Editor’s Note

EDITOR’S NOTE Editor’s Note Editor’s Note Congratulations. If you’re reading this first 2021 issue it means you have survived 2020, which is no small feat considering the barrage of pain, anxiety, divisiveness, uncertainty, loss and loneliness that 2020 brought to bear on the entire planet. Many have lost their lives, their loved ones, coming. And here we are—on the other side, at least in terms of the Gregorian calendar. What will change in 2021? A lot? A little? We have multiple vaccines that we hope will eventually reign in the coronavirus, put the country back to work and allow for some semblance of social normalcy. When we can freely visit again, how will our lives be different? What has 2020 taught us? How has it changed us? I suspect it will take time to unpack all of the physical, mental and emotional impacts of 2020, but I hope time will heal us and that we are able to grow in positive ways from our individual and collective experiences. In 2021, I’m foregoing the traditional resolutions Losing my mom early in 2020 really brought home relationships with family, friends and community. While we have always heard that good health is our most valuable asset, 2020 made sure we knew it. Obesity, diabetes and heart disease became death sentences for too many people battling Covid. While genetics predispose some to these illnesses, many can be managed or eradicated by lifestyle changes. I’d like to focus on making healthy choices while still enjoying the bad-for-you good stuff in moderation.

Passion and Joy

I don’t know about you, but 2020 offered far too little of either of these to me. I was so consumed with my mom’s illness and then with surviving the grief of her loss and the anxiety of the pandemic and the sorrow of so many national news stories that I took little time for myself. This year, I hope to explore creative and personal endeavors that help me rediscover myself and discover new outlets for personal expression.

Procrastination

While many people made glorious headway on home improvement and personal projects in 2020, I did not. I did not organize anything. I did not fix anything. I did not learn a language or a new skill. Nothing. But that’s ok, too. I’m still here. That’s an accomplishment. However, in 2021, I’d like to lighten my load and empty my house of much of the clutter and unnecessary junk that fills it. It’s time to make room for something new. In this issue, we’ve covered all of these topics and more to help readers shift their own focus in 2021. We hope you enjoy. Here’s to your health!

first responders and hospital workers? Thank you for putting yourselves on the front lines to keep us as safe as possible. Also, a big shout out to all the teachers out there scrambling to contradictory, but I can assure you I am feeling them both equally— put together online lessons to keep our kids engaged and learning instead of worrying about things they cannot control. We appreciate you! On that note, I encourage you to read our COVID-19 Resource Guide, which provides politics, the pandemic, the pundits. I’m over resources for food, business, community and more. The ever-changing nature of much more relaxing and playful “P” word: this crisis necessitates that I mention that Pets. Who doesn’t go all gooey inside over these resources may or may not be available to you by the time you read this issue. I hope it will provide a place to start, some ideas or some inspiration either way. Adoptions are on the rise during the pandemic and it’s easy to see why. Pets alleviate the stress, You may also notice that we have some nonboredom and loneliness of social distancing and uncertain futures. There may be many things out of our control in 2020, but we can provide pandemic related stories in this issue. We made the call to include already planned articles that might still be helpful, relevant or enjoyable for our readers. We hope you find them useful. a loving home to a sweet pet and get more love than we could have imagined in return. As for us, Pensacola Magazine has been While the Pensacola Humane Society has had published under one title or another for great success with adoptions and fostering more than 40 years. We have no plans on this year, those who love animals know that changing that. We will continue to publish the shelters are never empty. There is always a and to bring you all the information we can pet in need, so if snuggling up to a sweet kitty for as long as we can. Please reach out to us or playing fetch with a playful pup sounds with story ideas, inspiration or just a quick hello. We are all working from home and we are missing our water cooler conversations. out our adoptable pet profiles on page 34. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay strong, Pensacola! We’ve got some feel-good pet stories for our readers as well. Gina Castro met with some incredible special-needs pets and their owners and she discovered that while these precious babies may take a little more care, the love they give in return is worth every second. If exotic animals are more your thing, head on over to the brand spanking new and significantly enlarged Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. The new location features all the hands-on, up close interaction as the previous location plus added attractions, amenities and experiences that will make for a wonderful family day out. If you’re interested in conservation, check out Dakota Parks story on local Panhandle Rooftop Nesting Biologist, Rebekah Snyder. Through her work with Audubon Florida, Snyder helps to ensure local shorebirds have safe nesting spaces in an increasingly overpopulated region. All of this, plus a few DIY pet treat recipes and some good news from the Florida legislature regarding protection for pets in abusive situations. So, turn off the news, put down your phone and enjoy these heartwarming tales and adorable of photos of local animals and the folks who care for them. When you’re done, give your kitty a little catnip and throw your dog a bone. It’s these simple pleasures that will keep us all sane.

“What if imagination and art are not frosting at all, but the fountainhead of human experience?” – Rollo May Countless studies have confirmed the many benefits of art to our physical, mental and Kelly Oden emotional health. Both creating and viewing Executive Editor art can reduce stress, increase brain function and boost our immune system. Art also exposes us to new ideas and helps us process difficult emotions. For me, the greatest benefit of art is how it connects us to the universal human experience. We find personal meaning in art, but it can also connect us to a larger arc of humanity, which fosters understanding, compassion and a sense of purpose. All of which are feelings we could use a bit more of–especially during these trying times. In that spirit, we are highlighting a number of local artists, art events and art-related projects in this issue of Pensacola Magazine. We talk with muralist Daniela de Castro Sucre about her inspiration and approach to her large scale works. Internationally-known outsider artist Géza Brunow takes us on an artist’s journey as he tells us about the inspiration behind his work and describes his artistic process. We also profile the 309 Punk Project and their Artist-In-Residence Program. All of that, plus all you need to know for the upcoming Pensacon convention, the Mountainfilm Festival and the latest on the new ArtVenture Pensacola outdoor art project. Pensacola’s art scene is growing by leaps and bounds. We hope this issue inspires you to create and support the arts!

Kelly Oden Executive Editor Kelly Oden Executive Editor Kelly Oden Executive Editor

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PENSACOLA

CULTURE + LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2022

Owner Malcolm Ballinger Publisher Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Garrett Hallbauer advertising@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Morgan Cole morgan@ballingerpublishing.com Assistant Editor Dakota Parks dakota@ballingerpublishing.com Editorial Intern Nicole Willis

Contributing Writers DeeDee Davis

Sales & Marketing Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand, Account Executive ext. 31 becky@ballingerpublishing.com

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