Profile
Nathaniel H. Freeman is an artist, designer, and educator based out of Dillon, MT. He is the recipient of several artist grants and awards, including a Minnesota State Arts Board grant and a Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship. His design work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NPR, I.D. Magazine, and Matter Magazine, among others.
Education
Alfred University School of Art+Design, Alfred, NY — MFA, Three-Dimensional Studies, 2005
University of Montana, Missoula, MT — BFA, Sculpture, 1998
Leadership Experience
I have proven accomplishment in project management and guiding diverse teams through challenges and opportunities. I have an adaptive approach to communicating across lines of experience, education, or other demographic factors.
Teaching Experience
2018-present Instructor, University of Montana Western, Dillon, MT
Classes taught:
Sculpture I: Introduction to basic sculptural techniques with various materials, and the expressive, conceptual, and communication possibilities of 3-D objects/space. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Sculpture II: Advanced sculptural techniques using various materials, and the expressive, conceptual, and communication possibilities of 3-D objects/space. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Media I: Students explore various modes of media presentation, the power of moving images, and web-based work. Using a variety of software and hardware, students learn the basics of photo manipulation, nonlinear editing, sound recording, and video recording.Discussion of media artists and contemporary issues within media arts. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Media II: Advanced photography, video, website design, graphic design, sound, and photo editing. Discussion of media artists and contemporary issues within media arts. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Drawing: Students develop basic drawing skills, with particular attention to figural and still-life subjects. Emphasis on the ability to perceive and express visual relationships, organize a two-dimensional composition, and depict and manipulate form, space, and light. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Painting: This studio course introduces basic opaque painting techniques, and the expressive, conceptual, and communication possibilities of painting as an artistic medium. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
3-D Principles: Methods and Materials: Introduction to three-dimensional materials and methods, including 3-D drawing and modeling. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
2-D Design: Introduction to creative thinking that develops students’ skills in research, observation, interpretation, and self-expression. An emphasis is placed on exploring new ways to read and see the world, as well as new ways to report on it. Students learn basic two-dimensional principles through the use of various media, tools, materials, and processes. As a result, students develop a visual and verbal language for analyzing, organizing, shaping, and communicating two-dimensional form and meaning.
2017 Program Director/Instructor, FreeVerse, Missoula, MT
Lead Instructor and Director of Programming for a Missoula-based nonprofit specializing in teaching literature and creative writing at the Missoula County Juvenile Detention Center. Developed and taught trauma-Informed curricula geared towards exploring challenging experiences through visual art, writing, and contemporary music.
2009-2012, 2017 Instructor, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN
Classes taught:
Sustainable Design: Masters-level online studio course providing tools for sustainable design innovation and design. Students use creative and analytical skills, generating new ideas and 3D CAD renderings and evaluating designs with screening-level life-cycle assessments and two eco-labeling systems (Cradle to Cradle and EPEAT).
Experimental Video + Installation: Creation of non-linear narratives through the integration of video/audio techniques, interactive software, installation and written material. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Ideation + Process: Focus on creation and development of student ideas, as well as visual tools to track creative process from idea through construction and then to post-production analysis. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Media I: Introduction to MCAD’s digital resources, covered digital photography, video, website design, sound, and photo editing. Discussion of media artists and contemporary issues within media arts.
Media II: Building on the skills and processes learned in Media II. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
2007-2009 Instructor, College of Visual Arts, St. Paul, MN
Classes taught:
3-D Principles - Methods and Materials: Introduction to three-dimensional materials and methods, including drawing and modeling. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Intro to Sculpture: Basic sculptural techniques, including casting and fabrication. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Metal/Wood Processes: Advanced techniques in wood and metal, including casting and fabrication. Readings and discussion relevant to contemporary sculptural practice. This course also examines creativity as an expression of culture and historical context and includes writing exercises in aesthetics and art criticism.
Moldmaking and Casting: Traditional and experimental casting and moldmaking techniques, includes research component.
2004-2005 Instructor, Alfred University School of Art+Design, Alfred, NY
Classes taught:
Advanced Casting - Micro to Macro: Advanced casting techniques, with particular attention paid to observations of scale.
Intro to Sculpture: Basic sculptural techniques, including casting and fabrication.
Foundations - Studio: Creative problem-solving, includes discussion and exploration of various dimensional and time-based mediums.
Foundations - Drawing: Observational skill-building, with particular attention to figural and still-life subjects.
Related Art/Design Experience
1998-Present Freelance Artist + Designer, Freeman, LLC, Missoula, MT
Freelance art+design work for a variety of clients, with projects ranging from biomedical devices to private and institutional collections.
2009–2015 COO/Lead Designer, Newton Medical, Minneapolis, MN
Led the design, engineering, and business teams in the development of a complex new medical device. Required a thorough understanding of development - from start to finish - and the ability to guide a team of individuals from multiple disciplines.
2005 - 2008 Project Lead, 3-Ring Scenic, Minneapolis, MN
Led design/fabrication team for custom build out of Minneapolis-based design company. Produced CAD drawings and designs for custom mechanics, furniture, and accessories. Acted as liaison between company and client. Acted as a design and materials consultant for both company and clients.
2003 - 2001 Owner/Operator, MEND, Portland, OR
Owned and operated a design/build company dedicated to environmentally sustainable building technologies and ergonomically designed interior and exterior spaces.
