In the mid-1980s, retired GM worker Dmytro Szylak began decorating two Detroit garages; nearly 30 years later, his backyard was drawing thousands of visitors a year

Most of us can relate to wanting to personalise a small area. Whether it’s an elaborately created gallery wall, a plant-filled windowsill, or knowing exactly how many nail holes you can put in a rental, you might be able to relate to looking at two garages and some backyard space and thinking, “this is my blank canvas”.

Hamtramck Disneyland is a piece of folk art located in Michigan. It has no relation to the famous Mickey Mouse. Dmytro Szylak, who retired from General Motors in the mid-1980s, created it. According to Hatch Art, which now manages the site, he began constructing Hamtramck Disneyland and continued to add to it for almost three decades. Thousands of people visit annually from all over the world. Here's a closer look at how it came to be.

From assembly line to alleyway


Szylak was born in Ukraine and moved to the USA with his wife in the 1950s. Hamtramck, where he settled, is an independent city entirely surrounded by Detroit; not, as is sometimes assumed, a neighbourhood or sub-district within it. He continued to develop and change the artwork up until his death in 2015, aged 92. The installation features many moving parts, including whirring and rattling contraptions, brightly coloured striped garages, and a mixture of found photos, posters, and classic American imagery, combined with photographs of the Europe he had left behind.

Not exactly Disney

Although the name might cause a few raised eyebrows, it has gained quite a bit of attention. Hamtramck Disneyland is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Hamtramck and one of the most significant artist-led environments in Michigan. It has even been featured in two documentaries, and in 2006, famous photographer Bruce Weber took photos of Kate Moss there for a 54-page spread in W Magazine titled “Welcome to the Motor City.”

Why yard art is worth taking notice of

Szylak’s project is part of a larger trend in America. As early as the 1940s, yard art has been studied, partly due to the debate around high and low culture. Curator Josh T. Franco, who has a grandfather who reused items to create sculptural scenes, believes yard art is less of a place and more of a language. Penn Today reported that it doesn’t have to be in a yard.

Franco’s exhibition at Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art highlighted this. According to The Pennsylvania Gazette, the yard art often created by amateurs can be found all over America. They challenge the idea of who can create art and where it should be displayed. The exhibition also looked at how yards are shared and in-between areas connecting our homes to the outside world.

The not so glamorous side

All outdoor art will deteriorate over time, and so will this backyard wonderland. Once Szylak passed away, his estate went into limbo with no plan to preserve the art. However, residents and artists came together, and Hatch Art gained ownership of the site in May 2016 and has been running a continuous restoration effort ever since, more than ten years on. They have restored the main wooden structure and fixed the rotten garages. However, there is still work to do. The lights, movement, and sounds that Szylak created need to meet safety requirements for outdoor use. Hatch Art relies on donations and volunteers to continue the project.

The best spot to view Hamtramck Disneyland is from the alleyway between Klinger and Sobieski Street. You can enter the backyard; however, you may be on your own. Hatch Art notes that they and Hamtramck Disneyland cannot be held responsible for your safety. It is a residential area, and the neighbouring property is still rented out. Be respectful, don’t climb on any of the structures, and don’t take anything. If you want to help out, they have seasonal volunteer days between June and September. Whether you see it as a landmark for folk art or a wild retirement project, Hamtramck Disneyland makes you think about what you would create if no one asked you to explain it.