will require considerable help. Daunting
as it may sound, Jolly says this is what
she must accomplish eventually.
“I want people to have their photos.
I’m sad when attending funerals and
I’m not organized enough to give to
family members photos I’ve previously
taken of the deceased. A lot of them
come from out of town, and that’s my
only opportunity to put photos in their
hands,” she says.
As a photographer, Jolly doesn’t always
receive payment for her work and yet
she has decided she wants access to her
images to be free for those in the photos
and for research or educational purposes.
She says if people use her images to
make money, she hopes they will send
her payment. Calling herself “an eternal
optimist,” Jolly says she will continue
to work on the honor system. Many of
the city’s top musicians, organizers and
community leaders understand the value
of the work Jolly does and they have
sent letters of support to funders on her
behalf.
Along with her cataloging, Jolly will
continue to photograph the city she loves.
The past year saw many of her images in
various shows and exhibitions across the
city, including ones entitled “Celestial
Vestal,” “Sunpie's Spell” and “St. John's
Eve Ceremony on the Magnolia Bridge,”
as part of the Louisiana Photography
Biennial held at the New Orleans
Arts Center. Jolly is appreciative of the
work, the recognition and the awards
she receives but keeps a very level head
about any fame she has attained.
Jolly’s most current work is a piece
entitled “A Man Oughta Do What He
Thinks is Right,” part of “The Deadly
Ambiguity of Guns,” which is part of
a three-tiered international exhibit
entitled “Building a Peaceable
Community.” She was one of
60 artists on exhibit at the New
Orleans Art Center satellite
gallery through the Prospect 4
citywide triennial of contemporary
art and she won third place in the
competition.
In addition to being an
award-winning photographer,
Jolly has held several different titles
and jobs, ranging from working as a
cultural ambassador for arts and music
organizations to being an assistant with
the New Orleans Musicians Clinic Gig
Fund post-Katrina, creating weekly gigs
and finding housing to help musicians
return home. If something needs to be
done to help musicians and artists, Jolly
is ready to volunteer.
Decades ago, Jolly began a weekly
calendar listing of events and gigs for
friends and loved ones. It became so
popular, she helped craft a similar format
for WWOZ radio (which morphed into
the popular “Live Wire”) and for other
media outlets.
Today, Jolly still sends out a weekly
email blast listing happenings she thinks
her many followers will enjoy, despite it
taking a large amount of her time each
week. Her influence on reporting and
sharing entertainment news can still
be heard and felt at WWOZ. Her radio
“Performers Spotlight” interviews with
local musicians are still broadcast on
occasion.
One project Jolly would love to see
come to fruition in the birthplace of jazz
is a world-class music museum glorifying
the history of music and musicians
in "America's most interesting city,"
as her grandmother always said when
introducing herself.
Though she notes that several
museums do include works, artifacts,
and acknowledgment for local musicians,
Jolly emphatically states that the city
needs one dedicated exclusively to
music. It’s a subject she has raised for
years and one she isn’t ready to let go of.
“It’s essential. Music is what drives
this city and we need to honor it properly.
It would bring so much joy and pride,”
she adds.
Now a septuagenarian, Jolly doesn’t
let her age slow her down. During Mardi
Gras 2018, she was out from sunrise -
catching the Northside Skull and Bone
Gang - to sunset attending house parties,
photographing creative costumes, the
Spirit of FiYiYi Mardi Gras Indians and
taking in all the revelry Carnival has to
offer. Jolly would like to focus on moving
krewes away from throwing plastic
beads (unless they’re collectibles) and
focus on using ones made of recycled or
biodegradable materials. A non-marching
member of the Krewe of King James,
Jolly is proud that they make all their
own throws out of recycled materials.
“I love Mardi Gras and was so honored
to be Queen of the Phunny Phorty
Phellows in 2014. The next year on
Twelfth Night, for the countdown on
the streetcar, as reigning monarch I was
given the scissors to cut the ribbon and
proclaim that Carnival had begun! What
could be more thrilling to someone who
loves Mardi Gras so much,” Jolly proudly
states.
With a huge grin Jolly added, "I was
the staff photographer for Jazz Fest for
nine years and now that the festival is
just around the corner I am excitedly
looking forward to celebrating the
newest creations of our astounding
musicians in the midst of all that
our stellar festival has to offer while
enjoying the pleasure of being with
good friends. Yippee!!"
As she sums up, “This is a city
full of love, which just goes around
and around. It’s so compassionate.
I couldn’t live anywhere else.” ��
Left: Pat Jolly
and her mom,
Honey. Below
left: Kermit
Ruffiins
Below right:
Charles
Neville
Caption Caption
MARC H / A P R I L 2 0 1 8 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 7
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