LITERARY AWARD AND MEET ITS LATEST RESILIENT.

THIS IS AN AWARD GIVEN TO RISING AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS.

AN AND OPEN-AIR PAINTING FESTIVAL.

CREATES DRAMA.

A SPRAWLING LANDSCAPE OF ART FROM ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.

I THINK IF YOU COME TO ART OMI WITH NO EXPECTATIONS YOU'RE GUARANTEED TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE.

THE PLACE YOU CAN COME MANY TIMES DURING THE YEAR YOU'LL SEE ART THAT SURPRISES YOU.

SOME OF IT QUIET, SOME IS SHOCKING.

AND THE SEDUCTIVE SOUNDS OF JAZZ.

THESE STORIES COMING UP ON "ART ROCKS."

"ART ROCKS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

HELLO.

THANKS FOR TUNING IN FOR "ART ROCKS" WITH ME, JAMES FOX-SMITH OF COUNTRY ROADS MAGAZINE.

THE LATE LOUISIANA NOVELIST ERNEST GAINES WAS KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR POWERFUL NOVELS INCLUDING A LESSON BEFORE DYING, A GATHERING OF OLD MEN AND THE AWED BIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN.

EACH YEAR THE BROWRNLG AREA FOUNDATION AWARDS A $15,000 PRIZE THAT HONORS GAINES' CONTRIBUTION TO LITERATURE.

ONLY YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE T. HERE'S MORE ON THE AWARD AND SOME OF ITS RECIPIENTS INCLUDING THE LATEST WINNER, GABRIEL BUMP.

THIS IS AN AWARD GIVEN TO RISING AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT'S THE ONLY AWARD THAT IS DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO RISING AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS AND THEREFORE IT IS UNIQUE AMONG LITERARY PRIZES.

THE JUDGES TAKE OUR CHARGE VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT OVER THE YEARS, SINCE 2007 WHEN THE AWARD STARTED, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT WRITERS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO WIN OTHER LITERARY PRIZES AND TO CONTINUE TO PUBLISH AND TO MAKE A MARK IN THE LITERARY CULTURE.

THE GAINES AWARD COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A BIG BENEFIT TO ME.

ALSO A POINT OF CONNECTION WITH SO MANY WRITERS I ADMIRE.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL AWARD THAT MADE ME FEEL INCREDIBLY CONNECTED TO A LITERARY TRADITION THAT MR. GAINES PAVED THE WAY FOR ALL OF US.

IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MY VOICE, FOR MY VOICE AS A BLACK WRITER IN THIS WORLD.

I ALSO HAVE TO SAY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT MEANT THE WORLD THAT THERE WAS MONEY ATTACHED TO THE PRIZE.

I WAS QUITE BROKE WHEN I WON THAT PRIZE AND I NEEDED IT VERY MUCH.

PEOPLE DOWNPLAY THAT PART OF IT, BUT THIS MATTERS AND IT HELPS ARTISTS FEEL SAFE.

IT HELPS THEM FEEL PROTECTED AND HELPS THEM KEEP CREATING.

ERNEST WAS HONORED AND DELIGHTED BY THE ERNEST GAINES LITERARY AWARD.

HE ALSO LOVED MEETING THE WRITERS, ALL OF THEM.

READING THEIR NEW BOOKS IT GAVE HIM A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT HE ENJOYED TREMENDOUSLY.

ALL OF US DID.

ERNEST GAINES INSPIRED NUMEROUS YOUNG WRITERS AND THEIR ART INCLUDING THOSE WHO WON THE AWARD NAMED IN HIS HONOR.

THIS OF COURSE INCLUDES OUR CURRENT WINNER GABRIEL BUMP, WHOSE NEW NOVEL EVERYWHERE YOU DON'T BELONG, WAS SELECTED BY OUR WONDERFUL JUDGES.

EVERYWHERE IS A COMING OF AGE STORY ABOUT A BOY MADE CLAUDE GROWING UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

HE LIVED WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS A QUIRKY SOUL NA CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT.

SO LIKE MOST BOYS HIS AGE HE'S TRYING TO COPE WITH WHERE HE LIVES AND FIGURE OUT WHERE HE BELONGS IN THE WORLD.

HE FALLS IN LOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE DEALS WITH PRESSURES FROM HIS PEERS, HE NEGOTIATES THE VIOLENCE IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS ALL SEEMS A FAMILIAR URBAN TALE, IT'S TREATED A UNIQUE WAY BY A VERY TALENTED WRITER.

GABRIEL BUMP SET OUT TO BE A JOURNALIST WHEN HE LEFT TO ENROLL IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.

IT HAS A WONDERFUL JOURNALISM PROGRAM, BUT HIS FOCUS CHANGED WHEN HE TOOK A CREATIVE WRITING CLASS AND HE REALIZED HIS PASSION WAS ACTUALLY LITERARY, NOT JOURNALISM.

SO HE CHANGED HIS NATURE TO FICTION BECAUSE IT DELIGHTED HIM MORE.

AFTER GRADUATING FROM MISSOURI GABRIEL EARNED A MASTER'S OF FINE ART IN FICTION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS IN AMHURST.

HE NOW LIVES IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, WHERE HE'S BEEN WORKING ON HIS SECOND BOOK AND ADAPTING HIS AWARD WINNING NOVEL FOR THE SCENE.

HE GREW UP IN CHICAGO IN A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO CALLED SOUTH SHORE.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOUTH SHORE?

