This year, Sandbox Studio & The International Center of Photography (ICP) have partnered to benefit ICP and ICP Community Educational Programs. These programs, which serve over 5,000 young people each year, include an in-school partnership, collaborations with community organizations, and classes based at ICP. Community Programs provide youth from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with hands-on photography education that explores the techniques, aesthetics, history, and business of the medium.

So far, the following great companies have joined forces as co-sponsors of this event!
RGH Lighting
FORD Models
ReadySet
LiveBooks

Your support of this great event will contribute to ICP’s efforts to bring the world of photography to both local and international audiences of all ages. The Art Show/Silent Auction and Party will be held on May 21, 2008, 6-11 PM. Check back here for invite, rsvp and updates! It will be a fabulous evening of art, people, music, drinks, & philanthropy! Come prepared to buy art!

About ICP

If you’re planning on visiting San Francisco now through May (or you’re lucky enough to live here) there are some really great photo exhibits happening now.

SF MOMA - Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Sunday, May 18, 2008 Friedlander
This retrospective assembles the most comprehensive array of Friedlander’s work to date — nearly 400 pictures spanning the 1950s to the present — for a stunning overview of his multifaceted career. Inspired by Walker Evans and Robert Frank, Friedlander trained his eye on the everyday — streets, cars, storefronts, billboards — to capture distinctly American scenes and images. His style is inflected by a sharp wit and sense of humor, frequently taking advantage of elements considered by most to be obstacles, including his own shadow or reflection.

**Special admission days…Thursday evenings (6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.) Half-price admission and First Tuesday of each month is FREE!

de Young - February 16, 2008 — May 18, 2008 Gilbert & George
It’s hard to even begin to describe this show…but it is definitely outrageous! Gilbert & George put themselves at the center of their artwork. Identifying as “living sculptures” in art and daily life, they eliminate the distinction between artist and art. They began their career together with a tabletop vaudeville performance piece called The Singing Sculpture. Eventually, they began photographing their performance work to extend its reach and range.

**Fridays the museum is open until 8:45 p.m, and the tower closes at 8 p.m. Same great deals that the Legion of Honor offers (tickets to the de Young may be used on the same day for free entrance to the Legion of Honor).

Legion of Honor - March 1, 2008 — May 25, 2008 Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005
Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005 looks at 200 of these photos as well as those she has taken of her family and close friends, and thus views a full “photographer’s life.” As Leibovitz says: “I don’t have two lives. This is one life, and the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.

**Admission tickets to the Legion may be used on the same day for free entrance to the de Young, First Tuesday of each month FREE, and Muni riders with Fast Pass or transfer receive a $2 discount.

Last year the Benefit Art Show was such a success- we’re bringing it back!
Mark your calendars and start to think about what you’ll wear. Check back here for updates.

In October 2007 Documentary Photographer & friend of Sandbox, Nicole Franco, received a grant from the Avon Foundation to continue her work with the San Francisco General Hospital CARE (Cancer, Awareness, Resources and Education) program. On November 17, 2007 Sandboxers Sheila Menezes and Matthew Boal contributed towards this project by hosting the photo shoot at Sandbox Studio in San Francisco. Over 50 Cancer survivors showed up that day to participate.

The project will be displayed in the San Francisco General Oncology Ward to help support and inspire others through the stories and faces of CARE program participants. Opening Reception is Febraury 15th 5-7pm
Click here to view the CARE promo

The 2008 FORD Supermodel Of The World shoot recently made a splash at Sandbox New York!
See the behind the scenes photos and videos HERE

See the NY Times Fashion & Style article from Dec 20th about the choice of Blue Iris - No. 18-3943

For those who have inquired……
The RR Donnelley – Sandbox Studio Strategic Alliance relationship formed
in San Francisco in 2005 has ended.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA- December 10th, 2007
Sandbox Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Matthew Kwan, gave his speech during the mid-year commencement ceremonies for 675 new Cal Poly Alumni on December 8th. View Cal Poly Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 29, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/
On the heels of its successful expansion into the Manhattan photography market, Sandbox Studio has hired Joe Barrett as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Joe will be responsible for overseeing the organization and steering the growth of the Sandbox brand in national and international markets. Company founders Matthew Kwan, Charles Maier and Tom Strollo will manage core creative, marketing and operational functions in order to maintain the company’s focus throughout the execution of its growth strategy.

Although new to commercial photography, over the past fifteen years Joe Barrett has garnered working experience in more than ten different industries and has assumed Chief Executive roles at four companies prior to Sandbox, ranging from privately-held venture funded organizations to publicly-listed multinationals.

“We’ve been able to take the same blueprint for success that made us the largest commercial photography group in the San Francisco Bay Area and successfully adapt it to become a major player in the very different New York market. This gives us a lot of confidence in the need for a company like Sandbox on a larger scale,” said Tom Strollo, Sandbox Managing Partner and Co-Founder, “which is why we’re very excited about what Joe brings to the table at this stage of the company’s growth.”

“Sandbox is a different kind of animal in the commercial photography market, with a flexible offering of creative, studio, production, digital and pre-media solutions that really incorporate and leverage the strengths of local creative communities,” said new CEO, Joe Barrett. “Our business model fills a critical niche for brand-passionate retail and consumer product companies that are looking for scale benefits without sacrificing the integrity of the creative process. The company’s growth strategy is not only excellent
for our clients, but for the creative community as a whole – and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

KRON4News

We’ve been looking forward to this since last March. The next Slideluck Potshow is November 17th, at SBNY.
For more info on our friends at SLPS and past events- visit- www.slideluckpotshow.com