Carley Zarzeka


Carley Zarzeka builds found object sculptures and installations to investigate the standardization of construction materials in the United States and their relationship to the domestic space. Utilizing strategies of juxtapositions in assemblage that highlight lines, gravity and balance, Zarzeka calls attention to the objects’ material and formal qualities rather than their initial function. By intentionally sourcing genetic objects, her work simultaneously operates on both a universal and personal level. Her work has been exhibited at The Ackland Art Museum (NC), The Trout Gallery (PA), and The Cleve Carney Gallery (IL), amount others. Most recently, Zarzeka exhibited in 215/610 Contemporary, juried by Jean Shin and was awarded Second Place. 

Zarzeka received her MFA at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and was awarded Top MFA prize by Diego Cortez. She is currently a nomad, making work where she can find an open table, and attending residencies throughout the United States. 


Carly continued to investigate domesticity and the standardization of object during her residency at Popps by physically weaving together found material. These objects are familiar but not necessarily personal and stem from her interest in the built architecture of living spaces as well as the psychological and cultural constructions of family. This allows her to construct a framework of time and place, creating an identity not of herself but the generic. She refrains from allowing the work to become biographical or specific; aiming for individualism that falters due to unconscious, generic consumerism.

5/30/19 Together We Sound Festival

Popps Packing is excited to be a part of the Together We Sound Festival in hosting a night of Detroit-based music with the Acropolis Reed Quintet, New Music Detroit,  and Detroit Bureau of Sound+Kristen Carey & Chris Sies!

Thursday, May 30th from 7 pm – 11 pm @ Popps Packing 12138 St. Aubin St., Hamtramck, MI 48212

 

$10 door suggested donation (currently no advanced ticketing)
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2462225840456837/

Michael Hubbard

Michael Hubbard, born just outside of Detroit, currently lives and works in Midland, Texas. Working primarily in the mediums of painting and installation, his work aims to create an imaginary architecture of punk feminist history. His work has been exhibited nationally. His most recent solo shows were at 1600 Gallery in Atlanta GA, and Hartnett Gallery in Rochester, NY. He was a 2015 finalist for the prestigious Hunting Art Prize. He received a BFA in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, and an MFA in Visual Art from Washington State University. He is currently Assistant Professor of Painting and Gallery Director at Midland College. 

Gabrielle Egnater

Gabrielle Egnater was born in Los Angeles, California to a family of printmakers and lighting designers. She transplanted to Chicago to pursue a BFA in Sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During her time in undergrad, Gabrielle interned for the Kohler Arts/Industry Program. After graduation, She remained in the Midwest as a Classroom Coordinator for the Cranbrook Art Museum. She is currently a Metal Shop Technician at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and Adjunct Faculty for the CCS Community Arts Partnership Program.

Egnater’s practice can be described as mini-monuments that embrace oddity, design, craft, gastronomy, and remembrance. Each mini-monument questions what objects can “mark importance” or what object is a “marker of importance”. Egnater’s newest works aim to allow the audience to place their own memories and desire on the “marker of importance” by creating “adjustable monuments”.

5/18/19 Weed Walk With Zarah!

Join us 5/18/19 from 10-2pm for the second of the series of Weed Walks through Popps’ gardens with herbalist Zarah Ackerman!

These workshops will introduce participants to native plant and flower identification as well as how to forage a wild salad and make healing/nourishing remedies. Participants will be empowered to go home and meet the plants that grow right outside their door.

Participants are also welcome to browse through the Seed Library. Zarah has collected over 75 varieties of seeds throughout the years and they are housed in Popps Emporium to be shared with the community.

Zarah Ackerwoman is a Detroit based Performance Artist and Green Witch who is currently apprenticing with the radical author and herbalist Susun Weed, exploring the spirit and practice of the Wise Woman tradition.

