Letter from the Editor June 2020

I am lucky for the acquaintance of some of the best artists in the Michiana area during the COVID-19 stay at home orders. Many times throughout the past months as troubles from the COVID seemed to get a little heavy, I would be delighted to come upon a painting, a photo, a poem or a piece of music that would make my day. I hope PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana has provided a little of the same to you.

In August PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana will celebrate a one-year anniversary. I am proud of what we accomplished this year as a startup arts magazine. We have shown fourteen artists of the month, three feature artists, and multiple other artists, cartoonists and graphic artists. We are honored to present more than 20 poets and short story writers. We have interviewed interesting people in our Michiana community from musicians to a forester. Coordinating with SOUUNDS South Bend we produced a fund-raising concert https://www.panoplymichiana.com/blog/social-distance-concert-amp-dance-party-nothing-to-sneeze-at featuring 9 bands in the middle of the pandemic to raise $3000.00 for The Food Bank of Northern Indiana. We followed up with SIX-Feet-A-Part-Art showing the work of artists and poets during the lock down. It was a good year. https://www.panoplymichiana.com/blog/six-feet-a-part-art-poetry & https://www.panoplymichiana.com/blog/six-feet-a-part-art.

We are pleased to publish our Summer 2020 release of PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana. This issue is like a quilt of the last months of our lives. There are patches of truth in people’s eyes at BLM marches as captured by Kish and Eichorn, a beautifully rendered Inspired Art by the ever-talented Pamela Blair. A young Wilken gives us a perspective in cartoons and graphics. Brea Persing reflects on her experience as an essential worker during the stay at home orders. We have also put in a lot of other interesting art, poetry, interviews and story. We hope you enjoy.

At PAN-O-PLY “We strive to explore the unique heritage and diversity of our region.” We raise the voices of artists and writers in Michiana publishing from across all our diverse races, religions, and orientations. We believe people should be treated with respect and dignity. We believe diversity helps bring a brighter song, unique perspectives and more joyful life. We hope this issue and all our future issues will continue to reflect the “excellence of people in our communities” because of the color of their skin, because of their religious perspective and because of their orientation to life. All men are created equal. Yet we are different , and it is our differences that makes us interesting.

PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana Mission

Pan-o-ply magazine publishes stories, poetry, articles and art by the residents of Michiana. Pan-o-ply seeks to discover Story & Art in the life of Michiana. Pan-o-ply features articles about the craft of life and those who live well. We want to highlight the everyday excellence of people in our communities. We strive to explore the unique heritage and diversity of our region. PAN-O-PLY desires to provide an outlet for respectful thought and conversation. We encourage creativity, adventure and a lust for living an artful life.