Newcity gets to know the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial contributors. This segment highlights Ania Jaworska, a Chicago-based architect, designer and educator whose practice explores the connection between art and architecture through bold simple forms, humor and commentary that references conceptual, historical and cultural narratives. She discusses her work reimagining the historic MLK District Garden in the North Lawndale community of Chicago, and the importance of addressing vacant lots and engaging with the communities at-large.
Photo courtesy Ania Jaworska
In what ways has your background prepared you and how will it inform your role at the upcoming Chicago Architecture Biennial?
I’ve been working with David Brown and MLK District Garden patrons Annamaria Leon and Dr. Israel prior to the pandemic, already involved in a series of workshops, community conversations and developing a proposal for the garden. The garden is part of a larger network of community spaces in the Lawndale area and it is an important part of the urban and cultural structure of the neighborhood. The garden brings in neighbors, volunteers and community to engage with each other, grow a variety of crops as well as engage in activities around growing and connecting as a community for self-organized events such as cook-outs, pickling sessions or bonfires.
The MLK District Garden on West 16th Street is based on a permaculture approach to encourage a natural ecosystem that is sustainable and regenerative. Based on several meetings we came to the conclusion that because of the natural and wild nature of the garden—the lot tends to look perhaps a bit too wild and perhaps misunderstood and unrecognized from the street level. While inside of the garden, a person is fully emerged within nature where a variety of flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables are grown. It is truly a peaceful and charming experience. The project will focus on “framing” the garden with benches and gateways that will be positioned on the edge of the lot, and function as a demarcation of the space but also attract activities.
Photo courtesy Ania Jaworska
The sidewalk is often used by school children and neighbors commuting on foot to nearby schools, MLK Center or shopping at the corner pharmacy Del-Kar Drugs (probably the oldest pharmacy in Chicago, which also plays amazing jazz music and functions as a community meeting spot). The lot is right in between, therefore the placement of sitting and gathering spaces will be crucial not only to the garden but also to the neighborhood, allowing for a public space for the community to meet and activate the streetscape.
Can you talk about the importance of a festival like CAB amid a pandemic and a time of social and political unrest?
I am very happy and proud that this edition of CAB, The Available City will focus on areas of Chicago that are oftentimes overlooked and perhaps completely unknown to the larger public.
What are you hoping the viewers will take away from this exhibition?
I am still gathering information about the event and can’t speak fully to the impact it may have, but I am really looking forward to a larger international public to learn more about parts of Chicago that are not represented on the postcard.
What are you most excited about moving forward? I am looking forward to programming and seeing installations popping up around the city and addressing vacant lots and engaging with the communities.
Greek-born Vasia Rigou is a journalist, editor and multimedia content producer largely on the subjects of visual art, culture, architecture and design. She currently serves as an Editor at Newcity, Chicago’s leading culture publication, as Writer and Copy Editor at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) HQ, and regularly contributes to international architecture and design magazines OnOffice and ICON. She has experience creating content for brands and building conference speeches and influential TEDx talks. Simply put: she’s fascinated by finding out the great stories behind the people, places and objects that surround us, and by sharing those stories with the world. When she’s not writing about art or looking at art—wine in hand—she makes lists for pretty much everything, drinks immense amounts of coffee and takes cross-country road trips every chance she gets.
