We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leslie Joy Ickowitz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leslie Joy below.
Leslie Joy , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My greatest achievement was creating the virtual fashion & lifestyle magazine, VERTICAL Tampa Bay. It was designed to uplift our community by celebrating local treasures we rejoice to discover in a bold, compelling, cosmopolitan way.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My early career was in the vacation travel business. To me, it was glamorous because I got to help people make their dreams come true. After 9/11, the industry came to a grinding halt and I entered the publishing world as editor of two local magazines—one lifestyle and the other a wedding planner. After five years, I set out on my own as an entrepreneur for the first time. I created Empire Public Relations and my idea was to help small businesses publish captivating newsletters. I thought, why do newsletters have to be bland and boring and feature clipart? Instead, they should capture us like something you might find in a glossy magazine. It was a fulfilling start.
In the midst of the economic crisis in 2009, I created VERTICAL Tampa Bay magazine—a love letter designed to uplift our community (and a digital publication with interactive links and flipping pages before anybody had really heard of such a thing). During VERTICAL’s five year trajectory, we became a movement with our values spilling forth from the pages into live events in support of grass roots causes. During this time, I also became an on-air fashion correspondent on the local CBS affiliate and the Style Editor for Creative Loafing. After losing my father in 2014, I put VERTICAL on hiatus.
Since then, I have emerged as a celebrated artist and photographer with solo shows at The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and The Studio@620 among others. I’m thrilled for my newest body of work, “Windows in Time” to debut at Dunedin Fine Art Center later this month.
This past year finds me in the role of Storyteller for Dunedin Fine Art Center, which fits beautifully with my life’s philosophy—to fall in love and to share it with others.
Newsflash: I just started to create photo shoot sets for hamsters and other small pets. These will be one or two of a kind artist designed pieces and curated finds to help people take great pics of their pets.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I learned that while I do believe it’s important to have heart in business, you cannot run your business with your heart.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
If you fall in love, share it! Tell friends, family and your social network about artists you find whose work resonates with you. Attend art walks in your community. You’ll be surrounded by creativity and all kinds of inspiration and you’ll be in good company with those who also enjoy it. Be deliberate about liking or loving the art. Share your enthusiasm. You can make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesliejoyoriginal/