December 25. 200 2
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Page A 7
Focus
The delightful photograph o f an African-
Am erican child is th e work o f Portland
photographer Kelly Johnson.
din
The music of apartheid
Amandala! (Power to the people!) documents
the history of freedom songs during the near
half-century that South Africa suffered under
apartheid. Most songs featured in the film
became so popular that the government banned
them along with the artists who sang them. Still,
the freedom songs created an effective under
ground form o f communication within prison
boundaries and united a nation of oppressed
citizens. Director Lee Hirsch combines an
engaging mix of interviews with previously
exiled activists and musicians. Friday, Jan. 3 at 7
p.m. at The Guild Theatre.
‘Champion Blues’ follows life of legend
Champion Blues follows a Los Angeles’ singing
legend, Mickey Champion, from her roots in
Lake Charles, La., to Los Angeles Central
Avenue where she performed with Billie
Holiday, Dinah W ashington and doubled for
Esther Phillips. Champion Blues tells the story
o f a woman who has been o f service to the
community she loves. Sunday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at
The Guild Theatre.
Morgan Freeman narrates juke joint film
These southern, mostly rural clubs provided the
showcase for black artists and the social center
for many communities. Focusing on the Subway
Lounge in Jackson, one of the last juke joints
still operating, Actor Morgan Freeman provides
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER RELEASES NEW BOOK
K elly Johnson, a Portland native
and photojoum alist best know n for
her striking photographs o f A frican-
A m erican children, has finished a new
book entitled ‘Look at the B aby’ which
is on shelves now at Barnes and Nobles
and P ow ell’s Books.
F ille d w ith J o h n s o n ’s s tu d io
p o r tr a its an d d e ta il s h o ts o f e a c h
p a rt o f th e b a b y w ith c h ild lik e
te x t id e n tify in g th e m , p a re n ts can
te a c h th e ir c h ild re n a n a to m y an d photography since she first picked
up a cam era at age four.
a rt at th e sa m e tim e .
“O nce you fall in love w ith som e
Johnson started w orking for The
O regonian as a photo assistant in thing you get addicted,” she said.
1987. In 1991 she becam e a resident “N ow I ju st can ’t stop.”
A nyone interested in Johnson’s
staff photographer and left in 1993 to
book,
greeting cards with her photo
w ork on her portraits and books. She
has also done w ork for E bony M aga graphs o r scheduling a portrait ses
zine and is currently w orking on her sion can contact her by calling 503-
282-2440 or sending an em ail to
second book.
Johnson has had a passion for brukel4 @ m sn.com .
Kelly
Johnson
the narration. Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at The
Guild Theatre.
‘Breath Control’ explores history
of hip-hop
Director Joey Garfield uses interviews, live
performances, archival footage and animation to
' bring to light this important ingredient of Hip-
Hop’s identity. W ith the help o f Beat Box
pioneers Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie and The Fat
Boys, the documentary traces the art form from
its basic beat happenings in the 1980’s to its
present day multi-layered, polyrhythmic
figureheads. Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at The
Guild Theatre.
Music for pre-civil rights era Deep South
Scott Taradash’s atmospheric and music-laden
biography of 87-year-old Mississippi Delta
blues legend David “Honeyboy” Edwards' life
in the pre-civil rights era Deep South. Interwo
ven among his colorful storytelling and raw
vocal performances are appearances by B.B.
Kind, W illie Foster and W aymon Meeks, who all
. lend their own insights about the blues. 7 p.m. at
The Guild Theatre.
Abstract and Representational
Group Show
Artists Robert Shepard, Gail Jordan, Miriam
Badyrka, Roger Friedel, Dean Shapiro, David
Coddington, Juergen Eckstein, Raina Imig, John
McAnulty, Pattie Palmer-Baker and Julie Ann
Smith will show a diverse body o f work through
Dec. 31 at theTalism an Gallery, 1476 NE Alberta.
When Crocodiles Ruled
What was life on Earth like in the years between
the dinosaur extinction and the rise of humans?
Visitors can find out from now until Jan. 5, as the
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
presents “When Crocodiles Ruled,” a fascinat
ing exhibit that chronicles some of the 60 million
years of time between dinosaurs and humans.
OMSI is open Tuesdays through Sundays, from
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. through Jan. 5. The museum
is located at 1945 S.E. Water. Call 503-797-4000.
IFCC Kwanza Celebration Show
Over twenty local African American artists will
exhibit textiles, paintings, prints, drawings,
photographs, mixed media works and sculptures
to reflect on one or more of the seven principles
of Kwanza. The IFCC is located at 5340 N.
Interstate Ave. Gallery hours are Tuesday
through Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays
from noon to 4 p.m. through Jan. For more
information, call 503-823-2070.
Transitional youth showcase artwork
This month the non-profit gallery for homeless
and transitional youth will showcase glass
works by Erika Kohr and Mel George. Kohrs
pieces of mother’s dresses, fathers shoes,
beating hearts and fragility pair well with
G eorge’s finely crafted miniature versions of
ordinary things like bathtubs, folded paper
airplanes and tiny polo shirts. P:ear youth will
exhibit work in various mediums, from chain mail
to oil paints, graphite and plaster through
January.
A G ood Year for Black Actors
2002 proved a year of gains for African Americans in the film industry
(AP) — Halle Berry’s tearful accep
tance speech and Denzel W ashington’s
nod to Sidney Poitier were just the be
ginning.
Nine months after their twin Oscars -
the first time black actors swept the lead-
role Academy Awards - 2002 has proved
a year o f gains for black actors in an
industry perpetually rebuked for its lack
of racial diversity.
