me hard questions.
FP: Where do you want to see your work go? Do you have any plans, techniques, mediums you’d like to try or get into?
JL: I’d definitely like to show work more. I’m taking painting this semester, it’s kind of been mindblowing. It’s just such a different way of thinking about making images. Also, last semester I collaborated with another art student, Michael Breece, on a video using overlayed found porn. I’d like to work more with video.