Feel Free to Vote for Me :) New Artist Wanted Contest

You may sign up and Enter the contest via www.ArtistWanted.org

http://bit.ly/w2JGlZ

Samantha Isom - 3rd Ward Open Call

Only one day left to vote. If I get enough of your votes, I might win a solo show :)

Samantha Isom - 3rd Ward Open Call
http://www.3rdwardopencall.com/portfolioView.php?artist=Samantha

#Improve Everywhere, in conjunction with guggenheim, have turned the most simple of ideas into a fun experience for all involved. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwEYYI-AGWs&feature=player_embedded

What a great week! Adweek (last week), was full of seminars, evening get togethers and portfolio reviews. My most productive part of the week was last Tuesday for the One Club's ( http://www.oneclub.org/ ) event "Where Are All The Black People? ". A Photographer giving a pitch? Yup, that's right, in a small theatre full of about 200 or so industry creatives, I was one of less than 20 chosen to 'pitch' (myself). There were art directors, copy editors, and producers, but I was the only photographer. This was a full day of panel discussions on minority presence within the ad world, as well as a few hours of portfolio reviews by top advertising agency representatives. The morning started off with a short panel discussion of how each (minority) panelist got into advertising, followed by an hour or so of 3 minute pitches by bot aspiring and emerging artists. The short clip within this blog, is a glimpse of my pitch.

I certainly look forward to more events produced by the One Club, ad this proved to be a huge success.

Woah, Brooklyn artist collective launching in a sister city..

With rents (in NYC) on the rise, and jobs on the downturn, it's often been tempting for me to move back home to the Delaware Valley. Commuter trains and buses along the Northeast corridor have made the trip between NYC and PHilly much more accessible in recent years, and more and more artists seem to be heading down to the City of Brotherly Love for inspiration.

The artist 'hub' 3rd Ward in Brooklyn announced today it's opening a new location in Philadelphia. Philly has long been a hub for creativity. Not only being the home to some top art schools (Moore, Art Institute, University of the Arts, etc), but also a new explosion of creativity in the last 30 or so years has gained the attention of many outside the Delaware Valley. For some time now, for several reason (high rent in other cities being one of the main drivers) artists have been moving either back to Philly or into Philly for the first time, in hopes of a more economically (and creatively) friendly environment in which to work.

See the article below on 3rd Ward Opens in Philly

http://bit.ly/n2HO07

Crossing Borders in Brooklyn

Last night was the first of many talks within the Brooklyn Historical Society regarding race and immigration. http://brooklynhistory.org/blog/author/ssullivan/

Sponsored partly by http://www.lovingday.org/ , There were panelists discussing the ongoing race and nationalization issues not only within Brooklyn, or NYC, but across The USA.

Jen Chau, founder of www.Swirlinc.org, initiated this gathering of all nationalities and race to openly discuss what often in today's politically correct society gets brushed under the rug.

After listening to so many honest views, questions, concerns in these matters it was made apparent we (USA) still have a LONG way to go.

If we are to truly make this country into the melting pot of it's claim to fame, we need to better understand one an other's cultural differences in order to truly work together as one. Often times people will 'tolerate' the one next door without ever having a conversation or inviting them to a back yard dinner. How are we to learn from one another if we never talk with each other about real issues, concerns, or ask each other the real questions on our minds.

It seems the more 'integrated' neighborhoods seem to a certain degree the more separate we become. Yes, there are many who really make an effort to truly integrate, yet more strict immigration laws are being passed which cause more damage within the workforce than those passing those laws cam comprehend.

Last nights meeting was the first of many in a Fall series within the Brooklyn Historical Society, and potentially on a larger scale within the nation.

What are your thoughts (reply via post below) on race and nationalization? How do you feel about a Muslim family moving in next door? How do you feel about serving a black family at a top tier restaurant, how do you feel about your (predominantly) Anglo Saxon government? Honest questions and honest answers are the keys to bridging the gap between these rooms with previously closed doors.

For a glimpse of the project featured in last nights talk you may visit these sites:

www.SoWhatAreYouAnyway.com Portraits by Samantha Isom featuring multi-racial

subjects and their commentary as such

http://www.uniondocs.org/fishbird Katrina Toshiko Grigg-Saito explores the experience of

being multiration through audio interview pieces.

www.LovingDay.org An organization hosting events in celebration of the legalization of

mixed race marriage in the United States, which only took place as recently as 1967

http://www.earsay.org/ Warreb Kehrer and Judith Sloan's, Crossing the Blvd, a

multimedia experience documenting the lives of new immigrants and refugees in the most

polyglot locality in the United States.

http://amzn.to/oByAwt The Invention of the Brownstone Brooklyn; A book by Suleiman Osman: Gentrification and the Search for Authenticity in Postwar New York

Finalist for Best in PHotography 2011

Look for the upcoming book, "Best in Photography 2011", published by Serbin Communications (Photographers forum). I just received this letter from them in the mail (yesterday)

Samantha Isom, we are please to inform you that you entry is in the Finalist group. As such it will be published in the hardcover book, BEST OF PHOTOGRAPHY 2011..

Mark Seliger never ceases to inspire me! Image shot for Harper's of Winona Ryder and Marc Jacobs

http://img284.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74885_winona_ryder_baz_mar11_1_m_jacobs_122_95lo.jpg

Kinetic Sculpture photos... Philadelphia, PA

The Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby (Portraits), Philadelphia. PA

As part of the Trenton AVe Arts Festival started a few years ago in North Philadelphia, hundred of artists (professional and hobbyists) gather together in themed teams to strut their stuff. http://www.kinetickensington.org/

Leica's slide show tonight at 55 Washington st

Come to 55 Washington St tonight, one of my images is featured in their slide show from 5-7pm....as part of the Leica scavenger hunt in the NY Photo festival

Scientists cure cancer, but no one takes notice

This is off topic from the Photography biz, BUT....after being with my mother through Cancer treatments for the last few months.....I've realized it def would have been nice to know about this (see article).

Scientists cure cancer, but no one takes notice

portfolio reviews, are they worth it?

$1,699 for a portfolio review? Are they serious? Someone in the biz, please view this short video and help me to understand if this portfolio review is worth paying two month's rent. If so, I guess it's time to start writing that check..but if not, please stop me before the ink dries. http://vimeo.com/15505774