Senior Thesis, 2018
Jackie Kennedy was First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963. Jackie captivated America with her intelligence, beauty, and grace. She embraced the growing power of television by giving a first-ever televised tour of the White House to show her restoration, then planned the most elaborate funeral in history that brought together a nation as they watched. Never before were there such candid and intimate photographs used in high politics. As Jackie’s public image took on life of its own, she controlled her exclusiveness through selecting reporters for interviews and dictated release dates.
Lace, which was Jackie Kennedy’s Secret Service code name, is my 300-page, coffee-table book. Lace combines photos and documents from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s archives to highlight Jackie’s accomplishments as First Lady that made her a political asset to JFK. Each chapter starts with an introduction that I wrote myself and provides a unique insight to Jackie’s time followed by photos and documents in chronological order. As a nod to Jackie’s many pink outfits, I use pink paper as chapter openers and background of document pages. Modern versions of 1960s’ typefaces that were used in magazines of the time represents the countless covers she appeared on.
Over 55 years later, Jackie is still relevant and provides a high standard of comparison for First Ladies. My hope with Lace is that we remember Jackie not just as a fashion icon, but the critical role Jackie played and the lasting impact she made.
March 2016
For Journey House
In August 2016, as the Journey House photographer & videographer, I had the opportunity to travel internationally with the Journey House Felix Mantilla Little League Education and Cultural Exchange Program to Puerto Rico and published a book Changing Lives in 5 Days (May 2017), chronicling the cultural experience with Major League Baseball Legend Felix Mantilla and the Journey House Felix Mantilla Little League All Stars through photos and stories of their journey from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Isabela, Puerto Rico. My photography and video materials were used in two television episodes and a co-production video with Clarke Square Media:
· Little Leaguers Get a Trip of a Lifetime, Time Warner Cable Sports (September 1, 2016)
· Felix Mantilla Little League Puerto Rico Trip, Journey House Video (October 2016)
December 2016
The book Jackie Kennedy, was inspired by Jackie Kennedy’s quote from the LIFE Magazine interview (December 6, 1963). During the interview Jackie declares: “Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot...There’ll be great Presidents again... But there’ll never be another Camelot again. It will never be that way again.” She gave this interview just days after John F. Kennedy (JFK) was assassination on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas with Jackie sitting right next to him.
Jackie Kennedy is about how Jackie planned JFK’s funeral making it the most elaborate funeral in history, since Abraham Lincoln’s. The book starts with JFK’s assassination and then shows how she researched and planned every part of his funeral.
October 2016
Fair and Plenty is about Fair Trade and how Third World female artisans are changing their lives, their families, and the world.
Women in developing countries through Fair Trade are generating revenue to sustain their families, villages, and greater community. They are keeping the traditions of their cultural art alive and using materials produced by natural ingredients that are native to their land. Fair and Plenty highlights different female entrepreneur’s stories.
January 2016
Freelance for Private Client
I travelled throughout Wisconsin photographing buildings that the President of KBS Construction built over the company’s 15-year history. I designed this coffee table book (10" x 12") to reflect his accomplishments of changing the skyline of Milwaukee and Madison during the life of KBS.
November 2015
This is a type specimen book of the typeface Didot.
December 2015
Ever since I can remember, my cousins and friends of my family call my mom, aunt, and me: “The Bria Girls.” Carrying on the family tradition, The Bria’s Kitchen: All About Desserts is a compilation of my favorite dessert recipes to bake. The recipes are a mixture of adapted recipes from family, friends, and cookbooks that I have discovered over the years.
May 2016
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I always loved growing up in Milwaukee and being on Lake Michigan. There is always something to do and enjoy, so I wanted to make a publication that highlights and showcases everything Milwaukee has to offer. Viewpoints offers visitors and Milwaukeeans some of the best things to do, eat, see and more in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the surrounding area.
