Client Spotlight - Samuel Eisen-Meyers

Raised by social worker parents in Northeast Portland and a public school kid through and through, Samuel Eisen-Meyers is no stranger to activism and the arts. “Growing up, I was surrounded by music, instruments, activists, poets, healers, and jazz musicians,” says Samuel. Living in Portland informed his understanding of art and empowering the community through action, setting a course for his future creative work. “This shaped a conceptual ethos for me; art can be protest, antagonizing and dismantling barriers.”

After graduating from Western Washington University with a Bachelors’ in Fine Arts, Sam focused on music, forming bands and performing up and down the west coast. When COVID-19 brought society to a screeching halt, Samuel’s connection to the community meant that he got to expand his creativity in a different way. “It was during that time that I helped start People Music–a community-funded record label dedicated to [helping] artists produce and publish their work, and ensure that they retain full ownership of it.” People Music provided studio space and other necessary support for several artists to release their music onto major streaming platforms during the pandemic. In addition, he worked closely with the Regional Arts and Culture Council and Expression Against Oppression to support artists in the streets creating murals and other mutual aid organizing.

This time spent re-engaging in activism and helping others tell their stories meant that Samuel

soon found himself at the helm of a short art film project with Independent Television Service (ITVS) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). When I Close My Eyes, directed by Eisen-Meyers, is about master oil painter Samir Khushid’s journey from Iraq to Portland. The film explores the complexities behind the art that Khushid creates, and the stark differences between where he was raised and where he now calls home. It premiered on July 25, 2024 at Tomorrow Theater in Portland.

Since the release of the documentary, Samuel now spends his time in both NYC and Portland. That doesn’t mean he’s living a fast-paced lifestyle. “Art is a long game, so I’m trying to focus on what feels most sincere and honest to me; having my own belief in my creations rather than focusing on how others will perceive them.” Acknowledging the challenges posed by present-day hustle culture and the pressures faced by artists, Samuel invites exploration, new connections, and authenticity into his life, and we can’t wait to see what he makes of it.

Watch When I Close My Eyes on PBS app