When I met Lara Myers at her downtown San Rafael art studio, she was most excited to tell me about “Gently Bang Your Head Against The Wall Here: An Installation About The 2016 Electoral College” (part of it is pictured behind her in the accompanying photo). It’s telling that the art’s statement remains all too relevant in 2024.
What do you do?
I create large documentary art installations that address pressing societal issues: the electoral college, pandemic statistics, sexism, climate change and human migration.
Where do you live?
The west end of San Rafael.
How long have you lived in Marin?
20 years after 10 years in Russian Hill, San Francisco.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them?
Art Works Downtown to wander the halls and visit artists in their studios.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
At my studio, Lara’s Lab, located in the cool and funky underground level of Art Works Downtown in San Rafael or watching my hilarious 17-breed street dog play at the dog park.
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
A roller skating rink complete with a disco ball, cool light projections and in-the-dark skating sessions for ages 21+. And rental skates with glittery wheels.
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites?
Find your form of creativity, and fill your life with it.
If you could ask anyone to join you at dinner, whom would you invite?
I’m a military brat and lived in 10 states and went to 12 schools by the end of high school. I’d invite my best friends and crushes from each place I lived. Maybe two versions of each person: at the age I knew them and their current age. That would be fascinating.
What’s some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
Remain in your focus, be keen in your goals, dream your thoughts into action and always be you.
What’s something that 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy?
Ask me again in five minutes…
Big question. What’s one thing you’d do to change the world?
Invent a real-time fact-checking device to identify, confront and quash dangerous mis- and disinformation online and in real life.
Keep up with Myers at laraslab.com.
Know a Marin local I should profile? Email me at [email protected] or find me on the ’gram at @IveGotNissues.
