ED ney Freeman
Sculptural Ceramics
Professional info
Art Educator-Former US Virgin Islands 2009 State/Territorial Teacher of the Year-MST from Rochester Institute of Technology,1995-Former Principal at IQRA' ACADEMY St. Croix- Invited in 2006 and 2011 to create two Sculptures in Changchun China-Resident Artist at Baltimore Clayworks-Virginia Center for The Creative Arts- and Art Institute of Chicago-July to August, 2021 resident artist at Millay Arts in Austerlitz New York-Workshop leader at NAEA Convention-AFT Mini Quests-Co-Founder/president of Association of Virgin Islands Visual Art Education (AVIVAE).
PROFILE: Solid background as an art specialist with aspects of academics , athletics and service programs of
9th th to 12th grade institutions; values education, facilities, event management and leadership-with strong emphasis on instruction and learning discipline, school improvement, community building and individual growth. Experienced in planning and development of innovative programs; grant writing, coordination and development of workshops and cultural production presentation design, recruiting, supervision of faculty, teacher observations and evaluations and school accreditation. Skilled in; developing a positive school culture, promoting student achievement and establishing relationships with community leaders.
Work experience
University of the Virgin Islands Art Faculty -Part Time 2015-16 Fall Semester Principal IQRA' ACADEMY St. Croix, USVI - 2012-2014;
Educational leadership is a responsibility and opportunity for administrators and school boards to help serve students, parents and school community in reaching the goal of high student academic achievement. We get what we strive for once we are committed to becoming change agents in lock step with technology and best practices.
.
IQRA' ACADEMY:Art and Social Studies Teacher
2010 - 2013
After 33 years of teaching in and leading the Art Department of Charlotte Amalie High School on the island of St. Thomas with a large population, I moved to sister island St. Croix to lend my experience to IQRA' ACADEMY a small non-public school. Returned to St. Thomas in 2014 for Family Matters- Subsequently joined University of the Virgin Islands Faculty Part-Time.2015
Charlotte Amalie High School-Art Department Chairman and Teacher
1977 - 2010
With a Liberal Arts degree and an art education focus I returned to St. Thomas in 1977 to join the ranks of Virgin Islands educators at Charlotte Amalie High School. There is where I developed the craft of teaching and realized that teaching is a reflective profession as well as an art and science. Many highlights of my career ensued with teaching, learning and art production at the center as this passion continues to this day.
Education
1995 MST- Master of Science for Teachers
School of Imaging Arts and Science
Rochester Institute of technology
1977 B.A.Liberal Arts,Art Education Focus
City College, City Univeristy of NY
Artist Bio
Husband-Father-Grandfather- Brother-Uncle-Nephew-Friend-Artist-Educator-Virgin Islands own, born Edney L. Freeman holds a Master's of Science Degree (MST) from Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Crafts, majoring in sculptural ceramics (1995) and a BA Liberal Arts Degree from the City College of New York (1977). He has two life-sized bronze sculptures "Mocko Jumbie with Tourist" at the World Sculpture Park (2006) and "Tropical Masquerader with Whip" (2011) at the Technology Park, both in Changchun, China. His work has been displayed at el Museo de las Americas in Puerto Rico-Mattye Reid African Art Center in Greenboro North Carolina-Geneseo State College in Upstate NY and the University of Rochester- and he has participated in many art shows and exhibits throughout the Virgin Islands. Following the designation of Quelbe Music as the National Music of the Virgin Islands in January 2004, Mr Freeman in October 2005 created the "Quelbe Traveling Exhibit and Colloquium" for the Humanities Council with featured events on all three islands. Through another grant from the Waste Management Authority May, 2008, he established the first Recycle Program at CAHS. Over the years Mr. Freeman has produced Carnival Costumes and Designs for CAHS and the Univesity of the Virgin Islands. His stage and set designs for CAHS 's Inroductory Night Programs and costumes for Queen Contestants are examples of his wide range and body of artwork. In 2008-09 Mr Freeman was selected as the first male recipient of the USVI Territorial State Teacher of the Year Award. Selected by St. Thomas St John District Poetry contest winner Tanya Harris, he is mentioned in the published volume of the 2000 "Who's Who in America" . Owner of Signature Arts, he has created an original patented chess Set featuring uniquely designed Caribbean motifs.. His latest works are the "Shield Series" where the African Shield form is used to convey universal messages and the "Slave Tag Series" in which the American brand of enslaved Africans of antebellum South Carolina is captured in clay and sheet copper. Co-founder of the Association of Virgin Islands Visual Art Educators(AVIVAE). Mr. Freeman has also been affiliated in various capacities with the School of Visual Arts and Careers (SVAC), a St. Thomas based after-school art program for gifted and talented students since its inception in 1981. Mr Freeman's sculptural and ceramics work can be found in the homes of prominent art collectors in the USVI and other places. His passion is to produce and promote art and sculpture in public spaces that tell the story of the USVI and his Afro-American-Caribbean heritage. An unveiling of his trio of bronze sculptures "Mocko Jumbie Jamboree" permanently installed at Yacht Haven Grande was recently held December 9th, 2022. Currently he is in his ceramic pottery mode producing traditional Caribbean Coal Pots.