to me, flea markets are an entire phenomenon in and of themselves. buildings, sometimes as large as department stores, transform into active archives of a collective history, reflecting the ebb and flow of culture, consumerism, and connection.
they exist like patchwork quilts, stitching together hundreds of squares of past lives and obscured memories: a solitary teddy bear who’s hand once was clutched in the grasp of a child. a baking dish that at one time contained a fragrant family recipe that died alongside the one who made it. a lamp with a creased shade that has illuminated moments of the past.
through the camera lens, these places unfold into visual poems of forgotten treasures and shared memories. focusing on the details conjures up the stories that these objects contain. the play of light, color and shadow become a crucial element in conveying the layers within these places that exist in both ephemeral and permanent states of being.
these labyrinths of cluttered and dusty shelves pose two questions: “where did all of this come from?” and “where will it go next?” although this series of photos aren’t able to answer either of these questions, they are an attempt to examine and survey this “stuff” as it exists right now at this very moment.
A cluttered flea market serves as a museum of items and their past purposes.
An empty flea market booth waits to be decorated with items.
A toy monkey sits on top of a pile of smilier toys, still enclosed in its original packaging.
A solitary teddy bear reclines on a chair.
A lamp illuminates quilts and other items on sale in a flea market booth.
The windows of a flea market show the amount of items within its walls.
A row of lamps sit on the floor of a booth.
An exit door is framed by items such as clothing and dolls.
An eclectic array of furniture decorates a flea market booth.
Rows of earrings, new and old, fill a shelf.
A deer skull sits atop of a table, waiting to be taken home.
A grid of old license plates connect their origin to this single flea market.
The sale sign and peculiar items invite shoppers into the store.
Shelves of mannequin heads with eccentric hats sit behind a window.
Dozens of picture frames are clumsily lined up in a booth.
