Architecture Faculty & Department Administrators
Discover how Julian Phillips ’20 M.Arch uses his MassArt education in historic preservation, restoring iconic landmarks and uncovering untold architectural stories.
Julian Phillips ’20 M.Arch, Architecture, Living Color, laser cut/ etched colored acrylic, 2016
Building the Future by Preserving the Past
Whether restoring a barn on Thomas Edison’s New Jersey property or working to preserve the Virginia home of Maggie Walker, the first Black woman in the United States to establish a bank, historical architect Julian Phillips touches a lot of history, literally. Phillips, who works at the Historic Architecture Conservation and Engineering Center (HACE), a division of the National Park Service, credits MassArt for providing the creative foundation for his unique career in historic preservation.
We want these buildings to last as artifacts for future generations — it’s our history, the told/untold. What we’re doing now is telling a more complete story.Julian Phillips M.Arch ’20
One of the first courses he took at MassArt was in early American furniture — an introduction to furniture design and also to historians, museum curators, and craftsmen. It directly helped him in his role at HACE. “HACE is extremely multidisciplinary, exactly like MassArt,” he says. “Conservators, architects, landscape architects, historians — we all work together. I learned the value of that at MassArt, how to not only appreciate the differences around me but also find similarities. All those people were in the same space and had done different things, and we came together and learned from one another.”
Julian on lift conducting an exterior masonry exploration at Arlington Street Church, Boston, 2021
MassArt’s Community Build program provides graduate students with hands-on learning as they create a functional structure for community use. Pictured above: “Co-pavilion”, painted steel, wood assembly, Peabody Essex Museum, 2019
MassArt alum Nancy Callan returns with Blown Away judge Katherine Gray, showcasing collaborative glassblowing and inspiring students through hands-on demonstration and mentorship.
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Architect Michael Plofker reflects on historic preservation in New York City, Plaza Hotel restoration, and Lincoln Center/66th Street subway station underground gallery.
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On a sunny Saturday afternoon in December, hundreds of community members gathered for the second annual MassArt Common Good Awards. The room buzzed with energy and hope as attendees gathered to honor individuals whose creativity and dedication are transforming lives and communities.
“When we center art and culture in our work, we can break down barriers,” shared MassArt President Mary Grant in her opening remarks. “Art and design are central to civic life and allow us to work toward a common goal.”
The ceremony featured powerful stories from each honoree, sharing how art has shaped their lives, their work, and their unwavering commitment to serving the greater good.
Frances Euphemia Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient, May Chau (‘07 BFA Art Education), credited her mentors with sparking her love for ceramics, inspiring her to use art as a common language in her teaching practice.
Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and Founder of Future Chefs, reflected on how her time at MassArt gave her the tools to help others pursue their own dreams.
Common Good Award recipient Thaddeus Miles, photographer and founder of the Black Joy Initiative, reflected on being told as a child that “painting wasn’t manly,” a moment that shaped his eventual journey into photography. He issued a powerful challenge to the audience: to get involved in their communities and use the arts as a tool to foster compassion, celebrate resilience, and build stronger connections.
With a full Western Massachusetts entourage, awardee Shirley Ann Session Edgerton, community activist, educator, and founder of the Rites of Passage and Empowerment (R.O.P.E.) program, reminded us of the importance of community empowerment, particularly for young women of color.
You could hear a pin drop as honoree Yinette Guzman (BFA Architecture ’08), Senior Project Manager of Design and Placemaking at the North Shore Community Development Coalition, shared a deeply personal moment, speaking in Spanish about the unwavering support of her family and the transformative experience of being a first-generation college student at MassArt. Guzman highlighted the importance of community in her work and invited her mother to share in the moment, underscoring the collective nature of her achievements.
To cap off an unforgettable afternoon, honoree Frederick Wiseman, spoke of challenging systems through his decades of work as an acclaimed documentary filmmaker. He recounted the difficulty of telling complex stories and emphasized the importance of standing by one’s creative vision.
