The Portal Project

Experience the world. Right here in Lawndale.

October 5-24, 2025

Step into a world where history, culture, nature, and community converge in an unforgettable experience. The Lawndale Pop-Up Spot is transforming into a Human Library through the Lawndale Portal, in partnership with Shared Studios. and the One Lawndale Arts & Activism Incubator. Using cutting-edge immersive audio and video technology, Shared Studios connects people from across the globe for meaningful conversations, collaborative arts events, and cultural exchanges—creating the feeling of being in the same room, no matter the distance.

This is more than just an event; it's an opportunity to connect Lawndale with the world, sharing our local traditions and artistic practices while learning from global perspectives. Join us in building bridges, deepening community, and celebrating the power of human connection across cultures and continents.

Dates of Operation: October 3-25, 2026

Opening Event: Meet a Stranger in Johannesburg, South Africa! Sunday, October 3, 2:00-3:30 p.m. CDT

Location: Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, Love Blooms Here Plaza, 3601 W. Douglas Blvd., Chicago, IL

What is the Portal Project?

The Portal Project is a direct full-size video link between shipping containers in locations across the globe. During activations, it feels like these folks are in the room with you!

The conversations that take place are facilitated by trained moderators in the various locations. Some conversations focus on particular topics of import to those communities; others take the form of general “get to know you” sessions.

The Lawndale Pop-Up Spot is engaging with students, civic leaders, creatives, Lawndale residents, and others in sessions throughout October. We are excited to invite the general public to four public sessions:

  • Sunday, October 5, 2:00-3:00 p.m. - Meet a Stranger in Johannesburg, South Africa! Note: this will take place during the opening festival of the Chicago Sukkah Design Festival, taking place on the same block!

  • Saturday, October 18, 9:00-11:00 a.m. - Converse with artists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Saturday, October 18, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Connect with Yoruba Praise poets in Lagos, Nigeria

  • Saturday, October 25, 4:00-6:00 p.m. - Dance party with musicians from Sao Vicente, Brazil

The Portal Project at Lawndale Pop-Up Spot is made possible thanks in part to a grant from Art Design Chicago, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art.

"Men hate each other because they fear each other, and they fear each other because they don't know each other, and they don't know each other because they are often separated from each other"

— Martin Luther King, Jr.