Faith Hope Freedom: 51-year-old Warren junior uses art as therapy

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Despite past struggles, Faith Hope Freedom uses her art as therapy to never lose her faith, hope or freedom.

The 51-year-old decided to come back to study at Central Michigan University when her son with autism enrolled after his 2010 high school graduation.

“I was at this point in my life where I didn’t know what else to do and I thought ‘Why not?’” said Freedom, a Warren junior. “I feel probably 30 years younger, like its rejuvenated everything about me.”

Freedom’s goal is to become an elementary art teacher. She said she is considering getting her master’s degree in art therapy.

“I like the idea of having a rewarding job like art therapy because of using it and practicing it with my son when he was little,” she said. “It takes a special, patient person to teach and an even more special person to be a therapist.”

Freedom said her artwork helps her both financially and mentally.

“It helps me think through a lot of problems, if I’m having problems at the time,” she said.

Her art projects include watercolor floral, oil painting, acrylics, pastels and colored pencils.

“I might as well be dead if I couldn’t do art,” she said. “I have to create, I just have to.”

Johanna Paas, associate art professor, said it has been a pleasure working with Freedom.

“Faith is inquisitive, ambitious and brings a great energy to class,” she said. “Her interest and positive attitude is contagious.”

Paas said students like Freedom bring new and interesting perspectives, as well as an appreciation for the opportunity to focus on their education.

Faith Hope Freedom smoothes the outside of a clay pot during her ceramics class Sept. 20 in the North Art Studio.

“Faith will single-handedly make an entire class feel uneasy with stories and subjects so personal or abstract to her peers, while in the same moment, her excitement and authenticity gather universal appreciation,” he said.

Setbacks, victories

Freedom said it is safe to say she’s conquered a lot, but her struggles have made her stronger.

Neck and back problems including scoliosis, bone spurs and arthritis have not set her behind artistically.

“Sometimes I’m leaning over my easel and I get so into the piece and I’ll forget to mentally think about my back, and then I’m like, ‘That’s it, I pushed it,’” she said.

Freedom also struggled to keep her own identity by changing her last name after her divorce.

“It was just before Sept. 11, 2001, and I didn’t want my name connected with my ex-husband’s because he put me through a lot of junk,” she said. “9/11 hit and I was like, we take our freedom for granted, and I called my attorney and said ‘I want it and I want it right away.”

Though her first name is Faith, she said she is an atheist.

“I announced two things to my family the morning my dad died — I believe in Euthanasia and I didn’t believe in God anymore,” Freedom said. “I believe in myself and I’m going to be the one to make the change and the difference in the world. We can’t just go, ‘God will take care of me.’”

Freedom said she reached lows in her life that made her re-evaluate.

“If you cry and feel nothing, or if you can’t laugh at anything, you’re close,” she said. “You’re so close, you’re in danger.”

Her now sunny disposition on life comes from knowing she can never go back to anything as bad as how she once lived.

“Its nice to think you have a second chance at things,” she said. “It’s finally my turn. It’s never too late, you’re never too old and I’m loving every single second of it.”