Last month the final 2009 residency for December 1, 2009 to March 14, 2010 was awarded to
Dianne Griffin and Erica Jordan: three-month residency, preproduction, documentary feature
Sandy’s Nails in San Francisco is the epicenter of the immigrant story told in Painted Nails. In this vibrant and bustling salon, six Vietnamese nail technicians beautify the fingers and toes of their predominately Latina and African American clientele. The nail industry became an economic stepping-stone for many Vietnamese who immigrated to the United States following the end of the war in the mid-1970s. As nail technicians, they were able to achieve a level of economic independence rarely experienced by immigrant women. Painted Nails explores the complexities of the seemingly innocuous manicured nail from the motivation for pampering and artistic self-expression to immigration issues, economic independence and workplace health hazards. For more information visit www.digallmedia.com

Just a day in the life of a maiden