Ply and Mike Kelley’s Mobile Homestead at MOCAD
Ply will be overseeing the construction of Mike Kelley’s Mobile Homestead. The project is a full-sized replica of the 1950’s ranch house that Kelley grew up in. The reinterpreted house is split into two parts, the front of the house is constructed on a mobile trailer bed and is detachable from the larger portion of the house which will remain permanently on the MOCAD property. Zago Architecture developed the design and construction detailing with Mike Kelley before his death in January 2012. Ply will be working with the Ronnisch Construction Group through the completion of the project.
Kelley envisioned the ground floor of the homestead functioning as an open space for diverse community activities. At the same time, he designed a labyrinthine basement complex for more covert activities – what he called “private rites of an aesthetic nature.” The completed Mobile Homestead will house these co-‐existing public and private functions mindful of Kelley’s typically challenging contention that “one always has to hide one’s true desires and beliefs behind a façade of socially acceptable lies.” __from the MOCAD Press Release
For the press release:
http://mocadetroit.org/press/docs/Media-Script-With-Press-Release-FINAL-14-MAY-2012.pdf
For more information:
