This Newcity profile tells the story of designer Dalia Anceicius, whose work is exhibited in beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago 1900 to Now at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture. Anceicius immigrated to Chicago as a young girl, studied industrial design at University of Illinois, and became one of the only women to work at the famed toy company, Marvin Glass & Associates.
“There were no toys when Dalia Verbickas Ancevicius lived with her family between 1944 and 1949 in a Lithuanian refugee camp in Hanau, Germany. Ancevicius was eleven when her family left Germany for America’s open doors. To pass time in the camp she played a homemade game with friends to see who would be the first to slap hands down.
Ancevicius’ inspiring story of immigration led her to become an industrial designer at the iconic Marvin Glass & Associates toy design company in Chicago. Ancevicius was the firm’s first and only female designer in the ‘Mad Men’ era.
And in 1964 she brought the popular board game ‘Hands Down’ to the table.” — Dave Hoekstra, Newcity
In addition to Anceisius’s journey, the article provides an overview of the beLONGING exhibition and touches on the ways in which the Balzekas Museum has benefited from its participation the Art Design Chicago initiative.
Read the full article in Newcity.
beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago 1900 to Now is on view at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture through May 17, 2025.
