Portfolio by Brianna Spause by Brianna Spause

Brianna Spause

Brianna Spause Philadelphia, PA

Journalist Photographer

Events 3-6 Documentary 7-12 Portraits 13-15 “To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Indie Rock trio, Jukebox the Ghost, took the stage with a few tricks and neatly folded sleves at World Cafe Live on April Fools Day. The band played a full set of original songs and played the role of “The Wedding Band” for a second full set of covers. The crowd responded in tune to songs like Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman,” and the Ghostbusters theme song, and made sure to leave the gifts stage right.

‘Articulture’ was born at the 2014 Philadelphia Flower show. From March 1-9, the 87th annual floral display transformed 10 acres of the Pennsylvania Convention Center into a living canvas, celebrating the relationship of art and horticulture. Jeanette Kelly admires “Wish”.

Phanatics Baseball season is back in Philadelphia, a day “Phanatics” count down to all year. Each step closer to the field was one closer to the mania that the city holds an earned reputation for. The beeline of fans dressed in their best Phillies gear functioned as a living, breathing arrow leading to the highly anticipated Opening Day festivities. The Phillies went up against the Milwaukee Brewers at the home opener on Tuesday, April 8, in the warm sunshine; but that wasn’t how it was originally planned. The crowd came out in masses despite Monday’s rain check. It was a painful defeat as the Fightin’ Phils chalked up a 10–4 loss in the play book, and the fans were blaming Ryan Braun. The Brewers’s left fielder was met by a popular expression of distaste in Philadelphia. Braun had three home runs, seven RBIs and made defensive play of the game, rendering the crowd’s booing uneffective.

Anywhere, PA 36 hours. 600 portraits. One photo exhibit.

Every town has it’s inhabitants, every local their story - and we set out to find them. The following portraits are a small excerpt of a life-sized exhibit, the same way each individual is a small peice of Pennsylvania’s rich culture. Temple University students went out on assignment for Aperture Photo Agency, instructed to return with 50 portraits from around the state and the audio to match and to make it fast. “Do you live around here?” “Why?” “Would you ever move to Center City, Philadelphia?”

A trip down Septa’s Chesnut Hill West line on a Friday afternoon found these residents, and their stories.

Kety Alvarez

Jack O’Connell

Kara Maharay

Mount Airy, PA

“I like the city. I’m a city girl, and everything is right there.”

“Mount Airy is close to the city, and it’s beautiful. It’s the last vestiages of colonial Philadelphia.”

“It’s still in the city limits, it’s diverse and yet there’s a nice community. I’ve lived in Center City before. Settling here was a marraige compromise.”

Barry Cross

Dan & Sady Meier

Chesnut Hill, PA

“This is a very diverse area, with a lot of business owners such as myself. It’s just so easy to get along with people in this area. Everyone looks out for another, and the love is genuine.”

“I love it here, because Chesnut Hill is beautiful and there are a lot of cool people around.”

“It’s a great neighborhood. The people are friendly, and the diversity is really great. You don’t even feel like you’re in the city sometimes.”

Greg Locke

Carnival De Puebla There was nothing but a slight breeze... and silence. I stood idly on the corner of 15th and Mifflin streets on April 27, like a suburban lamb tossed into South Philadelphia territory. And this parade was nowhere to be found. Turns out the Carnival de Puebla parade’s starting point had moved about eight blocks North of that desolate corner since last year, and they started promptly at 1 p.m. – I had some running to do. Gaining ever-closer, the melodies of mariachi music bounced off of row homes. It was a disorienting bout of sound, leaking through rows of streets that all looked exactly the same. And then it appeared, an undeniable spectrum of colors engaged in song and dance. Over 300 reenactors formed a blockade, surging down Washington Avenue with a joyous energy that sang it’s own tune. In it’s eighth year of seizing South Philadelphia streets, the Carnival de Puebla drew together over 500 members of the Mexican-American community in the nation’s largest Cinco de Mayo festival. The parade is a lively reenactment of the Battle of Puebla. Dancers wore ornate masks, body paint and sported decorative weapons to represent their ancestors role in the battle, which is thought to have taken place around the fifth of May in 1862. The battle took place in the city of Puebla during the French intervention of Mexico, and the Mexican army prevailed. All parties present in the battle were represented through different costuming in the parade, including the Indidos, Zacapoaxatlas, Zarpadores and Turkos people.

“It’s about the tradition from our grandfathers, and their father’s fathers,” Rubin Minor, representing the Zacapoaxtlas people with his costume, said. “This is from a long time ago when everyone wanted Mexico to rise to power. That’s why we make these clothes, to celebrate what our families fought for.” The city of Puebla is the only place in Mexico where Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, with a parade on a much larger scale.

Zacapoaxatlas

Here in the states, we traded in the headdress for a sombrero, and parade to the bar. Cinco De Mayo has transformed into margarita specials at local bars and a strong emphasis on Tex-Mex - just another Saint Patrick’s Day. Philadelphia aimed to bring the celebration back to it’s Mexican roots. The parade drew near Sacks Playground on the corner of 4th and Washington, where police had formed a barier, directing the traveling band into the park’s limits where vendors sold traditional Mexican dishes and a stage thrust dancers into the spotlight.

Zarpadores

The immense sound broke off when the announcement was made in native tounge. The Mexican Flag had been raised over City Hall, and officials had declared May 1-5 Mexican Week in Philadelphia. The cheers began slowly, engulfing the park in a wave

of dance and celebration, whose energy was it’s own translation tool. From the middle of the parade, it wasn’t necessary to have a thorough understanding of the Spanish language to feel the pride and ancient heritage the Puebla peoples were there to celebrate. It was the interaction between community members that told the story. Representing dueling sides during the legendary battle harbored no hostility. Like brothers, the parade characters would sword fight, then laugh, hug and move on. Even the women and children were dressed the part. In Mexico, the Carnival de Puebla parade is thought to be too dangerous for women and children. Real guns and fire crackers make frequent appearances in the traditional parade.

Indidos

Philadelphia’s take on the parade softened things up, opening the doors for everyone to come out and celebrate. “It’s good energy,” Juan Marano, festival attendee, said. “It seems like everybody is having fun in a nice crowd. I think it’s a great thing that the city gave us the opportunity to gather together and celebrate our heritage in the South Philadelphia community.”

Turkos