We’ve been wanting to do this particular session with Mab Just Mab—“DC’s Own Sideshow Girl—FOREVER. I mean, honestly, when will you get a chance again to draw someone hammering a nail up their nose? Sitting in the emergency room with your first born child after a particularly ill-advised game of kindergarden Truth or Dare? I don’t know. Take a look.
Thanks to Mab Just Mab, for putting on what might have to be one of my favorite sessions of all time; thanks to this session’s sponsors, Atomic Books and Flying Dog Brewery; thanks to Jeff for the amazing gallery of photos you see below (and one above); thanks to Russell for slinging booze and tunes; and thanks to Alexis for emceeing the whole thing.
And special thanks to all the artists who contributed artwork for this recap: Cecilia Strakna, David Wright, Jeff Lance, Mike Hasson, and Stewart White.
Our next session is Monday, April 9th with Eyrie Twilight of Black Tassel Boolesque. Doors at 6, start at 7 – get there early to get a good seat. It’s going be a neo-Victorian/steampunk-esque extravaganza.
GiGi Holliday is easily one of our new favorite people. We’ve been hoping she’d model for Dr. Sketchy’s Baltimore for years, but as a general rule we rarely ever approach someone. We wait for them to approach us, because we’ve learned this lesson the hard way: unless the person comes to us, they seem much more likely to be unreliable, cancel at the last minute, what have you.
So, we just patiently waited for someone to introduce us. There was a flaw in our plan, though—everyone just assumed we’d already met. For two years we twiddled our thumbs to no avail.
Luckily, one night after an Ottobar show and about four shots of Jager, I said “Fuck it,” walked up to her, and basically said, “Hey, Alexis and I run Dr. Sketchy’s Baltimore. You interested in modeling?”
We took a quick break so GiGi could have a breather, and then it was time for the 5-minute poses, the first of which was the non-dominate hand contest, where if you’re right-handed you draw with your left, if you’re left-handed you draw with your right, and if you’re ambidextrous, you draw with a rabid porpoise.
The two winners received mystery concoctions from Russell at the bar. Nope, I have no idea what was in them. Bad decisions and shame, I suspect.
It was then time for GiGi’s halftime performance! You’ll have to go to one of her shows if you want to see a full routine, but here’s a few teaser photos.
The 10-minute poses were next. the first of which was our second contest of the evening, which was the best incorporation of “Be Kind, Rewind” (in honor of the closing of Video Americain‘s Charles Village location) for Blood by Mark Ryden, from Atomic Books up in Hampden. Extra points were given for incorporating The Fifth Element, since GiGi’s performance was based on the movie’s Diva Dance.
A quick break and it was time for the first 20-minute pose of the night and our third contest, the best incorporation of Tarzan, for one of two prizes: Animus by Seonna Hong, from Baby Tattoo Books, or a copy of Sabrina Chap’s Oompa! Sabrina is raising funds for her next album, if you want to help, head over here. As of this writing, she’s only a quarter of the way to her goal.
Thanks to GiGi Holliday for doing a stunning job; thanks to our amazing sponsors, Atomic Books, Baby Tattoo Books, and Sabrina Chap for the great contest prizes; thanks to Jeff for the photography above; thanks to Russell for spinning tunes and booze; thanks to Alexis for rockin’ the mic; and thanks to all of you for making it a particularly fun session!
By the way, we’re going to start experimenting with our blog post formats. Between you and me, I think they run a little long, and carry a little more punch if they weren’t a big ol’ novel. Don’t be surprised when the next one of these is a little different.
What’s next?
Mab Just Mab, DC’s Own Sideshow Girl! A glasswalker and blockhead, escape artist and ukulele fanatic, she has been featured in several documentaries and books on sideshow revival, and performs solo, with The Accidental Circus and as a pillar of the Cheeky Monkey Sideshow.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve brought you performers from such faraway places as Australia, New Orleans, and Essex, but I can guarantee you have never, ever, drawn anything like this. I’m not even talking about drawing at Dr. Sketchy’s, I’m talking about drawing ANYWHERE. Unless you were raised in a circus, and were allowed to just loiter about all willy-nilly for hours on end with your sketchpad, you’ve never drawn this.
We’re talking nails, broken glass, and stuff I don’t want even to allude to just in case you’re so appalled, so horrified, so frozen in fear you won’t come!
I’m telling you, folks, bring a spare pair of drawers. You might need them.
Oh, and one last thing, Mab Just Mab is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. If you’re in one of those “I broke eight ribs so don’t make me laugh” situations, your life might be in mortal danger.
There’ll be great prizes from Atomic Books & What Katie Did, not to mention beer specials from Flying Dog Brewery!
That’s for Candy del Rio AND the photography by Carlo Pizarro, her partner in Stereo Vision Photography.
Don’t know if you know this, but a lot of the photos for our flyers over the years have come from Stereo Vision. You’ve been seeing their work for years, whether you realized it or not.
[Yes, years—this summer will be our 4th anniversary. Expect lots of “lawks!” in our communiques from here on out.]
Candy did a bang-up job—there was all sorts of good drawing to be had.
Once everyone’s drawing hands were nicely warmed up, we took a quick breather so folks could top of their beers and sneak a coffin nail, and then it was time for the 5-minute poses.
The first was the non-dominate hand contest, where if you’re right-handed you draw with your left, if you’re left-handed you draw with your right, and if you’re ambidextrous I’m the Queen of England.
The two winners recieved something mysterious in a glass from Russell behind the bar. We don’t monitor that shit for deniability reasons.
Another break so folks could call in flat tires/working late/stuck-in-traffic to their significant others, and then Candy del Rio did a burlesque number for ya. The video camera messed up though, so if you missed it—well, that’s what you get.
Quick break and then it was THE LAST POSE, the pose where everyone must decide, “Do I bolt early so I can watch an episode Step by Step before bed, or do I say “fuck it,” line up three shots, and draw like Picasso on two boxes of wine?”
Thanks to Candy del Rio for a rockin’ session; thanks to her and Carlo Pizarro for letting us use that Stereo Vision photo above; thanks to our amazing sponsors Atomic Books, Flying Dog Brewery, What Katie Did, and Baby Tattoo Books; thanks to Jeff for the slick photos making up a good chunk of this blog; thanks to Russell for the booze, space, and tunes; and last but not least, thank you to Alexis for keeping a firm grip on the mic and the emergency dead-man-switch connected to the gas line.
What’s next?
This Monday, Little Luna’s LAST SESSION EVER.
Photo: Cheryl Fair
That’s right, Little Luna is pulling up stakes and heading south, supposedly to New Orleans, but she’s pretty quick with the lies, so Lord knows where she’s going or why. Is she running from the mob? Did the fuzz catch on to that whole smuggled Mima birds thing? Is this all a trick so we’ll all buy her drinks for a month and then she’ll put on a wig and swear to be her own twin sister just moved to Baltimore?
Just. Don’t. Know.
Little Luna is one of our most popular models ever, so don’t miss her last session. Doors at 6, start at 7. 18+ to draw, 21+ to drink, 92+ to set Russell’s beard on fire for a $1.
Dr. Sketchy's Baltimore 