Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, January 01, 1997, Page 9, Image 9

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    I111 P oru , así ) O bserver • J anuary
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1, 1997
P age B3
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ENTERTAINMENT
¡n, c |Joi-tlanb (ßhserucr
Greg O ’Quin ‘N Joyful Noyze
evento
(A c 3 fi d
M odest Mouse, The
Feelings, DJ Zac Love
[ 9 p.m. Berbati’s Pan. Free
Jr. Samples and Guests
| 9:30 p.m. Ash St. Saloon. $3
Steve Bradley
| 9:30 p in. Candlelight. Free
Gitana Blanca
8 p.m. C afe’ Sol. Free
M ark Simon
I 7 p.m. Marriott, 1401 S.W. Front
| Ave., 226-7600. Free
David Friesen
& John Gross
7 p.m. Edgefield Winery Free
Rebecca Kilgore
I 9 p.m. Jazz de Opus. Free
S a t o e i d a t f (A c 4 ( A
Gitana Blanca
Many great men and women--ath-
letes. doctors, m usicians-have risen
from the struggles of the mean streets
of inner-city America to achieve great
things. And the common denomina­
tor has always been faith: faith that
through hard work, perseverance and
trust in God that something better lay
ahead.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas.
G o sp el p ro d u c e r, so n g w rite r,
k ey b o ard ist and arran g er G reg
O ’Quin knows all about faith and
staying focused on a vision. His jour­
ney from a six-year-old soloist in a
small Dallas Baptist church to the
leader ol the 15-voice ensemble Joy­
ful Noyze,—one of Gospel’s most
cutting-edge gro ups-is a testament
to just such faith, and is powerfully
chronicled on G reg's debut album.
Tryin to Make U See.
Totally contemporary in Ins ap­
proach and instincts, it's clear Greg
has been profoundly influenced by a
number of today's great producer/
writers, including Babyface, M icha­
el Jackson, Teddy Riley and David
Foster. In fact, G reg’s music stands
next to the best of the best, in both
R&B and the church, and with up-to-
the-minute, irresistible grooves, and
an uplifting Gospel message, he
brings to the table something unique­
ly his own.
"A lot of the kids in my neighbor­
hood have gone to church and Sun­
day School with their parents, but
have drifted away from that,” says
Greg. "What catches their attention
now is the groove in the music, and
w e’ve tried to use that as a tool to get
their attention, and then drop in some
messages. The title song is just what
it says it is. trying to make people see
who Jesus is, and once they've sen
who He is, to see how good He is.
Though a singer himself, Greg felt
so strongly about the vocal talent he
had assembled in Joyful Noyz, that
he remained out of the spotlight for
Iryin 2 Make LI See, turning lead
vocals over to various members of
his ensemble while he programmed
and played keyboards, and wrote and
produced the album’s songs
The selections run the gamut from
home-shaking, hip-hop work-outs to
reverential ballads. Special stand­
outs to Greg are all songs that have
strong stories behind them. The stir­
ring ballad, “Homeland for the Soul:
Where I Belong” arose from a real-
8 p.m. C afe’ Sol. Free
Radio Flyers,Sweethouse
| 9:30 p.m. Ash St. Saloon. $3.
Fat Daddy, Sauce
10 p.m. Mount Tabor Pub. Free
Lorna M iller
[ 8:30 p.m. Cafe Lena. Free.
Steve Bradley
9:30p.m. Candlelight Room. Free.
Flamenco Puro
| 9 p.m. La Catalana. $6.
M ark Simon
7 p.m. Marriott, 1401 S.W'. Front
I Ave., 226-7600. Free
David Friesen & John Gross
7 p.m. Edgefield Winery. Free
Revecca Kilgore
| 9 p.m. Jazz de Opus Free
(A c 5 ( A
Pedro Luz, Spectator
Pump, Zoom Finger
10 p.m. Mount Tabor Pub. Free.
Dan Balmer Trio
8:30 p.m. Jazz de Opus. Free
The Snow Queen
has returned!
