Courtesy of Magdalena Dumitrescu.
It takes a special kind of strength and perseverance to dig a parking spot out of a snowy street. Once they’ve dug one out, many Chicagoans claim and keep their hard-earned spots with strategically placed chairs and other objects. This winter tradition is known around the city as “Dibs.”
This art-making program celebrates the role of Dibs in our neighborhoods. Participants are invited to mine the Art Institute collection to collage their own streetscape and dibs their place in the scene.
about the teaching artist
Magdalena Dumitrescu (Magda, they/them) is one of artificial intelligence’s biggest haters, due to its violent impact on surrounding communities’ health through pollution and to its enormous environmental impact. Dumitrescu is a working and teaching artist, anthropologist, and researcher. Their work focuses on using art, visual communication, and accessible art programming to make useful information about how the climate crisis and extreme weather uniquely impact people with disabilities and chronic illnesses through providing accessible and understandable risk mitigation, coping strategies, and information about environmental racism.
They are from Atlanta and now live and work in Chicago. Dumitrescu graduated magna cum laude from Georgia State University with bachelor’s degrees in cultural anthropology and studio art, and completed their MA in Museum and Exhibition Studies from the University of Illinois Chicago where they graduated magna cum laude as well. Their practice includes painting, multi-media work, collage, drawing, sewing, animation, murals, one-line portrait live performance, and illustration.
what to expect
This program will be in Griffin Court in the Modern Wing. Griffin Court is most easily accessible through the Monroe Street public entrance. Tables and chairs will be set up in Griffin Court where facilitators will introduce and guide the artmaking. Materials will be provided.
ASL interpretation and/or assisted listening devices are available upon request at [email protected]. Assisted listening devices are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Requests must be made at least two weeks in advance.