Each honoree received a custom-made, inscribed artwork by Sam Kim, a Lowell-based ceramics artist and MassArt graduate (BFA Industrial Design and Ceramics ’18), his work embodying the creativity and impact of the honorees themselves.
At MassArt, the Common Good Awards celebrate the profound ways art and design influence civic life, advocacy, and education. This year’s ceremony exemplified the college’s mission to lift up individuals who use creativity to foster positive social change and strengthen their communities. To explore more about the Common Good Awards, as well as this year’s honorees, visit https://massart.edu/massart-common-good-awards/.
Guzman is celebrated for her leadership in curating the Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM) in Salem, MA.
Yinette Guzman. Photo courtesy of the honoree.
Public Art Advocate and Placemaking Designer Yinette Guzman to Receive 2024 MassArt Common Good Award
Yinette Guzman (BFA Architecture ’08), Senior Project Manager of Design and Placemaking at the North Shore Community Development Coalition, will be among six recipients of the 2024 MassArt Common Good Award. Guzman is being recognized for her leadership in curating the Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM) in Salem, MA, and her commitment to using public art to transform underserved communities.
“Yinette’s work exemplifies the powerful role art can play in revitalizing communities and fostering cultural understanding,” said MassArt President Mary K. Grant. “As a graduate of our Compass program for first-generation college students, Yinette has taken the support she drew from her own journey and is now paying it forward in countless ways. Her work embodies the mission of the Common Good Award.”
Through her work at PUAM, Guzman has created a culturally inclusive space that amplifies the voices and stories of immigrant residents while fostering community pride. She has led transformative initiatives, such as the Casa de Abuela project, an immersive placemaking experience that invites visitors into the heart of a traditional Dominican country home, and the Generations mural on Congress Street, a collaborative community mural created with artist David Fichter. Guzman is also spearheading Muñecas Sin Rostro (Faceless Dolls), an upcoming public art installation featuring seven outdoor sculptures in Salem’s Palmer Cove Park, set to celebrate Latino heritage and broader BIPOC culture in 2025.
Her work at PUAM has earned significant recognition, including a special mention in the 2020 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Urban Open Space Awards for its innovative use of creative placemaking to strengthen the community. In 2023, Guzman was also elected as a Commissioner for the Essex National Heritage Commission, honoring her contributions to cultural preservation and community development in Essex County.
Before her current role, Guzman spent over a decade at the architectural practice of Moshe Safdie, specializing in 3D architectural modeling and leading advancements in digital computing tools. Beyond her professional work, Guzman is an artist, designer, and advocate who co-founded expressive therapy programs at the Boston Rescue Mission and devotes significant time to mission work, community leadership, and creating art. As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, she is passionate about giving back to her community locally and internationally, blending her artistic talents with a commitment to fostering cultural connections and growth.
Guzman will be celebrated alongside five other distinguished honorees, including May Chau (BFA Arts Education ’07, Arts Education), Visual Arts Supervisor for Somerville Public Schools; Shirley Ann Session Edgerton, community activist, educator, and founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program (R.O.P.E.); Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), founder of Future Chefs; photographer Thaddeus Miles, Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives at MassHousing and founder of the Black Joy Initiative; and acclaimed documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman. Each honoree will receive a custom-made, inscribed artwork by Sam Kim, a Lowell-based ceramics artist and MassArt graduate (BFA Industrial Design and Ceramics ’18).
“This year’s Common Good Award recipients reflect the many ways artists 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.”
The MassArt Common Good Awards ceremony will take place 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.
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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.
MassArt alum Nancy Callan returns with Blown Away judge Katherine Gray, showcasing collaborative glassblowing and inspiring students through hands-on demonstration and mentorship.
View story Architect Michael Plofker reflects on historic preservation in New York City, Plaza Hotel restoration, and Lincoln Center/66th Street subway station underground gallery.
View story 
