The Arts Foundation welcomes Lizzy Golden as City of Tucson Ward 5 Appointee for the Public Art and Community Design Committee (PACDC). As Golden steps into her new role, she explains the reason behind joining a Committee that takes on decisions regarding Tucson’s Public Art Program in this Q&A with Sadie Shaw.
Sadie Shaw (SS): Why did you join PACDC?
Lizzy Golden (LG): I was appointed by Councilwoman Selina Barajas for Ward 5. I knew it would be a great opportunity to work with other community members to help shape the public art landscape of Tucson and the Sonoran Desert Region.
SS: What makes participation meaningful to you?
LG: I am excited to collaborate with fellow board members, artists, and community members. My life and exhibition/architectural design practice have been heavily influenced by the arts in Tucson, from theatre productions to the wonderful museums here. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share my skills and knowledge to enrich my community.
SS: In what ways does your participation impact the community? Can you share a specific example?
LG: My work uses art and design as tools for community visibility. I enjoy translating Tucson’s built environment into exhibitions that bring underrepresented histories into public view. For example, recently, El Pueblo 50th: was an opportunity to collaborate directly with neighborhood residents to document their spatial and shared histories; the work moved beyond institutional spaces and into active dialogue with the community and city planners. That’s the impact I’m most interested in: public art as a catalyst for how communities see and advocate for themselves.
SS: What makes you proud to be a part of PACDC?
LG: Getting to represent Tucson and Southern Arizona! I have left and come back several times, and distance makes the heart grow fonder! I am eager to be a part of the growth and transformation of this city while staying sensitive to what makes it so unique.
SS: What are your hopes for public art in Tucson and Pima County in the future? • What have you learned from being a part of PACDC?
LG: I hope that all people see themselves represented, having an open dialogue about how we see ourselves as citizens in this moment though public art. I am learning how to listen and respond thoughtfully.
SS: Anything else you’d like to share?
LG: It’s truly an honor to serve my community in this capacity. I am excited to share my point of view and grow as an individual.
Tucson and the Sonoran Desert continually inspire me, and I look forward to collaborating with fellow board members, artists, and community members to support the growth and transformation of this region.
Lizzy Guevara Golden is an architectural and exhibition designer based in the Sonoran Desert. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona and brings over a decade of diverse design experience spanning visual merchandising, floral design, and art handling. Most recently, she served as the exhibition designer for El Pueblo 50th, working alongside community members to document and celebrate a neighborhood’s living history, creating work that resonated into broader conversations about cultural conservation. Working across multiple scales, her practice centers on cultural narratives, tradition, and the ways space and time can tell meaningful stories.