2001-1999 Casting Facility Production Supervisor, ARTFOUNDRY, Santa Fe, NM
Cast and fabricated sculptural artwork in various metals. Fabricated and maintained production elements of casting facility. Position required extensive knowledge of metallurgy, welding (ARC, MIG, TIG), and the casting process. Acted as liaison between company, client, and production team. Worked with such artists as Kiki Smith, Bruce Nauman, Linda Benglis, Juan Munoz
2001-2000 Preparator, SITE Santa Fe, NM
Facilitated production of artists’ work at contemporary art space. Set up and disassembled installations.
Select Exhibitions/Screenings/Performances
2019 Eldridge Installation, Miami Beach, FL.
2019 Run, Fight, Run, Four Season Hotel, Napa, CA.
2018 Martin Design, St. Helena, CA
2014 Eldridge Installation, Martin Design, St. Helena, CA
2011 Co-Kisser, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN
2010 Down by the Weep Hole, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
2010 WORK HORSE, The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN
2009 Killing Rolando, HallWalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
2009 Down by the Weep Hole, International Bicycle Film Festival, New York, NY
2009 Joyride, touring exhibition, New York, NY
2009 Rumble on the Southside, Art of This Gallery
2008 ASCI 10th International Digital Print Exhibition, NY Hall of Science
2007 STAN, Bell Museum of Natural History, Minneapolis, MN
2007 Practice - Profess, College of Visual Arts Gallery, St. Paul, MN
2007 Artifice of Form, Swarm, Oakland, CA.
2007 Everyday Objects, Montana Museum of Art and Culture, Missoula, MT
2007 Niagara, Freeman Bros. Construction, Minneapolis, MN
2007 Nocturminal, HallWalls (offsite installation), Buffalo, NY
2007 Strata, Lemmons Contemporary, New York, NY
2006 Remnants, Lemmons Contemporary, New York, NY
2006 Art-A-Whirl Open Studios, Freeman Bros. Construction, Minneapolis, MN
2005 Studies in Decoy, Lemmons Contemporary, New York, NY
2005 International Digital Art Awards Exhibition, Beijing Film Academy, Beijing, China
2005 Alfred on 25th, J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
2005 International Digital Art Awards, Melbourne, Australia
2005 Jonesing, HallWalls, Buffalo, NY
2004 Breath Test, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2003 Art from Art, Visage, Portland, OR
2002 The Whipping Hand, Disjecta Gallery, Portland, OR
2001 In Flagrante Delicto, Rembrandt Studio, Santa Fe, NM
2001 A Handful of Soldiers, Museum of Fine Arts Governor’s Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2000 ArtChicago 2000, Chicago, IL
2000 San Francisco International Art Exposition, SF, CA
2000 Visions of Dr. Jarvis, Linda Durham Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
Grants/Awards
2010 MCAD Faculty Development Grant
2010 Finalist: McKnight Artist Fellowships for Visual Artists
2009 I.D. Magazineʼs New + Notable - Freeman Transportʼs Gravel Racer bicycle.
2008 I.D. Magazineʼs New + Notable - Freeman Transportʼs track bike-style collapsible bicycle.
2008 Bush Foundation Artist Initiative Fellowship - yearlong unrestricted artist fellowship
2007 Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant
2008 Bush Foundation Faculty Development Grant - CVAʼs Three-Dimensional Studies curriculum.
2007 Bush Foundation Faculty Development Grant
2005 International Digital Art Award for “Breath Test” interactive video installation.
1998 Missoula Cultural Council Grant for body of sculptural work completed for BFA.
Bibliography
Prichep, Deena, “Minnesota Festival On Ice Melts Art's Boundaries”, National Public Radio, January, 2012
Hsu, Michael, “The Folding Bike Goes Cool”, The Wall Street Journal, October 2010.
“New and Notable,” I.D. Magazine, November/December 2009
Schultz, Jonathan, “One Piece – or Two,” Matter, April 2009. Schultz,
“New and Notable,” I.D. Magazine, November/December 2008.
Schonberger, Nick “Freeman Transport: Handmade in America,” Selectism.com, December 2008. Jaffe, Matthew, “The West at its Best,” Sunset, December 2008.
Scott, Gregory, “The Perfect Hosts,” Metro, May 2008.
Huntington, Richard, “HallWalls Builds a Show Around All Kinds of Longing,” The Buffalo News, Winter 2005.
Skinner, Marjorie, “Theater Review: The Whipping Hand,” The Portland Mercury, August 2002.
Steinberg, David, “Making Scientific Site a Little More Permanent,” The Sunday Journal (Albuquerque), December 2001.
Rodriguez, Francesca, “V Marks the Spot,” Santa Fe Reporter, December 2001.
Jarred, Dennis, “The Presumptive Dr. Jarvis, Santa Fe Reporter, February 2000.
Jones, Jennifer, “Raw Vision Made Real, Montana Kaimin, December 1998.
Conferences
2018 MEA/MFT Educator Conference, Billings, MT (presenter)
Trauma-Informed Curriculum
Ekphrastic Narratives - Vision and Verse
Digital/Media Art Curriculum
2019 Big Sky Behavior Health Summit, Dillon, MT (attendee)
2018 Big Sky Behavior Health Summit, Dillon, MT (attendee)
Certifications
2019 Mental Health First Responder, CPR, Basic First Aid
Technical Abilities
Hardware: Capable of supervising and operating complete wood- and metal-working studios, including CNC, casting facilities, and specialized welding.
Software: Proficient in SolidWorks, VectorWorks , form Z, AutoCad, SketchUP Pro, Creative Cloud, Max/MSP and Jitter, FinalCut Pro HD, DVD Studio Pro, ProTools, Autodesk, Maya
Volunteer Work
2019 Beaverhead Search and Rescue, Dillon, MT
2018-present Beaverhead County ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Task Force
2015 Meditation Facilitator, Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge, MT