Keep those bare walls from closing in on you this spring with conversation-worthy inspiration at the new Malta Flea Market.
“I’m always absolutely intrigued by the artistry these people have,” said the market’s founder, Jim O’Connell.
HARVEST OF THE HUNTER & GATHERER
When Jim O’Connell sees a banjo frame, he envisions the mirror that it can become. A selection of beautiful brass and vintage Bennington marbled doorknobs are given a second life affixed to a flat board as a commissioned coatrack. Bolt a motorcycle tire to a cast iron frame, top it with rounded glass and there’s suddenly a structural new table that people can’t help but notice.
“I wish I had a dollar for everyone that said, ‘That’s so cool!’” recalls O’Connell. The Glens Falls native took a spin buying and selling restored and upcycled furniture and doing the show circuit full-time before switching gears and committing to Cap Com Federal Credit Union as marketing specialist in 2000.
“I was happy but I worked really hard. Still, it stays in your blood,” he recalls of his time spent refurbishing furniture pieces.
He never gave up on his passion however, and this year he has made it easier for area vendors to connect with the artisans, designers, hobbyists and home owners looking for unique, useful materials to ignite their own creativity and fill their empty spaces.
O’Connell has organized the Malta Flea Market into a collection of more than 60 vendors, some of which he’s hand-picked from shows across the region, selling a choice selection of better quality pieces at an ideal price that leaves room for creative reinvention and a comfortable turn-around profit.
There are vendors who do Tarot Card readings and two offering chair massages joining the local craftspeople whose brand names you may recognize, as well as private collectors selling furniture, artwork, antiques, vintage clothing, interesting car parts, toys and more.
In addition to being the show’s lead, O’Connell continues to be both collector and craftsman.
“I’ve been finding really cool things and getting people who have been asking me to build them things, and needed a place to sell them,” he said.
A FORAGING FESTIVAL
Flea market foragers are familiar with the miraculous phenomenon of finding just what they’re looking for at an unbelievably good price. As a seasoned shopper, O’Connell has encountered these amazing opportunities first hand.
After finding an extraordinary pair of matching 6’ step ladders, he then was able to find the exact oak boards he was looking for, at the bargain price of just $20 and transform them into a bookshelf.
“It was absolutely perfect! I couldn’t get the money out of my pocket fast enough,” he said.
Garden enhancements including galvanized steel pieces such as weathervanes, trellises and Shepard’s hook stands, wooden signage, outdoor architectural, terra cotta and cement planters and accessories will also be available at the market.
“It’s that piece that will give me that final accent I need,” O’Connell often hears.
Beyond the items he finds and sells, it’s the people he meets that spark his imagination.
“To me, the most fun thing is just talking to people and getting their stories, there’s an actual interaction between people,” he said.
The Malta Flea Market, at 2785 Route 9, in Malta, will be open rain or shine 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., May 12, June 9, July 7 and September 15. The entrance fee is $2/vehicle (half of which will be donated to CAP COM Cares Foundation). The drive-in snack bar will be serving breakfast sandwiches and other refreshments. Vendor applications are still being accepted. For more information go to www.maltaflea.com
