The Folded Map Project with Tonika Johnson and Paola Aguirre

At first, Tonika Johnson’s plan for the Folded Map project was simply to photograph “mirror points”—corresponding addresses in the North and South Side neighborhoods of the city—and set them side-by-side to reveal the disparities caused by Chicago’s history of systemic segregation. Then, something unexpected happened. While Lewis Johnson was taking photos, residents started coming out of their houses, asking questions, and expressing interest in what she was doing. And so, Johnson began bringing “map twins” together, encouraging them to visit one another’s homes and neighborhoods, and documented the ensuing exchanges "where the map folds and touches.” Architectural and urban designer Paola Aguirre joins Johnson for an "interactive" conversation.

This program was recorded on November 7, 2018.