Context
Originally built by Dmytro Szylak (1920 – 2015), Hamtramck Disneyland has been maintained by Hatch Art since 2016.
The Problem
Components of this art environment are in perpetual need of restoration and replacement due to constant outdoor exposure. To maintain the visual density and cacophony that is expected of the environment from community members and visitors alike, new art pieces are constantly needed. This was as true in Szylak’s day as it is currently. Eight years on from his death, most of his smaller pieces had become too fragile to remain in place and have been removed by Hatch for safekeeping.
In conserving the site, Hatch walks the delicate line between honoring the creator’s legacy and remaining an active, relevant space to the present-day Hamtramck community. The site stewards look for new, original replacement pieces that are made in the spirit of Szylak’s work, but are not slavish re-creations.
The Process
When adding to Hamtramck Disneyland, Szylak often incorporated junk he recovered from the streets and alleys around his home. The moment I saw a discarded Batman toy a few blocks away from the site, I knew it should have a new home there.
I grabbed this picture from an eBay listing; apparently the figure I found once looked like this, and originally stood 4 feet tall. Mine was a lot more beat up. He was missing a left arm, right forearm, both legs below the knee, and a cape. There was also a gaping hole in the chest where a light-up bat signal used to be.
For balance, I gave him a staff to hold and attached it to the the shortened arm with copper wire. Both the stick and legs were mounted to a salvaged tabletop which served as a base.
I had recently broken my cultivator rake while working in the garden, so that happy accident resulted in his right hand. The opposite arm was made from another trash day find.I had recently broken my cultivator rake while working in the garden, so that happy accident resulted in his right hand. The opposite arm was made from another trash day find. Other found toys and stuff I had around the house were re-puropsed as accessories.
Using paints available at the Hamtramck Disneyland site, I repainted with the figure to help transform him into a new character. The skin-tight nature of Batman’s costume limited the clothing options, but a fun leotard and matching sweatband seemed appropriate.
Results
The Sentinel, as I call him, was added to the newly-rebuilt central structure in the fall of 2023. It one of the few pieces mounted before conservation efforts stopped for the season. He held his own all winter, adding visual interest to the structure. He’s now one of many of visual delights to discover onsite, and can be spotted in visitors’ photos, including one from a recent New York Times Style Magazine article.
Images from @hamtramckdisneyland. Can you find him?