In July 2024, SpaceShift Collective hosted our first visiting artist, UK-based Mohammed Ali, founder and artistic director of Soul City Arts. As a part of Mohammed’s visit, SpaceShift and Soul City Arts collaborated to produce The Magic Table. ‍

We wanted to work some magic, opening a portal, a window into the lives of others. We brought together two communities that might have otherwise never have met, being thousands of miles apart in Chicago and Birmingham, for a singular experience of immersive dining, conversation, and mutual learning – all in real time.

In the two beautifully lit spaces, screens and projections were used to create the captivating illusion of one long, singular dining table spanning an ocean. In each of the virtually unified settings, two guest chefs, Munayam Khan (Birmingham) and Maryam Khan (Chicago), recreated each other's recipes and offered live cooking demonstrations.

Diners shared their stories and memories of family, love, loss, grief, and joy across two continents. The experience testified to the affective power of art to forge bonds and encourage sharing at the deepest level. Wherever in the world we might be.

Mohammed’s visit also included exploring Devon Avenue and thinking of ways to continue collaborating and connecting Chicago and Birmingham meaningfully.

Supported in part by Young Leaders Fund/Chicago Community Trust, Artists Run Chicago/Hyde Park Arts Center, Art Design Chicago/Terra Foundation

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