Tapestry theatre is pleased to
announce that Hans C hristian
A ndersen’s beloved tale of abid
ing friendship and the power of
love will be performed again in
Portland by the creative team of
Mary harrison and Jodi Eichel-
berger (also known as Other hand
Productions) from January I Oth
through the 26th at Miracle theatre.
Hans Christian Andersen often
cut out intricate paper figures to
illustrate his stories as he told them.
For Snow Queen, Harrison has
crafted paper puppet characters,
sets and props using european pa­
per cutting techniques, w hile
Eichelberger has written the script
and music which reflect the classi­
cal and folk Danish music tradi­
tions. These highly experienced
puppeteers perform the show us­
ing the “Czechoslovakian Black"
technique which enables puppe­
teers to “disappear" in the dark­
ness. The result is a story which
comes alive with mystery and en­
chantment.
Tapestry Theatre Company:
(503)245-6919
Coll for Artists!
Bellevue Art Museum is seeking
entries for the 1997 Pacific North
west Arts Fair
The Fair, held since 1947 in Bel
levue, Washington, features more
than 3(X) juried artist booths, are ex­
h ib itio n s, dem o n stratio n s, and
kidsfair, with art and creative activi­
ties lor children. The 50th anniversa­
ry Fair in 1996 drew 280,000people
generating $1.1 million in art sales
Jurors will select 3(X) artists for the
mam Fair and an additional 25 artists
for Kidsfair
Fair dates arc July 25, 26 & 27
1997. Artists from all states and in
all visual media are eligible. Artists
must submit five 95 ) slides to enter
Jurying is by slides only. Participai
ng artists must be present during
the event. For a prospectus, contact
Pacific Northwest Arts Fair, 301
Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA
98004. (206) 454-4900, fax (206)
454-4102.
Email elissa@ bellevueart.org
Please not: after January 15th, the
prospectus may be dow nloaded
from Bellevue Art M useum’s web
site: www.bellevueart.org. Entries
must be postmarked or delivered to
Bellevue Art Museum by February
28, 1997.
Awards totalling $5,000 will be
presented. W inners will be chosen
from accepted artists prior to the
Fair (by slides) and the opening
• morning
■■■■■£. » of
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» Vllt,
the V
event.
life episode in G reg's life.
"I want to make it clear that this is
not a racial issue," says Greg. "When
you burn a church, you're burning
G od's church. It’s a song that I hope
will bring all Christmas together to
say that if God be tor us. no power
can be against us, because we shall
prevail. It's a song of Christianity
unity."
The jazzy “That’s the Way I Love
You" on the surface could be a touch­
ing, romantic love song, but a closer
listen reveals a deeper meaning.
Major African American documentary to premiere
5 0 -V P n r c ilp n r p
th n t h u e c u r .
The 50-year silence that
has sur­
rounded the contributions of more
than a million African-Americans in
W orld War II will soon end.
A major new documentary, to be
premiered around the country by the
Department of the Army Interna­
tional Commemorations Committee
(fo rm erly the U nited S tates of
America 50th Anniversary of World
W ar II Commemorations Com m it­
tee) and the N ational M inority
Military Museum Foundations, fi­
nally tells story of the valor dis­
played by African-American service
men and women in W orld W ar II,
even in the face of persistent dis­
crimination.
With never-before seen footage
and interviews with more than 60
African-American veterans and his­
torians, the 60-m inute “A frican-
Americans in World W ar II: A Leg­
\/„ i
»»
.
.
acy of Patriotism and Valor” reveals
the critical role black service men
and women played in the allied vic­
tory and in opening future opportuni­
ties, for all minorities, in the military
and on the homefront.
"W ith this documentary, we want
to bring to light a story that’s been
untold for over 50 years,” says Lt.
Col. Thom as G. Surface, Director of
Public Affairs for the Department of
the Army International Com m em o­
rations. “We not only want to honor
those veterans and their family mem­
bers who served and opened the door
o f opportunity to others, we hope to
educate future generations and raise
people’s awareness about the sacri­
fices these veterans made.
