Jazzmint Dash Is Having Summertime Hallucinations
A designer and artist takes us along for a ride at the Queer Liberation March and beyond.
Published
Conductors of Summer is a Heatwave feature in which we ask the conductors of summer — a lifeguard, an ice cream man, a gardener, a drag queen, and more — to document their high season with a disposable camera. Bring your handheld fan, because it's about to get hot.
Jazzmint Dash, also known as the Princess of the Dash Dynasty, is a New York City-based artist, designer, and drag queen. During the summer, they can be found at their sewing machine, at dinner parties, on rooftops, in Central Park, at the spa, and out. Below, in an interview and photo essay, Jazzmint takes us along for a summer ride at at the Queer Liberation March, introduces us to their friends, and even shows us their Miss Atlantic City crystal headpiece.
What does summer mean to you?
Summer for me is a guilty, delicious, sabbatical from the steady indoor work flow of the cold months. The majority of my work is freelance and custom sewing work for clients and photoshoots. It becomes so much more difficult to be cooped up inside at my sewing machine day and night when New York transforms into our beautiful outdoor oasis. Summer is a time for high glamour and chaos. Big budgets come in at the last minute for pride events (annoying but luxurious). The burning sun's warmth and virility inspire me to delve deeper into my fashion fantasies, which always go awry.
A surprise thunderstorm rains all over the full stemmed faux rose bouquet/boutonniere brooches I am wear-testing to eventually sell on my website, causing the dyed petals to run; back to the drawing board. I end up sweating through my panties, tights, petticoats and puff sleeves, my head scarf is dripping sweat from my bald head down my neck, I have a blister, and the sunglasses I want to wear do not fit on my head at the same time as my feather headpiece. My Airpod slipped out from the sweat inside my ear; I can't fit it back inside because of my manicure. Another fucking bug bite. I am chugging hundreds of gallons of prosecco and water. I'm broke, but feel so beautiful.
How do you prefer to heat things up in summer, metaphorically speaking?
The heat of summer is a perfect excuse for my uncharacteristic procrastination. I end up spending my days frolicing in the rockaways, coffee shop hopping with my divas, stomping around with bags of vintage, picnicking in Central Park, or organizing dinner parties on my rooftop; only sewing after the sun has finally set (unless I absolutely have to). All the while digging deep into my archive to pull out strange strappy pieces I haven't worn out in a while. The mission is ultimate extravagance, I want strangers to ask me, "Aren't you hot?"
What's your #1 way to cool down, either literally or metaphorically?
The perfect summer cool down for me is to come home from a psychotic 16 hour New York marathon day and have a spa night. Shave my entire body in a cool shower, eyebrows and upper lip included. Emerge with a little trickle on the floor, and drown myself in moisturizers. Mary kay peppermint body lotion that is potentially no longer FDA approved because of how intense it chills my little crotchaloon and legs. Oils, serums, and a luxurious dose of a creme shop lip mask. Finally a top coat of First Aid Beauty, to seal everything in. Then maybe a few hours in the kitchen playing with my mandolin and salad spinner. My perfect warm weather meal is something bright and almost vegan. Stay tuned for the cookbook, that's next.
This year, the Queer Liberation March was threatened with a chance of rain, and began over an hour late. By the time we finally began marching and passed city hall, the energy of the crowd was at an all time high. Led by a marching band playing an acoustic version of some Rihanna song, here we were chanting "Abortion and Trans Rights! Equal action for equal rights!"
Members of Thank Good for Abortion prepare for the Queer Liberation March underneath scaffolding to avoid the potential rain.
Captured at the Queer Liberation March.
Captured at the Queer Liberation March.
Follow along with Jazzmint's summer here.