MacArthur Fellow Tonika Lewis Johnson Hosts Online Event on Art and Segregation

An online event featuring social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson will take place on Wednesday, April 15, from 3 to 4 PM Eastern Time. Johnson, a 2025 MacArthur Fellow and resident of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, will discuss her artistic practice that addresses racial segregation through community engagement. The session will include readings from her 2024 book 'Don't Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It' and focus on her Folded Map Project, which connects residents from Chicago's North and South Sides who share similar street addresses. This initiative facilitates dialogues about structural inequalities and personal connections across divided areas. Johnson's multidisciplinary work encompasses photography, mapping, and public installations like Inequity for Sale and UnBlocked Englewood. The event is organized by Hyperallergic and is complimentary for their paid members, with registration required for attendance. Valentina Di Liscia, a senior editor at Hyperallergic, is involved in presenting this conversation. Johnson's artistic approach combines participatory methods with visual storytelling to challenge systemic disinvestment and empower communities.