“The harassment, hardships and
prejudice they had to put up with are
a compelling story. Their courage
and accomplishments are a tremen­
■
.
dous part of American history.”
The National Minority Military
M useum F o u n d a tio n , in San
Leandro, CA, is an organization ded­
icated to preserving the history of
African-Americans and other minor­
ities in the history of the U.S armed
forces.
The Foundation became involved
with the project after working with
the commemoration committee dur­
ing filming, says Charles Blatcher,
an Account Manager with American
Protective Services, is the Founda­
tion’s founder the CEO.
“Our primary efforts are to deal
with the veterans’ groups to insure
that they will be involved,” says
Blatcher. “Our military history is the
basis of every other right of entitle­
ment that we lay claim to.”
The Foundation and International
Commemorations will co-host simul­
1997 Astrological Predictions For African Americans
By Regina Atara Wead
Every year, around the holiday
and before the New Year arrived, I
would wonder why my granny would
tiptoe back from the “Ms. L ady’s”
house carrying a shopping bag full of
candles, herbs, and other sources of
divining the future. She would w his­
per to me, “granny’s got a little som e­
thing in her bag.” It wasn’t until I
became a “Ms. Lady" myself (I am
an astrologer) that I realized that
what my granny had in that shopping
bag often helped her get through that
new year feeling confident and well-
prepared for whatever might happen
to our family.
While many of us may not visit the
“Ms Lady” and instead choose to
boil some cabbage with a silver dol­
lar, or cook some black eyed peas,
astrology has always been an im por­
tant tradition in the African com m u­
nity; something that we do to ward
oil the potential threat of unseen
forces, or to find a way to bring good
luck, in an unknown new year.
With that in mind, let’s look at
what African Americans might expe­
rience in 1997 astrologically. To be
forewarned is to be forearmed and
we certainly need self-awareness
during these most challenging years
before the great new millennium.
Western astrologers have assigned
the planet Neptune., which rules the
sign Pisces, to African Americans.
Piscean characteristics range from
the highest and most lofty (creativity
in arts/entertainm ent, spirituality,
compassion, and a leaning to profes-
sions like being priests, minister and,
psychics) to the depths of despair
and challenge (problems with drugs,
alcohol etc.). The question with Pi­
sces is “will you swim upstream or
downstream?”
In 1997 African Americans will
experience an intense focus on mon­
ey and values. The planet Saturn will
complete its transit through the sign
Aries (new beginnings and aggres­
sion). In 1997, the money that African
Americans earn, how we earn it, who
we owe, as well as who owes us will be
a major focus. An all out confrontation
about the money that is due to African
Americans, whether it comes from
Texaco or the American government,
will take center stage.
This Saturn in Aries transit in our
financial sector will not only have to
do with money, but also with issues
of self-esteem and self-respect that
are connected to money. It is known,
from a spiritual point of view, that
the amount of money that you obtain
is a direct response to how much you
think you are worth. Therefore, is­
sues of self-worth and self-esteem
will also be brought to the forefront.
Expect issues of reparations, wel­
fare vouchcrs/rcform and government
involvement in bringing drugs into the
African-American community to be
vocalized. African Americans will be
expressing Arian aggressiveness and a
“ready to fight for right” attitude
Expect African American to do
more business and money making
projects in South Africa and in other
countries. This is due to Pluto’s new
taneous premieres of the documenta­
ry in 11 major U.S. cities in Febru­
ary. Prem iere locations include
Washington, D.C., New York, At­
lanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chica­
go, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Se­
attle, Los Angeles and San Fran­
cisco. (Specific locations, dates and
times will be included in future re­
leases).
African-American World War II
veterans and their families will be
guests of honor at the premiers. Lo­
cal civic, political and education lead­
ers in each community and the gener­
al public also will be invited to attend
the premieres.
Ten thousand videotape copies of
the documentary also will be given
free of charge to schools around the
country.
