Diana Alvarez
Staff Writer
When Genevieve Freeman, assistant professor of sculpture and design in the Fine Arts Division, first saw the advertisement for a position open at Pepperdine in the Chronicle of Higher Education, she said she became excited about the possibility of teaching at Seaver College.
“I prayed a lot throughout the whole process of application and interviews,” Freeman said.
She said she knew the university could only help to further her career as an artist and designer.
The Canada native made the trip from Calgary to sunny Southern California to teach at Pepperdine in January 2004. She is in her third semester of teaching and said she enjoyed the experience even before she arrived.
“After visiting the campus, meeting the art faculty and learning more about the programs and mission of the university, I was impressed,” Freeman said. “It’s a wonderful place to be.”
The beauty of the campus and Malibu is an inspiration for many artists. Malibu attracts tourists from all over the globe each year to its 29 miles of scenic coastline.
Freeman said many things about the small community caught her attention, such as the close proximity to the beach and the great weather. Most importantly she said it was a chance to do what she enjoys best — art instruction.
“I really enjoy the creative process — from ideation, to research, exploration, implementation, analysis and synthesis,” she said. “The hands-on, tactile experience of working with various materials and mediums is quite soulful.”
She also describes art as a form of communication that “allows me to express ideas and concepts in a way that the spoken or written word cannot.” She said art and her educational background are a supporting foundation to the growth of her knowledge.
Freeman completed her master’s of design in visual communication design at the University of Alberta and previously earned her bachelor’s degree in design and a third degree in art history from the University of Manitoba.
During the three years she spent working on her master’s, Freemen worked on a thesis that presented an in-depth analysis of various approaches to post-secondary design education.
At Pepperdine, Freeman teaches two-dimensional design, three-dimensional design and sculpture. This spring, she is conducting a course for graduating art majors, which helps them in creating a presentation for the Weisman Museum. In the fall, she will teach a directed studies course in advanced design and portfolio design.
Freeman also teaches courses designed for less experienced artists. Among the classes she offers are pictorial design, sculptural design and beginning sculpture. Students learn to work with clay, plaster, wax, metal and other natural objects in creating artwork in the introductory sculpture class.
“In Sculpture I, the focus is on forming materials and processes,” she said. “Student explore the relationship between form and content through hands-on explorations.”
In more advanced sculpture courses, the focus shifts to contemporary three-dimensional art and a variety of new genres including installation art, body art, conceptual art, performance art, multimedia art and video art.
Apart from being an instructor of art, she also dedicates time to her own artistic pursuits. She has professional experience in many areas including sculpture, product and furniture design, graphic design, marketing, interior design, digital illustration and creative direction.
Freeman said she enjoys black and white photography and movies or books that have to do with the psychology of criminal profiling.
When she’s not teaching at Pepperdine, Freeman said she is hoping to pursue some non-artistic interests.
“I love being close to the beach,” she said. “I’m really hoping to learn how to surf this summer.”
03-31-2005
