Next month, Brooklyn will be hosting a large-scale night market in a 40,000 sq ft warehouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The inaugural Brooklyn Night Bazaar took place on October 9 at Dekalb Market in downtown Brooklyn and attracted over 5,000 visitors. Over 100 local merchant and food vendors took part in that first event and the organizers are expecting more for the second.
But the Brooklyn Night Bazaar isn’t only gifts and food, it’s Brooklyn so there’s a whole lot more than just that. NBNY Projects curated artist films, projections and installations, the bazaar was specially designed by JDS/Julien De Smedt Architects, live music and DJ sets filled the space and there was even a beer and wine garden featuring local breweries and wineries.
This second incarnation will take place at 149 Kent Avenue (between N5th and N6th Streets) and potential vendors are asked to fill out the online form before Wednesday, November 30.
The event will take place December 15 – 17, from 5pm until midnight.
Hyperallergic plans to be there for this awesome sounding market, so stay tuned.
I caught up with Joann Kim, who is the co-producer for this ambitious event, and asked her why artists should take part and what we should expect from the Brooklyn Night Bazaar.
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A view of the first Brooklyn Night Bazaar in October (via bkbazaar.com)
Hrag Vartanian: Why a Brooklyn Night Bazaar?
Joanne Kim: Brooklyn Night Bazaar was inspired by co-producer Aaron Broudo during his travels through Asia, which is rife with night markets. He wanted to bring that here but of course with a Brooklyn flair, merging all creative industries such as music, art, design and crafts with enough wine and beer mixed in to formulaically produce the most magical nighttime event.
HV: Who are you hoping to attract?
JK: Enthusiasts who support all things quintessentially Brooklyn: creative, DIY, independent, self-made, artisan, emerging, collaborative, progressive.
We’re seeking vendors who come from all corners of the creative industry: artists, photographers, galleries, designers, illustrators, crafters, food producers, authors, zines, fashionistas, accessorizers, mom & pop shops, we welcome them all.
HV: What is the role you want art to play in the bazaar?
JK: I hope to use this opportunity to redefine the artist as a creative small business entrepreneur who can take advantage of a platform outside of the art world establishment creating their own economy to share and sell their work without guilting themselves as a “sell out.”
Self-representation is the most immediate and direct way for artists to engage with their work outside the studio and share it with a supportive community. With Brooklyn Night Bazaar I hope to build this platform for dialogue and commerce while merging the industries of food, music, fashion and design into one collaborative and happy home.
HV: What are some of the things people can expect?
JK: Vendors will be sharing and selling during those hours and there will be live music and booze to compliment visitors experience throughout the evening.
But if that’s not enough, here’s some more details:
- Live music from the most up and coming bands, we’ll be announcing in the next couple days so it’s secret until then!
- Empanadas, lobster rolls, avocado fries, stuffed cannolis, Australian meat pies and such splendid items to please your appetite.
- Vendors sharing and selling their wares from ceramics and vintage accessories to original artworks and prints, from peacoats and furniture to soap and stationary. Our hope with signing up such an array of vendors is to bring them together on a mutual platform where all kinds of dialogue from “O hey that candle would smell amazing in my apartment” to “There’s an artist selling photographs influenced by _______ (insert influential artist/movement/theory typical said from the art community we love and support but something are too exhausting to hear)” can happen.
- Wine and beer garden/lounge for you to sip said wine and beer.
- A thoughtfully designed space plan courtesy architect Julien de Smedt who is helping us design a space that is a cross between a music venue, art fair, and farmers market minus all the bad connotations, plus custom built furniture and lighting systems.
- Video/sound installations curated by Ken Farmer, creative director of Bring to Light. He’s also the CD of BK night bazaar and is making a big impact on reaching out to the art community in Brooklyn.
- Magic
HV: Why do you think artists should take part?
JK: This is a means for artists to represent themselves and their work in a supportive and collaborative environment. It’s an opportunity to not only share and sell but to build a network and have some good ol’ fun while doing it. There’s no competition, no privileged status quo, no filthy rich collectors to impress and sell out to. Just us humble folks in the Brooklyn Creative Community making it on our own.
To find out more about the Brooklyn Night Bazaar, visit bkbazaar.com.
