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From February 3, 2005...

William Shakespeare had his sonnets. Matsuo Basho had his haiku. And R-Tist has his rap. I'm Greg Bass and tonight on Tapestry we talk to a local hip-hop artist who finds inspiration in Maya Angelou and other poets. Also, visual artist Kerry James Marshall. He was born in 1950s Birmingham and raised in tumultuous South Central L-A. Marshall has a new exhibit opening this weekend at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Also, Rednecks and organ music -- tonight on Tapestry. First, a wrap-up of arts news with Tanya Ott.

Kerry James Marshall has been called one of the most important artists of our time. And over time -- spent in segregated Birmingham and South Central Los Angeles -- his work has evolved from copying the masters to transferring his own view of black history onto canvas, cardboard or photograph. A professor at the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Chicago, Marshall is represented in more than 30 public collections nationwide. WBHM's Steve Chiotakis recently caught up with Marshall to talk about his upcoming exhibit in Birmingham and how it feels to be back home.

Kerry James Marshall spent the first part of his childhood in Ensley � where this week, the Ensley Baptist Church hosted a very special 75th birthday party. The celebrant wasn't a member of the church, but rather � the massive pipe organ� which was installed during the depths of the Great Depression. Ensley Baptist's organists, past and present, reunited for an afternoon concert on Sunday. Producer Dale Short has this audio postcard.

Rap and poetry don�t usually occupy the same space in most people�s minds� but R-Tist (pronounced r-TEEST) isn't �most people�. This Pell City native is waging a steady war to redefine hip-hop � to take the �gangsta� out of rap. He's been described as a rapper, a lyricist, and a spoken word artist� but he tells WBHM's Tanya Ott that the moniker he most claims � is poet.

Hip hop artist R-Tist talking with WBHM�s Tanya Ott. There's an extended version of this interview on our website wbhm.org

It's been described as a comic, tender celebration of family...a clash of values tearing rural America apart, and one man's quest for a small-very small-piece of the American dream. Randy Blythe has a review of "Redneck Riviera" by Dennis Covington.

The book is "Redneck Riviera" by Dennis Covington and our reviewer is Randy Blythe.

What's going on in and around the Birmingham area. For additional details, go to our online version of the Community Calendar.

Community Calendar

�The music swirls through a cacophony of styles and sensibilities, insights and minute still-life scenery caught in split seconds of time.� That's how the website cdbaby.com describes the disc �The New American Century� by Birmingham band Sunny So Brite. This tune is �The Bigger Picture�. Mark Carmichael and J.M. Cifonie are with the band.

Sunny So Brite performs at WorkPlay February 16th. You can find a schedule of their upcoming shows � and download some of their music � on our website, wbhm.org.

Tapestry is produced by Tanya Ott and Michael Krall. Hunter Bell handles our music and Brian Creel, Brad Robinson, and Ali Boudhani collaborate on the community calendar. Additional reporting this week from Steve Chiotakis and Dale Short. On next week�s show � commentator Francesca Rosko waxes poetic about Barry Manilow.

I'm Greg Bass and this is Tapestry. Thanks for joining us!