Visual art
Dmytro Szylak
· folk artist, retired autoworker
Ukrainian-born General Motors retiree who built Hamtramck Disneyland, a towering backyard folk-art installation that became one of Metro Detroit's best-loved oddities.
- Detroit years
- 1950s–2010s
- Field
- Visual art
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Szylak was born in Ukraine, lived for a time in Germany and came to the United States after World War II, settling in Hamtramck and working for General Motors for 32 years. Looking for a hobby after he retired, he began in 1992 to build on top of the two garages behind his house, and kept adding for years: carnival-style towers, whirligigs, wooden soldiers, pictures of Elvis and other pop stars, American flags and Christmas lights that glowed all year. Neighbors and city officials were skeptical at first, but the 30-foot collage, visible from the alley between Klinger and Sobieski streets, won him an honor from Hamtramck's mayor and appearances in local art shows. Photographer Bruce Weber shot Kate Moss there for a 2006 magazine spread. After Szylak's time, the local arts group Hatch Art took over the site to preserve it.
Highlights
- Worked 32 years for General Motors
- Began Hamtramck Disneyland in 1992
- Honored by the mayor of Hamtramck
- Site used for a 2006 Bruce Weber photo shoot with Kate Moss
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Founded · 1992–2010s
Hamtramck Disneyland
Szylak's backyard folk-art towers, visible from the alley; now cared for by the arts group Hatch Art.