By Tara Owen, Student Reporter
Lars Roeder was hired as the new visual arts professor and hopes to make an impact on Northwestern.
Q: What brought you to Alva?
A: The opportunity here really fits my skill set because I have been teaching every art process: painting, drawing, printing, photography and digital. It fits well for me having that broad skill set being the only art professor.
Q: What are you looking to accomplish in the classroom this school year?
A: Grow the art program, as well as grow art visibility around campus. As much as it is in the classroom, how much art can we get out of the classroom? Get it in the hallways, show it downtown and in the middle of the sidewalk on campus. That’s always one of my goals. How can we get out in front of people, which is the whole point of art? That’s also a great lesson for students to get their art out for display. It is a whole other aspect of art.
Personally, I am still adapting to a new environment, facility, equipment and core structure. In an art studio, everything is so dependent on everything else.
Q: What are some plans to incorporate the Alva community within the art program?
A: When you are in a close community, everyone is looking for an interesting event or activity. Art is an opportunity to do that, not only displaying the art or painting a mural, but an engaged practice.
We can also make projects that the community can contribute to or even interact with. We could also have equipment, supplies and projects set up where you can come and be a part of it or even take something away with you.
Q: Who was your hero growing up?
A: I came to art a little later; both of my parents are artists. Imagine how frustrating it must be to watch your dad draw something perfect, and then you try to do it, and it is not perfect. It can be a little frustrating because it was not effortless, and it was not perfect. I did not really approach art until I was in college. It helped me explore art, understand what you can do with it and different ways to approach it. It also gives me a different appreciation, and it helps me connect with students who might also be at that same place.
Q: What is the scariest thing you have done?
A: I was more scared moving from Nashville, Tennessee, to South Texas. That was my first time going out there not knowing anyone. It is more of an existential fear rather than jumping out of an airplane.
Q: What would be your superpower if you could have one?
A: Has to be super smell, because it is very unassuming. You might think, “Oh, you can smell too much. That would be awful.” However, since it’s super smell, you can control how you are smelling and what you are smelling.
It is not like everything is stinky all the time. You could say, “Oh, I guess they are having chocolate cake in the cafe today” from a far distance, and no one would know how you know.
Additional information: I am originally from Madison, Wisconsin. I received my MFA in printmaking from Texas A&M- Corpus Christi in 2017.