If you ask Jessica Green, it’s time for something new. As we come upon the anniversary of COVID-19’s initial global spread, the opportunity to reflect on the heaviness, loss, and loneliness of the past year, as well as the division and injustice, is also an opportunity to look ahead with hope. Green’s latest body of work, “ReNew” exists at precisely that moment, an exhibition’s equivalent of turning over a new leaf. The watery blends of pinks, blues, and greens are softly refreshing blooms set in familiar city scenes.

Renew Indianapolis. Oil on Canvas. 48 x 48”

Green, who often paints en plein air, captures the air and filtered sunlight of spring in her style of modern impressionism. It is a slightly cleaner take than what you might find in a Monet, and notably, incorporates stricter lines to accommodate streetscapes. In the “ReNew” collection, Green added subtle angular elements and patterns to represent “the support system” of “ligaments of strength and hope,” which undergird the dripping paint and loose strokes that evoke a washing away. Rather than seeming temporary, this effect is like the breath clearing from a fogged window to reveal the clear world behind it.

Green’s aim is to cast ordinary scenes in a new light. Her oil paintings often capture a daily experience, like a piece of toast with morning coffee or a feature of the city you pass by frequently, but her choice of colors lends a daydream-like quality. “ReNew” portrays the emotions of a blossoming tree after a harsh winter.

Even more than allowing the viewer to see things in a new way, Green’s purpose in this collection of paintings is to call for and offer a glimpse of a deeper awareness of goodness and hope, as people seek spiritual renewal in a city, culture, and world experiencing the pain of brokenness.

ReNew by Jessica Green will be on display in the Harrison Center’s City Gallery for the month of March. The exhibit can be viewed by appointment as well as in our online gallery, where all pieces are available for purchase.

Find more of Green’s work on her website and on Instagram, @jessicagreenartwork.