TRANSCRIPT:

Greetings, My name is Elizabeth Denneau. I also go by Lizz.

I am a multidisciplinary artist, art educator, and community work here, in the Sonoran Southwest

I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce you to my work and practice, so let’s get started with those narrative questions!

Which of your identities show up in your creative practice and how do they show up?

My work centers on my identity as a Black woman in the Southwest. I am Interested in the systems and constructs built by respectability politics, its connections to White Supremacy and the duality of its effectiveness in the survival or dismantling of a people. Themes emerge around erased Black diasporic histories, my challenges and privileges as a light-skinned Black woman, and the pervasive systems of oppression in our world. I aim to honor my ancestors through my creations. The research often dictates the materials and nothing is off limits, but I do enjoy remaking and adorning objects which then come together in large installations.

Living in the Southwest influences my work profoundly. While it is home, it also harbors invisibility for Black creatives like myself. Despite this, I remain rooted here, anchored by the people who inhabit this desert. It’s why I haven’t left for larger cities with bustling art markets, like so many emerging artist do. My project "Covenant" delves into Tucson's history of redlining and gentrification through racist neighborhood covenants, I aim to counter past injustices by fostering new covenants through artistic community gatherings that inspire joy and rest.

Additionally, I co-founded the Southwest Black Artists Network and operate The Projects, a collective art space. Through these platforms, myself and my co-conspirators amplify Black voices in our region, showcasing their art through exhibitions and residencies. My goal is to continue expanding this work, and transforming the cultural landscape of the Southwest.

What do you need to thrive, ideate, take risks, experiment, dream, make and/or rest?

I think my first response to this question is things like joy and family, but the truth is, it’s not always enough, and remaining open for your muses or doing the work of bringing community together can be taxing. To thrive I need to be connected to continued learning, I need to be able to transport my work to other cities. I need to be a part of an artistic community that’s invested in my growth, and I need space to expand and flex my creative muscles. This space for me is my studio and my collective space at The Projects where I can implement community work. I also need more knowledge on how to successfully live my life as an artist. To meet a lot of these needs takes money and support, something all artists need.

How would having your needs met allow you to advance your creative development?

In other words, how can this opportunity help you fully live into your being as an artist?

One thing I’m learning is that the most valuable thing in life is time. Time to rest, time to create, time to explore. When I don’t have those things it can create an anxious even depressed mind. Much of my time is spent trying to secure funding for my community work, out-of-state shows, and studio spaces. If I could pause the hustle, it would open up space to learn how to make my practice more sustainable. That requires access to educational programming designed for Artists like myself which excited me about your program. I know that I would thrive and be able to move into the next chapter of my artistic career with this sort of support.

How will the impact of your work elevate your community?

The more I advance in my career as a Black artist, the more I can amplify Black artistry in the Southwest by connecting with others, sharing knowledge, and essentially holding the door open. Through the work in my collectives, we will continue to be an incubator for other BIPOC artists through residencies,shows, and workshops free of charge. I will chip away at the legacy of invisibility the desert has placed on its Black inhabitants and continue to make sure marginalized artists are seen.

If you could put a dollar amount to your needs described above, how much would it be?

10,000 dollars would do a lot to meet my needs at this point in my career. It would secure studio rent for a year and it would allow me to continue to fund my artistic community work like the Covenant project. It would provide the funding I need to ship work and travel to the out-of-state shows I have this year. It would allow me to take some time off to make work and plan for the future

Again, I appreciate your time and commitment to BIPOC artists in our region. Thank you for your consideration.