There She Goes
Deep Read #27 with Passerby Founder, Clémence Polės
Deep Read #27 is with creative director, photographer, curator and Passerby founder Clémence Polės. [Photo by Shawna Ferreira]
Although Clémence and I had never met before (despite running in similar circles and cities for many years) this conversation felt like an open-ended discussion with an old friend, rather than a conventional interview. There are parallels to our stories: we both moved to NYC at a young age, launched independent creative platforms celebrating women, and forged careers at the intersection of media, commerce, and community. Almost a decade later, we both find ourselves grappling with questions about moving forward in a media landscape that looks very different from where we started.
These questions - covering content; cadence; visibility, and financial viability - puncture many of my current discussions with friends, peers, and colleagues. While there’s no doubt that I’ve personally entered a new life chapter this year, it seems this moment of macro transition is causing uncertainty for many. A palpable fatigue has arisen from our attempts to make it work with the tools in hand, and there’s a hunger for something that feels better. What that looks like, I’m not yet sure. But I’m grateful for this space to work towards it in dialogue with big thinkers like Clémence.
I hope you enjoy the conversation.
CLÉMENCE POLÈS DEEP READING LIST
“Patients will say ‘What do I do? I have to have chemo, I have to have radiation.’ They tell me about a six month life expectancy. I say, ‘Forget it. Forget those six months. Today, today. Just enjoy today.’ Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what’s going on, you’re gonna take a trip, we’re gonna get married...You get to be so preoccupied with what’s going to happen six months from now that you never get to live today. My mind is always on today. Today, I’m talking to you. Today’s Friday, so I’m getting my margaritas tonight! What the hell is today? Tomorrow? The next day? Why are you thinking about Tuesday? It hasn’t happened yet.”
Meet Maria Gonzalez, Passerby