Weekend forecast: Sketchy

Miss Onyx Star will strike poses at the Aug. 16 Dr. Sketchy session

After a year of doing Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School sessions, Sketchy's South Florida organizer Charlotte Sundquist decided it was time to broaden the Sketchy horizons. This months, she's having a special Dr. Sketchy gathering at Stage 84, a three-hour free session at 1310 Gallery in Fort Lauderdale and of coure, the usual third-Thursday-night-of-the-month session at Stage 84.

For those unfamiliar with these sessions, artist Molly Crabapple established the first Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School seven years ago by in a Brooklyn dive bar. Her stated mission was to shatter the image of life-drawing classes as sessions held in a sterile environment with bored models and provide a venue for “fancy-pants gallery artists, art students, dog walkers, jewelry designers, tattoo artists, illustrators and cubicle slaves [to] draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality.” The school then expanded to more than 100 cities, including London, Paris, Tokyo and, now, Davie where it continues to attract "burlesque babes, roller derby girls, drag queens and fetish models" who strike poses ranging from 5 to 20 minutes as people draw them.

Tonight, Sundquist notes, she will celebrate the performers who have modeled through the first year and kick off a monthlong exhibited of "masterpieces that our art monkeys have created. .... All too often we're sketching furiously, but never get to marvel at the end results. Now we want to see 'em."

Sundquist says it's a chance to meet the artists who have been frequenting Stage 84 on the third Thursday of the month and see works inspired by tattoos, mermaids, pasties and mojitos. "We've invited all our past models to attend, so it should be a fun night to hang out and relax for a change," she notes. The party, which can be considered a warm-up for Saturday night's free three-hour Sketchy session at 1310 Gallery, starts at 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at Stage 84, 9118 W. State Road 84, Davie, 954-474-5040, Stage84fl.com.

 

On Saturday night, Sundquist brings Dr. Sketchy into a gallery setting with a session featuring model Betty Pickle, who South Florida Sketchy organizer Charlotte Sundquist describes as "six-foot tall redhead with a talent for swallowing a five-foot inflated balloon and a kick- ass non-stop monologue that includes such topics as zombie raptures and boils named Susan."

To Sketchy followers who haven't been to Sailboat Bends Artist Lofts/1310 Gallery,Sundquist advises: "When you show up, don't be surprised if you ask yourself if you are in the right place. You'll be looking at a three-story building that houses a group of visual artists, musicians and other talented folks. What you may not know is that they have a great gallery housed in the middle of the building that Dr. Sketchy's gets to invade for the evening."

As usual, bring sketchpads and drawing stuff, as Betty will hold poses for people's sketching pleasure. Beer and wine available will be available for a modest donation.

This is also a good time to check out  Culture Clash, a monthlong celebration of aliens, fashion and two- and three-dimensional works, featuring art by Andrew Ackerman, Greg Dubois, Yudelka Tavera, Kareem Piper, Detourbutterfly and others. The Dr. Sketchy sessions starts at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at 1310 Gallery (Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts), 1310 Middle St., Fort Lauderdale. Call 305-975-6262 or visit Sailboatbendartists.com.

If you miss the free session, there are still plenty of chances to catch a Dr. Sketchy night. The next monthly night of drinking, eating and drawing will feature Miss Onyx Star, founder of The Reckless Dames. Bring your "sketchpads, i-pads or do-dads," a hard drawing surface (if you have one) and your pencils, pens or crayons. No easels. Artistic skills are not a prerequisite. If you can doodle an image on a cocktail napkin, you will be welcomed. The session runs 7-10 p.m. Aug. 16 at Stage 84, 9118 W. State Road 84, Davie (954-474-5040, Stage84fl.com). Tickets are $10 in advance (Drsketchysofla.com) or $12 at the door.

Sundquist is planning even bigger things for the next year of Sketchy. "This year and moving forward, I really want to increase the number of venues and monthly events," she says. "I understand that not everyone can get out to our Third Thursdays in Broward, so I've been in discussions with additional venues to add. I want to continue to encourage non-artists to come out and participate. We don't care what the final product is. It's the process of being creative that makes it fun."

While Dr. Sketchy's South Florida has incorporated elements of burlesque, Sundquist foresses adding more outrageous props, themes and costuming. "For example, we'll be doing a Sketchy session at the Fort Lauderdale Day of the Dead event on November 2nd," she says. "We've had professional mermaids, pin-up models and dancers pose for us. I'd like to extend the offer to actors and theatre performers in the South Florida area."

 

Anyone interested in more info on Dr. Sketchy South Florida can contact Sundquist at 954-695-1587.