Alumna Monica Srivastava (BFA ’19 Art Education and Painting) sits down with CanvasRebel for a Q&A feature about overcoming obstacles and how art practices evolve over time.

She shares, “I always knew I wanted to be an artist, even if I didn’t always know what that meant. I’ve been a maker and creative person since I was a child, and my need to engage with the arts only increased as I got older. When I decided to pursue an arts education at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, I didn’t know what that was going to look like. I don’t think I even felt like a “real artist” until I was 21. When I first got to MassArt as an incoming freshman, I hopped around degrees for a year after declaring my major. I finally settled in as a dual major in art education and painting. In the art education department, I took a class called “interdisciplinary studio” taught by Steve Locke. He showed me what it meant to be a contemporary artist. He taught me the basics of engaging with contemporary art, the importance of visiting museums and galleries, how to be critical and think for myself. It was through this class that I learned about the different hats artists often wear.”

Read more in CanvasRebel.

2024 Common Good Awards Honorees include Toni Elka, May Chau, Shirley Edgerton, Thaddeus Miles, Frederick Wiseman, and Yinette Guzman

BOSTON – Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) President Mary K. Grant today announced the recipients of the 2024 MassArt Common Good Awards, celebrating individuals who demonstrate the transformative impact of the arts on civic life. This year’s honorees include a variety of people who have leveraged art for advocacy, education, and creative practice, advancing the public influence of the arts and fostering positive social change.

“This year’s Common Good Award recipients reflect the many ways art can drive societal change, change perspectives, and honor the diversity that helps communities thrive,” said President Grant. “Each of these recipients have demonstrated innovative work in education, community building, and advocacy and stand as a testament to the essential role that creativity plays in shaping our collective future. We are honored to recognize their contributions to the common good.”

Among those being honored are a Somerville Public Schools educator who will receive the Frances Euphemia Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching, which is awarded each year to a K-12 arts educator, and a Boston non-profit leader will be honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, which was first awarded in 1979, and recognizes the outstanding accomplishments, service, and impact MassArt’s alumni have made in their professional practice and in their communities.

2024 Common Good Awards Honorees:

Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), founder of Future Chefs, will receive the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for her work empowering Boston-area youth through culinary arts. Future Chefs provides valuable life skills, professional development, and mentoring to ensure successful transitions from adolescence to adulthood. Elka’s innovative leadership has been nationally recognized, making her a dynamic force in youth development and social change.

May Chau (BFA ’07, Art Education), Visual Arts Supervisor for Somerville Public Schools will receive the Frances Euphemia Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching for her commitment to creating a collaborative and exploratory arts education environment. MassArt, founded more than 150 years ago as a college to educate aspiring arts educators, continues that legacy today. Chau’s approach encourages students to develop their creativity and critical thinking skills, fostering lifelong learning through art in one of Massachusetts’ most diverse school systems.

Shirley Ann Session Edgerton, a Pittsfield-based community activist, educator, and founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program (R.O.P.E.), for her outstanding work mentoring young women of color and fostering self-sufficiency and global citizenship through education and service learning. Edgerton’s leadership and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion have earned her numerous accolades and honorary degrees.

Thaddeus Miles, founder of the Black Joy Initiative, is a photographer whose work is, in his own words, “a heartfelt expression, capturing moments of joy and the vibrant energy of Black life.” He is being honored for his innovative work promoting equity and empowerment through arts and culture. His Black Joy Day celebration and youth-authored publications embody his commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and fostering joy and resilience in underserved communities. He is Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives at MassHousing.

Frederick Wiseman, acclaimed documentary filmmaker, for his prolific career directing 44 documentaries that capture the ordinary human experience across a range of social institutions. Wiseman’s films have received international recognition, including four Emmys and the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. In 2016, Wiseman received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Yinette Guzman (BFA Architecture ’08), Senior Project Manager of Design and Placemaking at the North Shore Community Development Coalition, for her leadership in curating the Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM) in Salem, Massachusetts. Guzman’s work in transforming underserved communities through public art initiatives reflects her commitment to cultural preservation, inclusivity, and creative placemaking.

The honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at noon at MassArt’s Design and Media Center (621 Huntington Avenue, Boston). The event is free and open to the public, though tickets are required.

For more information on attending the event or learning about the MassArt Common Good Awards, visit www.massart.edu/massart-common-good-awards.

All honorees will receive custom-made artwork by Sam Kim, a Lowell-based ceramics artist and MassArt graduate (BFA Industrial Design and Ceramics ’18). 

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About Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design is the nation’s first public, independent college of art and design. The College is dedicated to fostering the creativity of artists, designers, and educators who will shape communities and culture for the common good.

About MassArt Common Good Awards

The MassArt Common Good Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who use art and design to make a positive impact on society. Honorees demonstrate the essential role of the arts in advocacy, education, and community development, contributing to the quality of life and problem-solving efforts in today’s world.

In a Boston Globe article about advice for living a creative life, Printmaking Chair Fred Liang and Alumnus Magda Leon share their thoughts on the artistic process and the importance of learning from struggle and failure.

The two were quoted from previous Globe features saying:

The Provincetown Independent featured alum Larry Collins, whose work is on view at the Alden Gallery in Provincetown.

Alum Erin Clark’s paintings featured in Boston Magazine: This Artist’s Vibrant Beachside Scenes Create Endless Summer

MassArt Printmaking Chair and Professor Fred Liang talks inspiration for artmaking, upbring in The Boston Globe.

MassArt Painting Alum, Kristen Palana is featured in the Artsy Shark.

MassArt Associate Professor Elizabeth Mooney is scheduled to give a presentation for the Chautauqua Visual Arts Lecture Series at 6 p.m. July 17, 2024 in Hultquist Center.