Art collective is packing a summer full of activities

Popps Packing is packed full of activities this summer.

By Alan Madlane
The hard-working folks at local art enclave Popps Packing are full of new news this month.
For those not fully in the know, Popps Packing is an arts-based non-profit founded in 2009 in the northeast corner of the city, on St. Aubin at Carpenter. Wife and husband team Faina Lerman and Graem Whyte are the organization’s founders. They are asking for the public’s help to finally realize their dream of finishing the renovations on a second property across the street, which they’ve owned since 2012.
Their dream is to turn it into a combined gallery space and “tool lending library” that artists and others can use as a focal point for creative endeavors.
Their patronicity.com fundraiser needs to bring in $30,000 in pledged donations by July 31 in order to take advantage of a 1-for-1 matching pledge by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
In other words, if they reach their goal of $30,000, the state will kick in an additional $30,000.
A basic drawing of the exterior of the planned renovated structure is available on their website, poppspacking.org.
Anyone interested in helping this project along can donate at patronicity.org or by dropping off cash or a check directly, or else by mailing a check to: Popps Packing, 12138 St. Aubin, Hamtramck MI 48212.
There is more happening at Popps this summer.
They are hosting two separate week-long kids’ activity camps that will feature instructions on the proper use of tools and how to be part of a creative collaboration.
The camps will run from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. from Monday through Friday, but only on the weeks of July 23-27 and August 6-10.
Participation is free for residents of Hamtramck, Highland Park and Detroit “District 3,” which essentially comprises the southeast area of the city. For interested persons not from these areas, there is a pay-what-you-can policy, with a suggested donation of $200, but again, they stress it is pay-what-you-can.
They will also have a Pinewood Derby-themed fundraiser on Saturday, July 28, with more details promised very soon.

July 6, 2018