Spring has arrived and we are excited about our new look and our new market expansion – kicking off this weekend with The Vintage Market previewing Saturday & Sunday from 12-8pm next door to the indoor artist and designer market. The Vintage Market promises to continue in the longstanding Artists & Fleas tradition (does being open since 2003 make us "old"?) of creating dynamic and inviting market spaces that bring independent creators and collectors directly in contact with their markets where "discovery" happens. 15 vendors will fill the showroom space with their curated collections of clothes, jewelry, furniture, housewares, shoes, posters, bric-a-brac and much, much more. It wouldn't be a proper vintage market in the heart of one of NYC's most beloved neighborhoods if it didn't have the right mix of vintage clothing collectors so hold on to your hats folks…this is gonna be a doozee!
Kings County Salvage debuts their collection of primitives and assorted accessories for the home, the yard and the farm (above, left). Val Bowers' (Blue Canary Vintage)ever-so-curated eye for what's cool and what's right lets her imagination run wild as she embarks on an exciting new journey into parts near and far and shares with us just what she has found along the way. A&F veteran Tracie Howarth busts out her eye-popping collection of vintage beads and costume jewelry (above, second from left)many of which have been sitting untouched for years. There is no thrill that can match that of finding something that hasn't seen the light of day in decades and is begging for a new home. The fine folks at SERA Design join us and bring their mid-century modern home furnishings, accessories and fine art to the friendly confines. Their rich assortment of pristine vintage glass, 1960s designer porcelain, and mid-century lights and lamps are nothing short of mind-blowing and are a testimony to the fine eye, fine taste and fine wit of SERA founder Marc Athens. Magic Vintage's Jennifer Church Beckett is back with a stunning clothing collection of pieces from 1940s noir to the avant garde to the mod mod world of last century fashion. And what would a vintage market piled high with some fine vintage clothes be without an on-premise seamstress to make that piece sing for you? Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based Vania Alves sets up shop at the market and will be providing on-site alterations, consultations and will even create a custom piece from some vintage fabrics and prints for you (above, second from left).
Next door in the artist & designer market, we welcome Johnna Davis and her exquisitely fashioned wardrobe of superfine threads (above, right). Her collection spans her years working as a stylist all around the world. She's preparing for her next journey and is setting up shop for this weekend only ready, willing and able to part with some of her most beloved pieces.
Lastly – but almost certainly deserving of being called out alone loud and proud – we wanted to share the exciting news out of Dahlia Soleil's Paulette Jemmott-Wiley. You wouldn't be a Williamsburger if you hadn't come across one of her wickedly crocheted caps on the heads of thousands of folks around the neighborhood and across New York City and beyond. Some months back, Paulette was paid a visit at the market by the folks from the Studio Museum in Harlem seeking out homegrown talent to include in the Museum's 2009 Introducing initiative focused on young, emerging designers. The event started officially on April 1st and runs through the Summer so check out the museum and make sure to congratulate Paulette on this exciting mileston. We are proud to have Paulette as part of our community and honored to be her friend.
