As hard as you try, it's always tough to memorize the members of the New York City Council. You're sound all the way up to Gale Brewer of District 6, and by the time you're at Melissa Mark-Viverito of District 8, you're tapped.

Luckily Lauri Apple, an artist and political writer, understands this need to be knowledgeable on local politics. Her portrait series "NYC High,"in which she creates animated pictures of your local councilmen and women, will be running on Animal New York until Nov. 2.

And since sketching politicians in their everyday attire is so mundane -- no offense to Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" -- Apple has decided to portray them wearing prom outfits.

"The prom theme speaks to the notion that politics is a popularity contest for adults." Apple tells Asylum. "Also, high school is something we all have to go through, so the reference kind of flattens out the differences between the council members."

Alongside every drawing, Apple includes some personal quotes, the member's affiliated party and which districts they represent. Apple likes to think of it as "an art/education tool," keeping people informed in an informal way.

It also serves as an effective tool to guess who didn't end up sleeping with the high school quarterback that night.