Many of you know Molly Crabapple’s art from her many graphic novel/webcomic collaborations with writer/fellow artist, John Leavitt—projects like Scarlett Takes Manhattan, Backstage at Act-i-Vate, and Puppet Makers at Zuda. You might also know her as the founder of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, a life drawing class that features burlesque performers as models and has set up shop in cities worldwide (This photo* features Molly and friend/muse/frequent Dr. Sketchy’s model, Amber Ray). But did you know that you can also wear her artwork?
Well, you can!
Molly has recently partnered with Dirtee Hollywood to create a line of t-shirts featuring her unique, Victorian-era-inspired artwork. When I asked her why she decided to do this, she said, “I love the challenge of working in multiple media. My art’s been on everything from theatre curtains to perfume bottles, children’s books and body paint. When Dirtee Hollywood approached me and gave me complete aesthetic freedom to corrupt their t-shirt line with curvaceous Victorian tarts, I was in heaven.”
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending her t-shirt launch party at Atrium in NYC. You’ll see some of that in this video**, as well as a bit more about why Molly went the t-shirt route and the process of designing Atrium’s store windows for the event. If you look closely at about 2:07, you’ll see me with my hair pulled back in a red and black shirt carrying a small, yellow Atrium bag containing my newly-purchased bit of awesome from the Molly Crabapple collection:
As guests mingled and sketched the models in tiny sketchpads they were given upon arrival, Molly held court and, over the course of the evening, created a new piece of art. It was a great event filled with artsy-ness, tiny cupcakes, and beautiful models who also happen to be incredibly smart and have a million things going on. I marveled at the fact that my geeky world and the fashion world were not colliding, but meshing. And most importantly, I discovered that you don’t have to be or look like a burlesque performer to rock these shirts. Below is a photo*** of me in my Molly Crabapple shirt! (Yes, I was at roller derby. Go Queens of Pain!) I’m no Amber Ray, but I’m cute as hell, and the shirt is extremely comfy! Molly Crabapple’s Dirtee Hollywood shirts are for everyone and can be rocked by fashionistas and geeky-types alike!
*Party photos by Peter James Zielinski
**Video by Alex Chancey of Pareidolia Films
***Photo of Teresa Jusino by Robin Dreifus
Teresa Jusino was born on the same day that Skylab fell. Coincidence? She doesn’t think so. Her “feminist brown person” take on pop culture has been featured on websites like PinkRaygun.com, PopMatters.com, and CentralBooking.com (edited by Kevin Smokler). She is currently working on several fiction projects, including a web series for Pareidolia Films called The Pack, which she hopes to debut by the end of the year! Get Twitterpated with Teresa, Follow The Pack or visit her at The Teresa Jusino Experience.