“Our young people need to under­
stand that as a group they have a
vested interest in this history,” says
Blatcher. “The experience of the war
belongs to the men and women who
participated, but the history belongs
to all of us.”
The documentary, produced by
C o m T el
P ro d u c tio n s
of
Marlborough, MA, also features ap­
pearances by the Chairman o f the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General
John Shalikashvili, and retired G en­
eral Colin Powell.
Powell talks about the impact the
World War II veterans had on his
own opportunities.
“African Americans--A Legacy of
Patriotism and Valor" will be avail­
able for general viewing following
the February premieres.
The Captain’s
Global Grooves
O
transit through the sign Sagittarius,
photo by
which rules everything foreign, im-
Rick Rose
ports/exports and the Internet
Sagittarius also rules the law, truth
A rtist
CD
and the justice system. It is interest­
L abel
ing, that Pluto moved into the sign
E rnie W a iis
.... "TI ie L onç R oaó H ome "...
JVC
Sagittarius when the O.J. Simpson
"C
entra
!
A
venue
R
oots
"
D
e
P
ríest
P
roject
I
AkltAR D e P ríest ...
trial began. The trial has received so
much attention because lies and de­
D íanne R eeves ...... ......" H ie ( jranc I E ncounter ".
BI ue N ote
ception must be seen for what they
are. Lies must end and truth reign.
A l G rey .............
"M e N ’ JAck".. .
P u II en M u s ic
We (Pluto+the masses) are getting a
D avìc I S anc I tez . .. . "S treet S cene ' s " .....................
C o I u m B ia
televisual look at how the justice
system works. In fact the justice sys­
"M
E
d
iA
N
o
ckt"
W
arner
B rot I iers I
doN G ro I níc I c
tem itself has been on trial. Pluto’s
D ic k B tR k
.." one B y O ne "...
12-year transit in Sagittarius will
R eservoir
uncover all that has been kept hid­
G assaw I ra W i I son
" N ew M oon D A uqhiE R "
BI ue N otf
den, including what happened to Dr.
King and Malcolm X, and the truth
CyR us G I testnut
.... "T río " ..............
EvidtNCE
about government acts against Afri­
L eroy V ínneqar . . ...."iN T E q R iiy "................
J azz F ocus
can Americans.
African Americans will gradually
The Global Grooves can be heard
begin restructuring our image in
on the Captain's Mystic Voyage
America and abroad. We will know
on
KMH!)
,S9.ITM every Tuesday a! KITM.
who we really are and everyone else
will too. By the year 2007, we can be
know as a self-aware. Heaven will
help us during Jupiter's one year
move into Aquarius in 1997 and the
rem aining six-year movement of
Travel Films From Around the World Narrated in Person by Filmmakers
Uranus in Aquarius.
8
T H E N E W SO UTH AFRICA
If we will obey these heavenly
Wander between ancient tribal lile and the modern world as
movements and realize how impor­ ÙZ 5¡Q-
Sherilyn Mentes takes you into the lives of South Africans for
U. C
an in-depth account of contemporary life in an exotic land.
tant it is to be spiritual, not just reli­
Discover the beauty of its diverse plant and animal life and
-J X 3
gious, then we will be blessed. If we
learn how gold, diamonds, elephants and zebras co-exist
ÜJ £
with the modern life o l traffic, refineries and factories
do the required spiritual work in­
T H U R S D A Y , J A N U A R Y 9 , 1 9 9 7 7 :3 O P M
wardly to heal ourselves and out­ £
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Tickets Available at Fred Meyer FASTIXX Outlets
wardly to heal our communities in
_____
_ Call 224-8499 or 1 -800-992-8499 outside Portland
1997, then the heavens will have a
Partial season subscriptions for 3,4 or 5 shows are stiNavaiiabie"
special reward for African Ameri­
I Coming shows: Egypt, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland and Japan
cans in the following year
W e ia L ô è A V A k w
c
,Call 241-2575 to order or receive a brochure
I