Although one year does not neces
sarily signify long-term change - and the
surge in better roles and breakout mov
ies did not extend to many black ac
tresses - critics and performers say 2002
was a clear improvement.
Afterthe awards and commercial suc
cess of W ashington’s “Training Day”
and Berry’s “M onster’s Ball,” the year
saw high-profile films starring Ice Cube,
Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman,
Wesley Snipes and Will Smith, who along
with W ashington had earned a best-
actor nomination, for “Ali.”
Smaller films with black themes also
clicked with audiences, among them the
smart rom ance “Brown Sugar,” the
“blaxploitation” spoof “ U ndercover
Brother” and “Drumline,” the tale of a
Harlem drummer competing in a South
ern marching band, which opened to
solid receipts last weekend.
“It’s a huge sign that diversity is here,”
Berry said in an interview to promote her
latest film, “Die Another Day,” in which
Cuba Gooding Jr., one of only six
through the trauma he experienced as
black
actors to win an Oscar before Wash-
an abused child.
Newcomer Derek Luke gives a memo ington and Berry, scored a crossover
rable performance in the title role, and success early this year with the family
W ashington co-stars as his Navy psy flick “Snow Dogs.”
Ice Cube did the same with “Barber
chiatrist.
“It’s a universal story. It doesn’t shop,” and had two other films, “All
About the Benjamins” and “Friday After
Next,” the third in his series of “Friday”
comedies. All three movies were devel
oped through Ice Cube’s production
company, which the rapper-tumed-ac-
tor started to broaden his roles.
Except for “Barbershop,” Ice Cube’s
films mainly have drawn black audiences.
But more black actors, such as “Ali” star
Sm ith, E ddie M urphy and M artin
- Actress Halle Berry
Lawrence, have developed mainstream
followings.
“It’s still a pretty select group. But
have to be about a black family. This
could be about anybody. Pick your having this select group getting more
race, it doesn’t matter. Abuse is color exposure now, it’ll be interesting to see
blind,” W ashington said. “I think we what happens in the next couple of years,”
need to give audiences a little more said Matt Alvarez, IceC ube's producing
credit. That they ’ re not looking for black partner. “Could the next Brad Pitt be
or not looking for white, but they’re somebody who’s black? Will Hollywood
be willing to accept that?”
looking for good movies.”
I t’s a huge sign that
diversity is here. The
cynical ones will say it
hasn’t arrived fast
enough, but it is here.
Halle Berry and D enzel W ashington
c eleb ra te their 2 0 0 2 O scars for
b e s t acting.
she plays an ally to super-spy James
Bond. “The cynical ones will say it hasn’t
arrived fast enough, but it is here. Real
evolution and real change is slow. If it
were to happen quickly, I don’t think I’d
feel that sure of it, because we could lose
it as fast as we got it.”
W ashington began the year by fol
lowing “Training Day” with another
success, “John Q.” And he’s finishing
it with his directing debut, “Antwone
Fischer,” based on the true story of a
violent black sailor trying to work
K O G N IT O 'S
meezus
U P C O M IN G E V E N T S
@ 1 1 :O O P M
Customize Your Jeans
Levis new store features an ‘Original Spin’
o m
s
mum
@ HïOOPM
UNUS HORNBUCKLE
The quest for the perfect pair o f pants is over.
If your bum ’s too big, your legs are too short or your favorite pair o f pants are
falling apart, don’t worry. Now you can walk in to the new Levi's store at 2307 NW
W estover Road and customize a pair to fit.
At the new store staff has already introduced to Portland the option to modify
an existing pair of Levi’s and by the summer, jeans lovers will be able to build their
own pair from scratch.
“So lets say you like your pants baggier in the seat - we can do that," said Jen
A C A D IA N » A L L R O O M
Crook, Manager of Mass Customizations for Levi ’ s. “Or if you like your pants skin
f t
U N N E A lh r r ti
tight or the flood look - we can customize pants that are perfectly sized for you.”
c o v e r »«.O O
In order to modify an existing pair of Levi’s, all you do is come in and pick a
F O R M O R E IN F O LO G O N T O
W W W . s e s R T E F F E R S .C O M
current style, or one of several Levi’s Archive styles from 1996, select and inseam,
waist size and fabric, make an order and your custom fit jeans will be delivered Fed
Ex to your home in a few weeks.
“What this does is add 11 more inseams and five
additional sizes for women,” Crook said. “And for men
w e’ve added 13 to 14 more waste sizes and eight more
inseams. We find a great value in offering these
additions.”
After choosing a size, the options continue to
expand. Through the Original Spin program, you can
choose between 12 different options, including Au
thentic Stonewash, Iggy, Raven, Stainless, Burgandy,
Ticket»
Light Indigo. Indigo, Black Magic, Dark Rinse, Indigo
in advance $30 @
G eneva's Hair Salon.
Stretch, Black Out and Medium Stonewash Stretch.
This is a benefit for the
ReflaCttons Book S tore and SEI
Then pick button fly or zipper, pay your bi 11 and your
also Available at all
national award winning
’.4
jeans will be on their way.
Self inhancpwiut inc
full Bar and Buffet
In June of 2003, Levi's will introduce the option of
Center 1er Sell Enhancement 392D N Kerhy Ave Portland Oh ceetect 603 5H4M1
building your own jeans from scratch.
STREET MUSIC BUTO
3rd Annual Exclusive New Years Groove
25 and older/9:00 pm thru 2:00 am
Featuring
dj:
Featurtno the live di
and Live performance from the
World Reknowned. Jazz Ensemble...
Tuesday.
’Tuesday.
December 31st
2002