Joey

Get to know CAM Ambassador blog admin Joey Freeman in this Q & A!

What brought you to CU Denver, and specifically the College of Arts and Media?

Although I’m not a CAM student, but rather a CLAS student, I was really drawn to the non-typical nature that CU Denver has. When I was looking at colleges, I knew that I didn’t want to go through the process of being bombarded by sororities and football games, and I love that with CU Denver I wasn’t. I also love the urban vibe that campus has and the ease of meeting new people while on campus.

Why CLAS? What is your major?

Based on my major, I got put into the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I decided to be an English major to eventually become a teacher because I have an unnatural love for literature and want to inspire other students to be able to express or find themselves in that way. Right now, I’m on track to start my Secondary English Education major and will hopefully be doing field work this upcoming semester.

What helps you get inspired?

When I want to write, I try to collect all of my emotions from the past week and write down those individual emotions and then try to write something that encompasses all of those. I tend to write more poetry than anything else, but I have found inspiration from people in Denver for some short stories.

Do you have any rituals to get yourself motivated when you work?

I try to get everything done that will distract me before I begin my work. I try to clean, eat food (or gather some snacks before hiding away), and light some candles. I also have an odd tendency of getting inspired to work after I listen to 90’s rap; Notorious B.I.G. has helped me start a lot of papers.

Where is the best place to see art, in your opinion?

Like many of the CAM ambassadors have said, I think art is pretty much everywhere. It is so difficult to label what exactly art is, and it is very subjective. Personally, I find the most “art” when I walk around early in the morning when no one is around. The silence of the streets is almost artistic in its own way.

How have you enjoyed working for CAM?

I love being a part of the CAM family! Though I am not a CAM student, I feel really inspired when I see student art being put up, or even seeing how the CAM Ambassadors have been inspired while traveling.

What is your favorite part of working for CAM?

Feeling accepted and being able to be creative! I’ve found that working for CAM isn’t a typical office job, and I am able to express myself while still doing the work I have to.

What would you say to yourself five years ago?

It’s okay that your life plans change, you just have to be ready to change with them.

What is your favorite movie/film that you’ve ever seen?

My all-time favorite movie is “The Breakfast Club.” I will always love John Hughes movies because they exemplify a time period that I love and wasn’t able to live through. I also have found that the meaning that I get from The BC changes every time I watch it.

Who is your favorite non-mainstream artist and why?

The Villagers! I found them 4 years ago, and absolutely fell in love. Their sound is really mellow and their lyrics always hit me in a way that I find hard to express. I also highly recommend the band Dresses, they have a very upbeat and fun style; they are also the cutest, hipster couple I’ve ever seen.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done for your art? Do you regret it?

For a photography assignment, I once just clawed at my face with black eye shadow so I looked like I had been grabbed by something. It was pretty weird to do to myself, but the photos turned out exactly how I wanted them to.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

Harper Lee. She was able to accomplish writing one of the best books in history (I know this is probably debatable, but still) and finding success in just that. “To Kill A Mockingbird” is what started my love for reading, and if I could ever do that for someone else, I would be happy with who I am.

Do you think anything can be art? Explain

I think that the intention behind any creation really makes it art. However, how others perceive it also makes it art or not. Thinking of it in that sense, you could say that anything can be art.

If you had to create a new crayon, what color and name would it be and why?

I would definitely make a nice, opal colored crayon that has lots of glitter in it. It would be called “Unicorn Horn” and would probably inspire magic everywhere.

What is your favorite location to go to in Denver?

Any bookstore. I find myself getting lost in Tattered Cover for hours at a time, just appreciating all the books that I will probably never read. I also tend to visit Duffyroll Café on 16^th for a nice treat.

Where is your hometown?

Fort Collins, CO

What hobbies do you enjoy?

I love to read, write, listen to music, pretend to have ukulele skills, sing, and waste most of my life on Netflix.