Reviews
Palisades Post, March 12, 2009
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| “Aloe Fan Trio,” digital photograph by Valerie Freeman |
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Valerie Freeman’s Multimedia Work at Branch Library through April
Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Palisades Art Association member Valerie Freeman will be exhibiting a variety of her multimedia artworks from Saturday, March 14 through April 26 at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The exhibition is open to the public during library hours, with an artist’s reception planned for this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
On exhibit will be a glimpse of the various series Freeman has created over the past decade. The artist, inspired by nature and life experiences, experiments with various plein-air painting and photography techniques. The exhibit will include several of her Chinese brush paintings of animals that are studies for her pond paintings.
Coming from a photo-realistic painting style that she’s used since the age of 14, Freeman has since simplified her approach. Included in the exhibition will be prints of her new series of experimental digital photography, in which she fuses spirituality and nature.
A Long Island transplant, Freeman earned her BFA from Pratt Institute and is a recipient of several awards and commissions, including the Municipal Arts Society of NYC and the Ford Foundation. She has also taught art aboard a Crystal Cruise line.
Freeman has balanced her career as an artist with private and corporate painting commissions, teaching, decorative painting/murals and faux finishes, and printmaking and marketing her fine art. She recently served as gallery director and curator in the Antelope Valley, and she curated an exhibit of local artist George Kalmar’s work at the Antelope Valley College Art Gallery. She has also created a Pacific Palisades Art Association Web site (which includes a blog, calendar of events, and members’ links): www.paliart.com.
Freeman will begin a series of private group art classes for youths and adults. These classes include Chinese Brush Painting, and Catalyst for Spiritual & Emotional Healing.
On Thursday, April 16, from 4 to 5 p.m., Freeman will teach a free class at the Library dubbed ‘An Introduction to Chinese Brush Painting.’ For more information, call 310-200-3027; email val@freemanart.com