SANTA MONICA: A LOOK BACK TO 1902 FROM TODAY
Published by: Arcadia Publishing
Santa Monica, 1902
Role: Creative Direction, Research, Curation, Publishing, Exhibition Design
More than a century ago, members of the Santa Monica Fire Department sold a commemorative book door to door to help fund the city's volunteer fire service. Local legend suggests homeowners who purchased the book were promised protection from future fires—a story that has become part of Santa Monica's history.
Years later, I discovered one of those original 1902 books in the home where I grew up, once owned by Santa Monica Mayor Edmond S. Gillette. Inside were 110 remarkable photographs documenting homes, businesses, and everyday life in early Santa Monica and Los Angeles. That discovery inspired a contemporary companion project, pairing each historic image with a present-day photograph from the same location to reveal more than a century of change through the lens of place.
I researched, curated, photographed, designed, and published the book while also creating a companion exhibition for the Santa Monica History Museum. Through archival research, comparative photography, publishing, exhibition design, and visual storytelling, the project transformed a rare historical artifact into an engaging public experience that connected contemporary audiences with Santa Monica's rich architectural and cultural history.
Project Scope
Archival Research
Comparative Photography
Creative Direction
Publishing Design
Exhibition Design
Visual Storytelling
Branding & Promotion
Paid social promoting the book / exhibit.
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