My friend and fellow photographer Deogracias Lerma once told me about his dream to create a magazine that showcased Cincinnati’s arts and culture. It would be a modern, photography-forward publication, the kind you put on a bookshelf when you are finished reading it. I was sold.
We published our first issue of Polly, named for Deo’s mother, in the Fall of 2015. Ultimately we would be derailed by the COVID pandemic, like most of the businesses we showcased. But we still find ourselves putting together a piece here and there, when time allows.
My time creating Polly was nothing short of amazing. It allowed me an outlet for all of my creative pursuits all wrapped up in one package. I created the branding, built each issue’s layout, contributed writing and photography, built our online presence, created videos, and even got to be editor of the music section.
We met some insanely talented people, found ourselves in kitchens, studios, dark alleys, and even backstage in Guns N Roses’ dressing room. Along the way, our small, dedicated team put out a beautiful magazine.
