Artist’s Statement:
Eboni is an interactive installation artist utilizing a unique artistic technique: forensic autobiography - more structured than a feast on raw human emotions; more motley than an analysis of recorded facts.
As a black, female, disabled artist and former Boulder Googler, Eboni has been at the forefronts of reversing the inequities built into technology. After educating 2k+ people on disability inclusion over the last 3 years, she now applies lessons from her past as a product accessibility educator to inform my installation designs and final deliverables.
Artist’s Bio
As a current Creative Director and former graphic design coordinator, Eboni creates content entertains and educates consumers on inspirational ideas at the intersection of entertainment, culture, and technology! She treats her design practice as a strategy-based adventure with well-calculated twists and turns.
As an author, podcast producer/host, and wonder star workshop facilitator. After initially gaining popularity as a product accessibility educator across North America and Southeast Asia, she received strong public feedback on her unique take as a home-run: a black woman with a disability. Eboni’s follow-up act became the publishing of her first two books, ‘Unicorn Care’ - a fantasy fiction tale about a murderous unicorn - and ‘Wonder Stars of the Universe’ - an autobiographical anthology on the people who made her what she is today.
Today, Eboni serves her local arts community as the Vice Chair of the Boulder’s Arts and Culture Commission where advocates for disability inclusion, youth outreach, and accessibility!
Art Direction Thesis
The extraterrestrial theme represents the worlds each human relationship builds upon; the universe intuitively explains the ecosystemic narrative of humanity because each star is made of past and future stars. The concept of being built upon and being a building block for future humans clarifies our importance - or lack thereof - in the galaxy.
The use of light pink symbolizes the loveliness of new connections while concurrently tethering Wonder Stars audience members to whimsy. Gray notes throughout the design provide a visual bridge from the playfulness of creation to the solemnity of delivery. Tinges of purple signal the truth of life’s most regal act: caring for another person. Stars - the unobscurable force in our sky - metaphorizes how each person’s deepest recollections - from childhood and beyond - shine through everyday experiences.
Business Bio
From organizing Google’s first disability-focused hackathon, to expanding grant access for young artists across the Front Range, to amplifying the impact of 300+ grassroots nonprofits, Eboni J.D. Freeman is dedicated to the underestimated.
After studying Strategy and Management Consulting at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, Eboni launched her first startup - Ability Enabled - to create more inclusive working environments for People with Disabilities (PwDs). After co-publishing Ability Enabled’s workplace disability inclusion guidebook, Eboni joined Google’s Boulder office as a Solutions Consultant, Hackathon Organizer, and Accessibility Educator. With her days dedicated to technical service design, customer experience optimization, and product management, Eboni spend her nights and weekend dedicated to arts and culture. While living in the MidWest, she formulated experience design innovations through her interdisciplinary practice - Wonder Stars of the Universe - encouraged creative tension as Vice Chair of the Boulder Art Commission, and motivated early-to-late stage entrepreneurs as a Pitch Coach for University of Colorado, Boulder under/graduate students and faculty. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Programs for an international startup accelerator serving founders focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Now, Eboni is thrilled to be the Presidential Innovation Fellow detailed to the Centers of Excellence (COE). She looks forward to collaborating with federal intrapreneurs to position Communities of Practice for success while amplifying the COE’s ability to serve America.