» . '• «fa*»*' • » P age B3 T he P ortland O bserver • N ovember 9, 1 r ^Jortlanò OObseruer em ^ fertai n m ent Bruce Caines: Our Common Ground Bruce Caines (upper left corner); author of Our Common Ground, “Portraits of Blacks Changing the Face of America" shown with The books cover illustration. Publication Date: November 16, 1994. Photo Credit: Lisa R. Bernad, 1993 Bruce Caines was bom in Ja­ maica, New York, in 1959, the oldest o f three sons. Caines’ interest in pho­ tography began while he was grow­ ing up in Flushing, Queens. Although he was always taking pictures with his mother’s Instamatic, Caines want­ ed to be an illustrator, and he attend­ ed the H igh School o f Art and Design in Manhattan with that intention. “Art and Design is unique be­ cause the curriculum is a lot like college,” says Caines. “They make you spend time in different depart­ ments during your first year; because of this, I was exposed to several different things 1 wanted to pursue. First it was illustration, then anima­ tion, then cinematography.” While in the cinema department Caines in­ terned with a fashion photographer because “it just seemed interesting.” That experience changed his career. After graduating from Art and Design as a photo major, Caines at­ tended college at the highly regarded School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he continued his studies in photography. To help pay his tu­ ition, he worked six to eight hours a night at New York’s main post office during the holiday season. “I could barely stay awake in class, so I was forced to quit,” During his junior year, Caines began working part- time for dance and theater photogra­ pher Lois Greenfield. “Lois was just establishing herself and looking for someone with a strong lighting knowl­ edge to enhance her skills,” says Caines. "I was looking for a different experience from the commercial work I had already been exposed to.” On weekends, Caines pursued his interest in music - writing songs, playing lead guitar, and singing in a band with some high school friends. “ I realized I was a better photogra­ pher than musician, so the odds against starving would be in my fa­ vor if I gave up music and pursued a career in photography. Itwasatough decision because I love music.” While at SV A, Caines joined the school’s Public Advertising Sys­ tem, which was run by two advertis­ ing professionals and staffed by ten select students. They created print and television advertising campaigns for nonprofit organizations. Caines graduated from SV A with a Bachelor o f Fine Arts in Photogra­ phy and then worked in a catalog house for a summer, shooting every­ thing from blenders to shoes. Fash­ ion photographer Palma Kolansky, an instructor he had studied with and befriended at SVA, asked ifhe would be interested in working as her assis­ tant. Caines jumped at the chance. For the next several years Caines worked as a freelance assistant to Kolansky and several other top fash­ ion, still-life, and illustration pho­ tographers, including Jim Salzano, Rebecca Blake and Jim Barber. As a freelance assistant, he not only pho­ tographed food and celebrities in the studio, but also shot from a hot air balloon and the top o f the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York. In 1989, Caines went out on his own with clients ranging from Es­ sence magazine, Newsweek, Emerge, and LA Style, to fashion designer Rose M arie W oulfe, C olum bia Records, and Merrill Lynch. In re­ cent years he has been concentrating less on fashion and more on person­ alitie s, both c e le b ritie s and noncelebrities. “There’s a difference when you shoot people as opposed to models. Models are nice, but they are pretending to be somebody for the shot. When I do portraits of people, I get a real personality on film. I like to shoot informally because then peo­ ple seem more real, more accessi­ ble.” Although he is a workaholic, Caines makes time to volunteer his services as a photographer for the American Cancer Society’s” Look Good, Feel Better” program. He also donates much of his time to New Y ork Cares, where he makes himself avail­ able to inner-city children for week­ end outings and other recreation. Co-Anchor Hired For Newscasts Cam Johnson has been hired as co-anchor for the weekend editions of Newscenter 6. Johnson will team with current anchor Ken Boddie. In addition, she will anchor the Fox Newsat lOweekend newscasts which KOIN produces for KPDX. Johnson comes to KOIN from KDRV-TV in M edford, Oregon where she anchored their 5, 6 & 11pm weekly newscasts. Prior to that, she was anchor, reporter and pro­ ducer for the weekend news at KAMC-TV in Lubbock, Texas. Johnson, originally from Belle­ vue, Washington, is a graduate of Texas Christian University, where she majored in Broadcast Journal­ & ({// 'I S tore 503-331-1718 