Punk Rock Flea Market started with about 20 vendors in the Mass Art gym in 2002. Over the next 6 years I’d organize ten of these, growing to about 80 vendors and with turnouts of about 800 at peak. We usually charged $1 to get in and have the money to a local cause or 501c3. Vendors rented tables more or less at-cost and everyone would pitch in to help set up, break down and it sort of just ran itself. People sold clothing, records, crafts, snacks and sometimes actual trash.
Above: The first PRFM’s took place in the Mass Art gym
Above: Truth Serum Productions sold gender-queered vintage.
Above: Punks and norms, together.
Above: Always a lot of patches.
Above: Vendor Seth Davis with VHS tapes, art supplies, amps and more.
Above: Boston Derby Dames selling merch
Above: Mark from Neptune on the DJ decks
Some of the vendors from the last two PRFMs:
Action Geek Comics, Alex Dakoulas Design, Anna Gurowsky, Apenest, Beautiful World Syndicate, Birdhead Design, Boomerangs, Boomerangs (Kris 2), brandwashed, Child of the 80s, corleone records, Country Records, Crusty Tim's World of Sketch, Distro.y Clothing, DIY BDSM, Eric Shaw Design, Evil Design, Galactic Fractures, Good Vintage, Hope Through Health, Jaffney Jaynes Take Away The Pain, Julie A Designs, Kendra Smith, Athena, Lindsay Crudel (Split), Kevin Driscoll, Kris P (personal table), KTT Shirts, Lady Cougars Art Gang, Laurel Kirtz, Lindsay (Adrian), Little Flower Designs, Lucy Parsons Center, Manimal, Poppycock Design, Rachel Small, Regeneration Records, Repeat Clothing, Replacement for James, Roslin Rags, S. Knitty Designs, Seth Davis, Shut Up Clothing, Sibling Rivalry, Sticks and Stones, Tater Print, Teenage Disco Bloodbath, The BLCC, Trash Art!, Truth Serum Productions, Vaya Bags, Velocicrafter, What Cheer?!
Above: Classic sidewalk scene. Nokia phone and all.
Above: We had good crowds.
Above: Jonah from Teenage Disco Bloodbath Records
When I decided to close up shop, Lindsay Metiver took the idea and ran with it organizing an offshoot called Mass Market, and I believe this turned into Black Market with Dan Shea’s Bodies of Water Arts and Crafts project. A lot of the vendors have gone on to be successful artists, tattoo artists, musicians, shop owners and small business operators too. Maybe one of my favorite events I’ve done.