PAT
JOLLY
PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER
Pat Jolly has lots of nicknames –
The Night Mayor, Jolly Pat, The
Funtrepreneur, Jollyllama, Big
Chiefess Jolly, The Contact Intermediary and
The Jewel of the Universe, to name a few.
And they all fit her perfectly.
A professional photographer, historian,
talent agent, artist, cultural ambassador and
bon vivant, Jolly represents, documents and
supports many cultures and communities
in the city. Her photographs of Mardi Gras
Indians, artists, musicians, events and
everyday life of New Orleans have been
bought, sold and displayed all over the world.
She is currently working on a database of all
her images, classified by subject matter, that
will be accessible to other media and future
generations.
“I wake up happy every single day and it’s
this city that gives that energy to me,” says
Jolly.
A fifth-generation New Orleanian, Jolly
hails from a family known for its philanthropic
endeavors. An uncle was a Jesuit priest in
Asia. Her mother and grandmother were
also active members of their communities,
hosting fundraisers, feeding the homeless,
assisting orphan children and helping people
with disabilities. Jolly credits her family on
both sides for being an outstanding role
model.
"I think artists should help other artists
by freely supporting their endeavors. My
grandmother used to say, ‘If everyone
would hold up a tiny corner, then the whole
community would stay up there.’ I try and live
by that motto,” she adds.
A curious person by nature, Jolly has joined
several organizations in the city, including
Mardi Gras krewes, cultural organizations,
and professional groups. She volunteers to
make art with students across the city and
has touched the lives of many. She struggles
to balance her work with her volunteering
and other social endeavors.
This year, Jolly is on a mission to
complete a very large photography project.
With an extensive . . . she might even say
“overwhelming” . . . catalog of photos, Jolly’s
focus is on working to organize them. Having
received a couple of small grants from local
arts organizations, she will spend much of
2018 organizing her works and getting her
photos in metadata order by subject, date,
and artist. It’s a huge undertaking that Jolly
feels compelled to conquer and one which
By Meaghan Clark
New Orleans’
“Funtrepreneur”
& Cultural
Ambassador
Celestial Vestal
Photo © Pat Jolly
Sunpie's Spell
Photo © Pat Jolly 2009
Spirit of FiYiYi at the Backstreet Museum.
Photo © by Pat Jolly 2018
Northside Skull and Bone Gang
Photo © Pat Jolly 2018
A Man Oughta Do What He Thinks Is
Right. Photo © Pat Jolly 2018
Ernie K-Doe
The Emperor
in his Realm
Photo © by
Pat Jolly
2001
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