
Here artist Kaitlynn Redell writes about her experience at Popps Packing, an artist-run, neighborhood-based nonprofit space focused on creating impactful arts programming and creative exchange between international and local artists in the community of Hamtramck / Detroit, Michigan.
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not her(e) (stuffed animal) |
More than anything, I think the best part about the residency was the amount of support and flexibility. I’ve had so many other residencies - even those with childcare stipends for the child to remain at home - be a lot more rigid. We all know as parents, rigid is the last thing we need thrown at us; things come up and you have to learn how to go with the flow.
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Popps studio, with work in progress |
THE GROUNDS
Popps currently has two different living spaces and studios options. It is comprised of three buildings, all in very close proximity to each other. We stayed in the Guest House, I had my studio in Popps Emporium and held a workshop in the original Popps Packing building. Popps also has an amazing garden (offers a new garden residency), chickens, outdoor play areas, and two very sweet dogs and a cat.
STUDIO TIME
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the nearby Belle Isle Conservatory |
PROS:
* Very family friendly space. Faina and Graem’s two kids were very sweet playmates to my daughter.
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guest house shower |
* Laundry on-site.
* Our flight arrived late, but Faina still met us at the car rental with the car seat and even had grabbed us some groceries so I didn’t have to go out again!
THINGS OF NOTE
(depending on your comfort level):
* Older house - it’s Detroit, so a lot of the houses are. A bit like camping because of this (no heat, no ac, outdoor shower), but that was fine for us.
* Outdoor shower (which is kind of amazing in the morning), but no actual tub. They provided a small toddler one which also worked fine for us.
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workshop with local artist-families |
* Slightly dusty workspace. Again, not an issue for me, but other artists might have a problem, depending on your work. They are in the midst of renovating some of the residency buildings, so some extra dust from that as well.
* Wifi was super weak at the guest house where we were staying, but to be honest, it was nice to have an internet detox.
TIPS:
* Definitely rent or bring a car. I had never been to Detroit, but rented a car as per Faina’s recommendation. The area is pretty spread out and having a car with a kid is a must if you intend to go anywhere besides the immediate neighborhood.
I would highly recommend this residency. It is going to be even more amazing once all the renovations are complete. I can’t say enough about Popps and how fully invested Faina and Graem are in their local community and creating an artist run exhibition space/residency that supports other artist parents.
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not her(e) (table) |
Kaitlynn Redell is a visual artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Her practice is invested in the exploration of race and gender in relation to the body and how the body becomes codified within these socially constructed categorizations. More specifically she is interested in inbetweeness and how “unidentifiable” bodies—that do not identify with standard categories—negotiate identity. She has participated in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally including at El Museo del Barrio (NYC), Rush Arts Gallery (NYC), A.I.R. Gallery (NYC), Western Project (LA), Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LA), Charlie James Gallery (LA) and Museo Laboratorio - Ex Manifattura Tabacchi (Italy). Her work is currently on view at the 32nd Biennial of Graphic Arts: Birth As Criterion, in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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