Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
Ryan Romer is a young Alaska Native artist who has been featured in a live art presentation at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage this month. Romer is one of five artists who, during November, lived in a cabin built on campus with one glass wall, so that passersby could see them at work
Romer’s medium is a bit eclectic. He paints in oils on canvas or makes sculptures or uses the printmaking press he hauled into APU’s Carr-Gottstein Hall.
Romer is originally from Bethel, but has been living in Anchorage for a decade, where he developed his interest in art through university of Alaska classes.
Romer says intuition plays a big part in his expression, too, since he lives with family members who live in a traditional manner. He says he’s most interested in the dramatic social changes that are facing Alaska Natives all over the state.
He says contemporary Alaska Native artists of the past decade are tasked with interpreting that challenge. He says he’s the only one in his family producing art, but he is witnessing that younger members of his family are following in his footsteps.
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