Bad’s Friday & Saturday 8pm -M idnight featuring Louisiana style cuisine at its finest At Bourbon Street we're proud to offer the finest ribs, freshest seafood, delicious fettucini and blackened dishes. Enjoy the big screen IV in our lounge Speedy Service Friendly Call For Quote heating oils Best Cash Prices 104 NE Russel Portland, OR 97212 282-5111'' A d vertise In 15900 Boones Ferry Road in Lake Grove, Oregon 636-0017 Gullah Gullah Island, a new participatory, multicultural show from Perez Minton Productions. (PMP) will premiered on Nickelodeon on Monday, October 24, at 11:30 a m. The half- hour series is part of Nick Jr.’s preschool program ming block, which airs weekdays from 9:00 a m. - 2:00 p.m. The show centered around a real-life African-American family: Ron and Natalie Daise and their three children Natalie and Ron drew preschoolers into their nurturing, stable family setting, and also use their skills as artists, writers and performers to entertain and educate through stories, music and crafts. Gullah Gullah Island was ex­ ecutive produced by PMP co­ founders Maria Perez and Kathleen Minton. Kit Layboume, creative director, created the show with Perez and Minton. “Gullah Gullah Island is em­ blematic of Perez Minton Produc­ tions” approach - programming that entertains and that reflects the com­ plex, multicultural experience in America from a child’s perspec­ tive,” said Perez, who is also exec­ utive producer o f Mama Day a fea­ ture film based on the Gloria Nay lor novel, currently in pre-production. “ W e’re g ratified by N ick­ elo d eo n ’s vote o f confidence in Gullah Gullah Island. This show represented a unique o p p ortu­ nity for preschoolers to view and p articipate with a warm and loving family who have a gift for her work as senior producer o f th e p r e s c h o o l s e r ie s E ureeka’s C astle. Gullah Gullah island was an imaginary place that was tucked among the real Sea Islands along the South Carolina and Georgia W onderful sm ells o f home cooking will fill the theatre on N ovem ber 11th and 12th, 18th, and 19th. Just call it another one o f Mr. C ’s (E rnie C a sc ia to ’s) ways to keep his audiences en ­ tertain ed . “ The Art o f D ining” is a play about Cal and Ellen, ow n­ ers o f a sm all, elegant gourm et restaurant. C a l's main p reo ccu ­ pation is paying back the $75,000 it cost to start it up - and that m eans packing in the custom ers. C h ef Ellen is preo ccu p ied with Œlje 3|hirt lauft (Ohscrucr ( all 503-288-0033 presents Hollywood Pictures (The ^ o rtla n h (Dhscvucr jm PINIHI A LOW DOWN n iR T Y S hame „ m i ^»nw iM H iK Ron and Natalie Daise (top left and second from right) invite preschoolers to their home on Gullah Gullah Island for songs, stories, games and laughter with daughter Shaina (Shaina Freeman, bottom left), son James (James Coleman II, right), baby Simeon (The Daises' real life son, held by Ron) and Binyah Binyah Pollywong, a bright yellow tree frog (bottom center), weekdays from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon, ET/PT on Niclelodeon. coasts. Based loosely on Gullah, the unique culture that richly blends Af­ rican and American customs and in­ cludes its own distinct language, the show welcomed young viewers into a wonderful world where learning is playing and playing is learning. The work of Natalie and Ron Daise celebrates the culture of the Sea Islands off the Southern Atlantic coast. Their careers create natural opportunities for a rich and diverse world to pass through their home, which includes theirchildren James, Sara and baby Simeon. With the Daise family as the heart o f the show, friends, relatives, neighbors and colleagues from an extended family - one that will, by design, included the viewer as well. La Salic To Present “ Nutritious” Entertainment SU U RICHARDSON ■anai Wednesday Jam Session 3415 NE B roadw ay Portland, O R 97212 From Perez Minton Productions Premiered On Nickelodeon October 24, 11:30 A.M. K U M IN IVORY WAYAMS ism. Live Mesic "fi’orruvi Gullah Gullah Island,” New Children’ s Show a s ili ih |W S F ifty C omplimentary T ickets A vailable F rom T he P ortland O bserver . 4747 NE MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD.. FOR A THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 17TH SHOWING' TICKETS GIVEN ON A FIRST-COME. FIRST-SERVED BASIS. LIMITED QUANTITY. f. the quality o f the food - and sto p ­ ping Cal from sam pling the in­ gredients. This h ilarious com edy is sure to be a favorite. P erfor­ m ances are scheduled for 8 p.m. and tickets are $4 for students an d s e n io rs c itiz e n s ; $5 for adults. T ickets may be purchased at La Salle High School p rio r to curtain. La Salle is located at 1 1 9 9 9 SE F u lle r R o ad in M ilw aukie, ju s t two blocks w est o f the C lackam as Town C enter betw een Harm ony and C ausey.