Artists Faina Lerman and Graem Whyte purchased a former packing plant on the north end of Hamtramck. They have renovated it into their home and studio space as well as an occasional gallery. This past Saturday, as part of Art Detroit Now,
Popps Packing held its grand opening with a showcase of several Hamtramck artists.
Whyte launched This Week in Art at Motor City Brewing Works in 2004. He said the couple, while not exactly dreaming of opening a gallery one day, saw an opportunity and ran with it. "We're going to play it by ear," he says. "We'll probably host quarterly open houses and see what happens."
The 4,500-square-foot building also includes outdoor garden space, which was put to good use for an outdoor screening of
Clash of the Titans this past summer. There are plans to screen more films there in the future.
Whyte says the possibility also exists for Popps to host traveling artists in some kind of residency program. "With Hamtramck being the international melting pot that it is, it seems like the right fit," he says.
Popps is located 12138 St. Aubin at Carpenter.
Source: Graem Whyte, Popps Packing
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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