Unkle Thirsty: Unconventional Mixology

David Allyn is an artist, DJ, and, when the spirit moves, a hustler.
A few times a month, he paints on a pencil-thin mustache and fake chest hair, dons a golf visor and gold chain and a pair of gynormous 1970s sunglasses cast off in the old ALCO Building. Then he peddles a small cart behind his bike to some gallery opening or birthday party or underground art fest and mixes stiff, free cocktails as Unkle Thirsty.
David Allyn is a mensch – a 37-year-old potter with a pompadour who helped found the ceramics program at the Steel Yard, the West Side industrial arts organization, and who currently heads the ceramics cooperative there.
Unkle Thirsty, however, is a rascal. Thirsty is a 40-something bachelor with an ankle bracelet and illegitimate children and a fog machine. He is unemployed. He is from New Jersey. A staple of the Providence arts scene, Omnivore caught up with the mobile mixologist and his creator to talk alter egos and cocktail ice.

Is Unkle Thirsty performance art or commerce? Or a bit of both?
Performances sprinkle a little bit of money into my pocket, but Unkle Thirsty is totally an art project. It’s a gag, a spoof. It’s a release valve. You put the mustache on, and look out.

What is he a release valve for?
Taking art so seriously, I think. Half of making art is selling it. And that can be stifling.
How would you describe Unkle Thirsty?
Unkle Thirsty is faded glory. That’s the best way to describe him. Not someone you’d want your daughter – or son for that matter – to hang out with.
He is very interesting combination of cheesy and dangerous.
Yes, yes. Perfect way to describe him. There is room at the bottom for Unkle Thirsty. He spends winters in Florida, mostly on the run. He is an odd jobber – he sells used cars, he is sometimes a paid escort, generally with the older population. He summers in Rhode Island. He also is a DJ. Dirtbag hits are his genre.
He is like a low-rent Paris Hilton.
(Laughs)
How did you get the whole look?
It all started with the fake mustache. You put on a fake mustache, especially a pencil-thin mustache, and it really snowballs out of control quickly. I found this big huge chain in Olneyville, and it went from there. The chest hair painted on with a Sharpie is really just the cherry on the whipped cream.
What is Thirsty’s signature drink?
Vodka, lemonade, twist of lime.
What makes a good cocktail?
Lots of ice. Ice is really important.
What makes a good party?
Good people. Seed the party with good people. The rest comes together.
Is there any connection with your ceramics and mixology?
Not a whole lot except the cup – the vessel. The idea of a beverage and how it can bring people together for a conversation. Sharing a drink is still the best way to start a conversation.
Or pick someone up.
That, too!
One last thing. Do you kind of feel like a superhero, with Thirsty as your alter ego?
Definitely. There is a bit of it that is exhilarating. I host openings in my studio, and in the middle, I head upstairs and change and come down as Thirsty and start pulling out my cart. And everyone is like “All right!” It’s great to have this other identity.

For more about Unkle Thirsty, or David Allyn, see http://www.davidallyn.net/index.html