Joshua Freese

Being queer informs my work starting with my work ethics. In my teaching I emphasize character, confidence, diligence, discipline, dignity, self-expression,  respect, responsibility, education by asking questions. My students are mostly foreign and female which inspired me to reflect on our shared difficulties we face in architecture, engineering, construction and higher education. I chose to focus on building a body of work that is bold and graphic through contrast and complementary forms, colors, textures and materials. My  methodology and pedagogy use asymmetric and aperiodic elements that are flat and repeated for economic and construction efficiency. When assembled/built, intentional illusions of curvature, continuity, shallow deepening or deep shallowness are signature characteristics of my work. I feel that these characteristics are associated with queer identity and the complexities of queerness as an individual, belonging to and identifying with queer communities, relationships and personal development within professional communities with uncertainties about their identities, tolerances, prejudices and uncertainties, risks or benefits of being identified as queer in my/your career. polar extremes from fearful doubting suppression to fearless exuberant expression physical appearance and emotional/psychological I have established techniques in design software that integrate my identity and the the point a very important but difficult aspect of my life to integrate both an architectural practice and as an Ivy League professor of architecture. I have been out for 22 years and I am aware that the perception that having an out queer in architecture practice and higher education architecture is still seen by many as a threat and vulnerability to retaining clients and recruiting and retaining students and faculty. This has been stated in meetings that included all employees and I have had this discussion in smaller groups and 1 on 1 conversations. I strive to foster an open dialogue with everyone and I try to express to my students that being this far in a difficult demanding degree program and being this far from their home is incredibly significant in demonstrating their belief in themselves, building their confidence, character and ability to be more mature, empathetic, empowered and able to lead the progress and development of architecture and education towards tolerance, inclusion, acceptance, and open expression.

Michael Ray Robinson Jenny Sabin Peter Lloyd Jones (RIP 8-1-22) Carl Nassib Jürgen Mayer Eileen Gray Gem Barton Colin Ripley Ryan Barnette Aaron Dewey Ricardo Hernández Pérez  Ryan Leichtweis Nicholas Emmanuel Mariakis Andreas Kostopolous Alex Rodriguez Jan Knikker Pim Arts David Van Beurden Tom Guy Kyle McCracken Sarah Habershon Matthias Hollwich  Mark Kushner John Stuart RuPaul Dieter Gockmann Billy Bean (RIP 8-6-24) Tim Kruger (RIP 3-1-25) David LaChapelle  Dante Cole Ryan Bones Adam Russo Brian Bonds  Dirk Caber Colby Jansen Beau Butler  Bishop Angus Nick Roberts Dolf Dietrich Kristofer Weston Joe Gage Josh West