Meet the Inspiring Brooklyn Ladies of PLAYGROUND DETROIT!

New York City is a breeding ground for smart, successful people. The women especially in this city are some of the most inspiring we've come across.

Driven, creative and interesting, women in our fair city work hard and are constantly supporting each other in their personal and professional endeavors.

Paulina Petkoski and Isabella Bruno are part of this upswing of talent and ambition. We met them at a summertime backyard party and knew we wanted to share their amazing organization, PLAYGROUND DETROIT.

The organization was started after Paulina, a Detroit native and current designer at RACHEL Rachel Roy, spent time in the city in 2011 and realized the potential, but limitations, of the art community there. That's why PLAYGROUND DETROIT aims to connect incredible artistic talent in Detroit with opportunities in New York City.

Paulina Petkoski
"After growing up in Detroit then moving to NYC in order to pursue my chosen career [fashion], I returned to Detroit for a few months in 2011 and was very inspired by my experience. Noticeably, the city seemed to have an exciting new energy downtown; an increase in DIY music events and venues, artist visits from international artist coming to make their 'mark' in Detroit, new galleries popping up, and a increasing growing young, creative population under 30 years old moving to the downtown or city limits of Detroit (opposed to the suburbs or 'Metro Detroit,' which has been majority of the case for years."

"Our mission is to enhance Detroit's artistic reputation by connecting artists, entrepreneurs, and influencers to opportunities," says Paulina. "New York is our base currently, but Detroit is our home."

The 26-year-old has enlisted her creative friends who she's met over the past six years in New York to help PLAYGROUND DETROIT become the successful organization she envisions.

"I felt it was critical to introduce my contacts and network of young, creative people living in NYC to the more 'on the ground' viewpoint of Detroit to counteract sensationalized and negative press and media that the city has been accustomed too. In reverse, I was proud and excited to introduce my Detroit-based contacts and network to those in New York and Brooklyn to increase opportunities for them here."

One of those contacts was Isabella Bruno, head of the BRUNO collective design firm, based in Brooklyn. Isabella and Paulina met in 2011 through mutual friends in the design community and have been friends and collaborators since. 

"By establishing a link between artistic communities in these cities, we are seeking to inspire, elevate, and power leading lights of America’s creative economy. Through the presentation of inspirational art, engaging online media, powerful music, provocative educational events, and unique residency opportunities, Playground Detroit promotes artists, investment, and effective action for growth in Detroit’s arts community."

Paulina and Isabella also work with another friend in the fashion and creative industry, Samantha Schefman, who is Deputy Director at PLAYGROUND DETROIT. Although some may think working with friends could be difficult, Paulina says it is a much more relaxed environment when you can bounce ideas off of your like-minded friends.

"We attend important networking events, gallery openings, and Detroit-related happenings together which is really fun. Cons include managing multiple varying schedules, and maintaining a work-relationship outside of our personal relationships. We work closely together so personal life and situations sometimes become part of work life, which can be either positive or negative depending on circumstance."

Isabella Bruno and Paulina met through a mutual friend in the design field. Isabella started working with PD creating a large-scale pop-up exhibit design for them. "Her role in PLAYGROUND DETROIT has been critical, far-reaching her current role as our Art Director, she has created our identity, responsible for our website design and much more," says Paulina. 

The art community in Detroit and Brooklyn and New York City overall is comparable in supportiveness, but because of the smaller population in Detroit, the number of people operating in the downtown area is quite small. Everyone does more than one thing, whether it be music and art or owning a gallery space and promoting local artists.

But things are growing and changing in a city that just got a Whole Foods. Gallery openings, music shows and other creative events are constantly being announced, much like Brooklyn currently. In fact, Detroit is showing many of the same traits Brooklyn did on its way to becoming the thriving, art-loving borough it is today. The timelines, although from different sources, are parallel, which is an exciting development for Paulina and the rest of the PLAYGROUND DETROIT team.

Samantha Banks Schefman, Deputy Director

"By introducing Detroit artists to Brooklyn galleries, artists, and media, we hope to open them up to this market. Our focus currently is to make the transition from a fiscally sponsored organization to 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. A long-term goal of ours is fundraising to continue to allow us to do what we do. There are future plans of a physical space in Detroit, The Playground, which will serve as our HQ in addition to other creative functions, event-space, place to stay for visitors, and a think tank for ideas."

For more information about Playground Detroit and the amazing artists they sponsor, check out their website. The team also features their artists, as well as events in both cities on their blog. Check them out and share the love Drifters!