4/27/19: The Day Everything Became Nothing

New Works by Karin Karinson

ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Saturday April 27, 2019 .   6PM -9PM

Popps Emporium, 2025 Carpenter, Detroit

Popps Packing is excited to present the new works by spring artist in residence, Karin Karinson (Götaland, Sweden) for a one-night exhibition of a new body of work created during her two month residency at Popps Packing. 

Karin is a sculpture artist, working primarily in clay and incorporating all stages, shapes and forms of the material into her work. Resting in the rivers of glossy glaze, she blends ready-made, found, porcelain objects with self-created sculptures;  shards of people’s desires and fantasies, things forgotten, and left behind protrude through a dreamy manifestation of the fragmented natural world.
Learn more here and here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1210324182463367/?active_tab=about

Ben Burgess

Ben Burgess is a multidisciplinary artist based in Melbourne, Australia. Known for his documentary practice, he utilizes photography and writing as a process of cultural understanding. Exercising an anthropological approach his work not only examines what’s in front of the lens, but what occurs around the camera. Thus recognising the performative action of photographing as an integral part of the work. Ben completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Photography) at RMIT University in 2016. He has since had solo exhibitions in Australia and participated in group shows both in Canada and Brazil. In early 2017 he took part in an artist residency at Despina in Rio de Janeiro.

Camp Carpenter Residency

CAMP CARPENTER RESIDENCY
(July Only)

Camp Carpenter is a creative outdoor adventure camp for youth ages 7-14 that takes place in and around Popps Packing each summer. Neighborhood youth work alongside professional, local and visiting artists to create a unique play environment on Carpenter Street: Adventure Playground!

The ideal Camp Carpenter AIR should be interested in sharing their skills, knowledge and creative expertise with the next generation of artistic producers.

Some of the skills we are interested in: good at building stuff, sculpture, printmaking, performance art, physical theater, costume and prop design, clowning around, casting, music.  Experience working with diverse youth.

The selected resident will be required to work 20 hours a week during camp weeks (last 2 weeks of July) in exchange for a reduced residency fee. Artists live and work on site at Popps Packing and have access to studio, gardens and all of the resources and support offered by Popps.

Click here to learn more about Camp Carpenter.

NOTE: Select “Studio Residency” in the residency option field and mention Camp Carpenter in the “Contribution” field of the application.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Birdhouse)

OPEN (BIRD) CALL FOR SCULPTURAL BIRDHOUSES

Call for unique, modern, and non-traditional takes on the standard birdhouse to be displayed in the Popps Packing gardens and various outdoor spaces.

Finished houses must be move-in-ready, equipped for install, and dropped off at Popps Packing with completed intake form.

Repurpose an old sculpture into the perfect birdhouse, or maybe you have a bird house that is ready to go, or make something new! Ideally, your birdhouse will be weather resistant, be able to house an actual bird (or birds, or bats, or bees), and be unique. Check out this link for some advice on bird house dimensions if you want to design for a specific species.

Think outside the box! Be innovative! Birds don’t just live in trees.

Drop off dates: 

Mon. April 22, 12-6pm

Tues. April 23, 5-8pm

Wed. April 24, 12-6pm

Exhibition Opening: Saturday, April 27, 2019

Please RSVP via email if you’re interested in participating and for all questions. Email poppspacking@gmail.com

Popps Packing will take a 33% commission on all sales. Limit one birdhouse per artist. 

Why do birds use birdhouses?: Birds are looking for nesting cavities in which to build their nest. Song birds that use tree cavities are not capable of creating their own nesting cavities because their beaks are specialized for hunting insects or gathering seeds. In an undisturbed ecosystem songbirds such as wrens, chickadees and nuthatches look for tree cavities created by other birds such as woodpeckers. 

Tree cavities provide shelter for birds from predators. There are two kinds of cavity nesters: those that create their own nesting cavities (primary cavity nesters) and those that use pre-existing cavities (secondary cavity nesters). Insects or pathogens have also been found to assist in formation of cavities that are used by cavity nesters.