Longtime Detroiter Molly Motor is aptly named, she works like a machine whether making art, gardening, working on her house or cooking full-time for her employer. Uptown Chicago roots and a top tier education does not come to mind when she tells the story of running the car thieves off Farnsworth at 3:00 am, armed only with dreadlocks and green caftan. She can be a fierce presence, especially if anyone threatens her corner of Detroit.
Her home is clearly where a degree in art and old school discipline is evident. She obviously loves all the crayons in her box and painted the 1920's bungalow leaving no color out. Rooms flow and meander out passed a library and studio, living room and kitchen, through a back door and out to gardens, animal coops, and a garage with plans to expand her compound into the alley. Her approach to home improvement is academic, she has a design in mind and works the construction out, methodically taking the heavy lifting on herself and bringing in craftsman she sources locally as needed. Furnishings and fittings, found roadside and saved for show a curious Intellect and practical spirit. She is more pleased with the smooth function of a new Chicago brand kitchen faucet she splurged on than the stunning farmhouse sink salvaged roadside.
When the topic turns to the street's stunning revival, Molly is quick to give the bulk of credit to her neighbor Paul who got the ball rolling. Their combined years long commitment to saving homes and creating the thriving Farnsworth Garden drew what amounts to a small family-run farm (complete with livestock) to the end of their block, and a strong community of homesteading-types restoring homes, raising children and working together to grow food shared by all. With bee keeping around the corner and an abandoned house turned into an informal gathering place for art shows, movies, live music and parties, it's no wonder starry-eyed artist/activists from around the nation have wanted to join in with their own plans. The realist Ms. Motor shrugs her shoulders at the "20 somethings" and their visions, mostly abandoned. This is no dream she's chasing. This is home; maintained day after day, sustainable, secure and that in itself, is a beautiful thing. Like all the projects she starts, Molly's home sits on a solid foundation of hard work, ingenuity and fortitude, it's a real art.
