Another visit to Bull Creek

If you know me, or have at least visited this blog before, you know that I am all about flea markets. There is the stuff, the people, the element of surprise, and of course there is that creative spark that I also get from the flea market. And since I use found objects and lithographed metal in my art, the flea market also becomes my palette!

One of my favorite markets is the Bull Creek Flea-tique near Tarentum, PA. This monthly flea market is located on a grass and tree-covered stretch of land that was once the site of a working coal mine. I love the fact that there is no asphalt on the grounds, and just a gravel road that winds it’s way back to this outdoor market.

On my most recent trip I picked up a doll house, a 50 pound red lard can, one end wall of a Coca-Cola cooler, and a flattened out piece of tin that was once a Prestone anti-freeze can. Those items are now in the studio waiting to play a role in an upcoming piece of Villamagna art. I also picked up a great old litho of the Battleship Maine. A great wall piece, even if the frame is a bit rough. Here is a slide show from my visit there last Sunday morning:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First Rogers of 2012

When Chris and saw the weather forecast for Friday….sunny, high-fifties, and zero chance of rain…..that could only mean one thing! A trip to Rogers! This was our first visit this year, and several thousand other people seemed to have the same idea, and the flea market was jammed. By noon it was really difficult to move through the aisles. It was madness…..and fun! A beautiful to look at antiques, junk, people, food, and of course….art materials! Chris and I both found some tin, along with numerous other items which included a folksy looking wood dog that will now has a home. Here is a slideshow of the day, and while you are watching you will notice that Rogers becomes more and more crowded!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Flea Market Addiction

 

   

Even without the stop sign, how could you not stop at this fine arrangement of quality stuff!

 

This is one of my favorite signs at a flea market.

 

    If you are one of the half dozen people that actually read this blog, then you know at least two things about me: one, I am an artist who uses “junk” with which to make art; and two, I am addicted to flea markets. Of course, as I have said quite often, the flea market is my palette! I have a few favorite flea markets, and the Friday sale at Rogers, Ohio is one of those. Last Friday I made another visit to Rogers under a sun filled sky. Temperatures started out in the mid-forties, but were in the mid-sixties by noon. A great day to walk the Rogers Sale!

 

Bargain hunters in mass at Rogers!

 

A bit of dealing on the price of a milk bottle.

 

Kim Young! Eat your heart out!

    Our friend Kim Young, a talented jeweler, sculptor, and multi-media artists in Richmond, VA, loves owls! Her owl obsession began about 2 years ago when she was at A Fair in the Park in Pittsburgh. It seems that Kim returned to her van at the end of the day and found it covered with dozens of magnetic owls. Although no one seems to know who stuck the assortment of owls to her vehicle, she has been collecting them ever since. I only wish I could have purchased the monster pictured above and shipped it to her. However, my cart was full about the time I saw this fellow.

 

Rogers is full of spring flower vendors.

 

This was cute, and it was hard to walk away.... but not without first taking a photo!

 

More tables of stuff to look over.

A few of my purchases for the day.

    The picture above shows a few items I picked up this day: a 1950′s trash can, beer sign, and metal toy barn (all of these will go under the knife), a spool of wire (an assemblage artist never has enough wire), some weird photo postcards, and a group of old mesh apple bags with colorful labels. Not shown are some more photos, and a selection of old illustrated childrens books. Time to make more ART!