To our Polychrome community

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To our Polychrome community,

I know you hurt. I know the fear and the sadness and the anger that comes with moments like these; moments we are so explicitly reminded of their hatred. I know you’re not surprised. That the words they’ve said and the actions they’ve taken are nothing close to new for us. And I know that you’re tired - how many years will pass until we can merely exist without tragedy? 
I think, in all the time I’ve spent wondering how to address you all, I’ve been made aware of how vitally important you are to me. I was nervous to write this, and while looking at my feelings of inadequacy, I realized they exist because I cherish this community and value it unconditionally.

So:

I want you to know that you inspire me. I want you to know that the music and paintings and essays you make have comforted me. I want you to know that you’re so strong. That despite the injustices we face in our lives, you all manage to give a beautiful piece of yourself to this vicious world. And I want you to know that you’re absolutely a force of nature - how long will they pretend you’re anything but deserving of a safe life?

If you need some space or time, take it. If you need to talk, please reach out to us. And if you need a reminder that you are valued, we’ll always provide it. Discovering your work, spending time with you, and learning alongside you is our greatest passion.

Stay safe,


Gabriela Yadegari
Polychrome Mag.

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Gabriela Yadegari

Gabriela splits her time between her hometown of Tucson, Arizona and Bennington, Vermont – where she is a student at Bennington College. With focuses in art and public action, her work often seeks to address, and ultimately resolve, social issues through narrative, spanning mediums such as radio, poetry, printmaking, and painting. Gabriela is working to make these forms of self-expression accessible within marginalized communities, such as those incarcerated, for its potential as a tool for therapy and means of advocacy. When she is not studying or working on her art, Gabriela is thrift shopping, reading leftist memoirs, working part time at an elementary school, or browsing the cryptozoology Wikipedia page. You can listen to her online at benningtonradio.com, see photos of her chubby cat Josie on her ill-kept Instagram, or become her pen pal by writing to her at: Gabriela Yadegari, 1 College Drive, Bennington, VT 05201.