Logo courtesy Rock Hopper Creative
The inaugural Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This is not your usual flea market,” warned organizer Joseph Kuzemka: “There won’t be any beanie babies. No children’s clothing.”
Familiar to many as one of the driving forces behind Trenton’s Art All Night, Kuzemka is putting on this event through his award winning graphic design company, Rock Hopper Creative.
A long time fan of alternative and punk music, Kuzemka cites his first visit to the legendary City Gardens music club as a turning point in his life. City Gardens, and by extension, Trenton has long been a hotbed for alternative and punk music and the accompanying art and collectibles scene. The flea market, Kuzemka believes, is a way to continue to feed that culture and bring people to Trenton.
Inspired by the successful Philly Punk Rock Flea Market held twice each year, Kuzemka thinks there is enough interest on the part of vendors and potential attendees to start a similar event here. His hunch seems to be on target.
Eleven days after opening up registration, 20 vendors had signed on. That’s roughly half of what he sees as the maximum number the venue can accommodate.
The event will be held at Artworks, located at 19 Everett Alley in Trenton. Kuzemka chose it for it location just off of U. S. 1 and easy accessibility to the Trenton Transit Station. The ample free parking available on a Sunday was another plus.
“When my wife and I attended the Philly Punk Rock Flea Market last month, we drove around for a half an hour looking for a parking place. I knew that wouldn’t work here in Trenton,” Kuzemka said.
So what would one find at a Punk Rock Flea Market?
“When you walk into the door, you are going to see some interesting stuff. You are going to see original artwork, handmade jewelry, vintage clothing you can’t see anywhere else.”
There will also be some oddities and interesting curiosities,” he said, sounding a little like P.T. Barnum. “I think when you get there, people are going to be astounded by the quality of things that you see there,” he said.
Kuzemka is asking vendors to send him images he can post to the event’s Facebook page. One artist sent images of her “post-apocalyptic terrariums” that he deems “absolutely amazing.”
A promotional card for the event lists art, collectibles, crafts, curiosities, vintage items and vinyl as being available. There will be two food vendors as well.
The cost to participate as a vendor is $35. Tables can be rented for an additional $10. Interested vendors can find the vendor rules and regulations and application online at trentonpunkrockfleamarket.com.
Attendees will be charged a $3 admission fee. Any profits made will be rolled over to produce future editions of the event. As time goes on, surplus receipts will probably be funneled back into the community.
“My goal,” Kuzemka said, “would be to get it to the point where I can begin to make charitable donations based on the money that is raised.”
The Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market is also on Facebook.
