ROGER VARLAND

ARTIST STATEMENT

The piece in this year’s show, Flesh and Spirit, is part of a larger body of work composed of separated faces. Though we like to think of ourselves as unified beings, we actually consist of a variety of dimensions, most obviously in personality, but also as titled here. Though I’m not sure it is a paradox, our existence in these two worlds does provide some tension when establishing meaning for our lives.

BIO

Roger Varland
Assistant Professor of History and Art
Spring Arbor University

M.A. American History, Western Michigan University
M.F.A. candidate in Photography, Eastern Michigan University

Fall semester of my sophomore year in college (1975) I blew my entire savings (pizza and book money that was supposed to last the whole year) on my first camera. It’s been downhill ever since, at least by my wife’s accounting of the family budget. While starting in straight forward photojournalism, my work has drifted toward the realm of art over the years due to inspiration from books, galleries, and museums. I have taught a couple of courses in photography for about a dozen years, but due to a continually growing interest, I have returned to school with the hopes of teaching more image making in the future.

On the technical side, I find myself using a variety of formats due to staying current for students. The piece here, along with the rest of the project, was all 4x5 Polaroid, but I tend to shoot more medium format currently.

I also have strong documentary interests, leaning more towards landscape and place. Some of this has no doubt been influenced by experience, having taught for two years in Kenya, a semester in China, and numerous other international student trips.