Artist you should know

Drawn from the City: Jack is a gay costume designer and self-described gender-fucker

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DRAWN FROM THE CITY: Illustrations and Interviews of SF’s Best, first appeared in The Bold Italic in 2015 and ran through 2016. We at liked them so much we asked Crystal if we could put them out again as a time capsule of SF’s creative scene during the height of the most recent tech boom and demographic change.


Jack is a gay costume designer and self-described gender-fucker.

What is your occupation?
Designing and making clothes.  These clothes are not functional, it’s not like you could just wear them to work, I think about it more from the art end.  For money I work for good vibrations in the HR department; I make sure people get paid.

How would you describe your designs?
I would call it Fairy which is usually sensible shoes, usually some kind of frilly things, I don’t do any fake boobs, if somebody has a beard that’s fine and then we will put some amazing make-up on them.  If I’m dressing somebody it is definitely very feminine but at the same time does not obliterate that fact that they are a man.

What are your style inspirations?
The Cockettes and Genderfuck when it was happening in the 60’s and 70’s.  There was a conscious effort to make a public queer culture.  Before that a lot of it was underground. It wasn’t trying to pass, it was: I am a man in a dress and you just have to deal with that.

San Francisco’s infamous Cockettes

What is your favorite outfit?
Depends on the situation, this is what I usually wear around outside, at home I usually I have on a t-shirt and skirt because it’s comfortable and when I go out its something like the orange outfit.

How long have you lived in the city?
I guess it’s been 30 years.

What is your favorite neighborhood?
I think the one I live in (the Lower Haight) because it’s pretty close to a lot of things.

What is your favorite event in the City?
I would say Easter in the park with the Sisters(of Perpetual Indulgence) because we spend a lot of time getting ready for it.

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Easter 2015. Warming up the crowd at the annual Hunky Jesus competition

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Crystal Vielula

Crystal Vielula

Crystal Hermann is an artist, fashion and costume designer living and working in San Francisco. She graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design from the California College of the Arts. She currently teaches fashion, sewing, painting and drawing to school age students in the Bay area.
She loves drawing and creating things and is constantly learning new exciting skills that she applies to her work. Besides creating things and teaching, she enjoys riding her bike and dancing. You can see more of her work at