Thursday Inspiration: Dmytro Szylak’s Ukranian Disneyland

Last week I wrote about Detroit’s Heidelberg Project. My friend, and faithful reader (thanks!), Alane Meyer, sent me these photos taken by her husband, Doug, of another Tramp Art masterpiece.

These photos were taken at Dmytro Szylak‚Äôs ‚ÄúUkrainian Disneyland,‚Äù located in Hamtramck. There he is in the photo, above. By the way, Hamtramck is pronounced “Ham-Tram-Ick.” It’s a separate little city located within the boundaries of Detroit.

Mr. Szylak was born in 1920, in the village of Lwiw, Ukraine, and came to the U.S. in 1949. He began building this work around 1990, after retiring from the General Motors Hydromatic Factory, where he worked on the assembly line for 32 years.

It’s a good thing to keep yourself busy during retirement. To view this Wonderland, take I-75 to Caniff. Then, head north on Joseph Campau. Look for small sign at the alley entrance on the north side of Connor St. between Klinger & Sobieski. Walk or drive north up the alley.

For those of you who aren’t lucky enough to live in Detroit, you can see more photos of Mr. Szylak’s creation at Swipple.