SOUTH SHORE IS A FASCINATING PART OF THE WORLD.

IT'S RIGHT JUST BELOW HYDE PARK AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO JUST TUCKED ALONG THE LAKE FRONT.

IT HAS A FASCINATING HISTORY I THINK WITH A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN URBAN AMERICA WHERE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY THE DEMOGRAPHICS JUST CHANGED OVERNIGHT.

WHITE FLIGHT, INFLUX OF PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN CHICAGO.

SO I THINK THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE SOUTH SHORE CONTAINS SO MUCH OF THE AMERICAN STORY, RIGHT, LIKE THIS HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE, THE DISS ILLUSIONMENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

COMING TO CHICAGO AND THEN FINDING OUT THAT LIFE IN A PLACE LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO DIDN'T REALLY OFFER THAT MUCH OPPORTUNITY.

SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THOSE GENERATIONS OF DISS ILLUSIONMENT?

WHILE WRITING THIS BOOK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUS SETTING BECAUSE ALL WRITING I THINK TEND TOWARDS WRITING ABOUT PLACES FAMILIAR TO THEM THAT THEY KNOW REALLY WELL.

I FEEL LIKE I WAS LUCKY TO GROW UP IN A PLACE LIKE SOUTH SHORE.

JUST FILLED WE HAVE MOTION AL, SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT.

CONSTANT JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN DESPAIR, LOVE, HOPE.

IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY AND YOU SEEM SO WELL ROOTED IN THE SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY, YET YOUR NOVEL'S TITLE SUGGESTS A SENSE OF ROOTLESSNESS, EVERYWHERE YOU DON'T BELONG.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TITLE AND ALSO ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF CLAUDE, WHO IS THE PROTAGONIST OF YOUR NOVEL?

YEAH, I MEAN I THINK THE TITLE COMES A LOT FROM CLAUDE'S POINT OF VIEW AS JUST THIS AVERAGE KID THAT CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING REALLY WELL, RIGHT, HE'S NOT EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT, HE'S NOT ATHLETICALLY GIFTED AT ALL.

HE CAN'T SEEM TO SUCCEED IN ROMANCE.

AND JUST IN GENERAL HE FEELS ADRIFT IN THE WORLD.

HE CAN'T REALLY SEE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HIS REIGN IS.

I FELT SOMEWHAT SIMILAR GROWING UP, JUST THOSE STANDARD TEENAGE ANXIETIES IN PLACES LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO I ASSUME IN INNER CITY NEW ORLEANS TOO, UNIVERSAL TRAIT IS FOR TEENAGERS A ALREADY HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING OUT WHO THEY ARE YOU ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS OUTSIDE WORLD THAT IS ACTIVELY AGAINST YOU.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT I TOO ARE FROM SOUTH SHORE, SO THANKS FOR REPRESENTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO.

I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS WITH THIS BOOK AND WITH MANY OTHER BOOKS TO COME.

CONGRATULATIONS, MAN, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THIS YEAR'S WINNER OF THE ERNEST GAINES PRIZE.

I FEEL ESPECIALLY PROUD, MAN, HAVING KNOWN YOU NOW FOR, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE OR SIX YEARS I THINK, WHEN YOU WERE A GRADUATE STUDENT AND I WAS SO HAPPY FOR YOU TO SEE ALL THE LOVE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES," TO SEE THE LOVE IN THE OTHER PUBLICATIONS.

NOW TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOW CONNECTED BY THIS PRIZE WITH SO MANY OTHER AMAZING BLACK WRITERS, AND I'M SENDING YOU THIS LOVE FROM CHICAGO, YOUR HOME CITY, AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROUD ANOTHER NATIVE SON DONE WELL IN THE LITERARY WORLD.

THERE ARE MANY AWARDS OUT THERE BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT HAS MEANT THE MOST TO ME.

SO TAKE CARE AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR WINNING THE 2020 ERNEST GAINES AWARD FOR LITERALLY EXCELLENCE.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW MEANINGFUL IT IS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE OF DR. GAINES AND HAVE RECOGNITION BY THE LIVING TRADITION OF BLACK WRITING.

ENJOY.

READY FOR A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE?

ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS ARE SHOWCASING WORK IN COMMUNITIES NEARBY AND EVERYWHERE ONLINE.

SO HERE ARE OUR PICKS FOR UPCOMING EXISTS IN MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD FOR MORE ABOUT THESE AND MANY MORE EVENTS IN THE ARTS, VISIT LPB.ORG/ARTROCKS THERE YOU'LL FIND LINKS TO EVERY EPISODE OF THIS PROGRAM.

SO TO SEE OR SHARE ANY SEGMENT AGAIN VISIT LPB.ORG/ARTROCKS.

FOR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE THE FLORIDA KEYS ARE OUTDOOR WONDERLANDS.

JUST THE PLACE TO HOST AN GNAWING RAIL PLEIN AIR ART FESTIVAL.

HERE 25 ARTISTS TAKE THEIR EASELS OUT OF DOORS FOR A FIVE-PAINT-A-THON IN THE OPEN AIR.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING IS BASED IN THE FRENCH IMPRESSION IS TICK STYLE OF PAINTING.

AND OVER PAST MANY YEARS ARTISTS HAVE TAKEN ON THIS STYLE OF PAINTING WHERE THEY BASICALLY FIND PLACES THEY LOVE TO PAINT, ARCHITECTURE, NATURE, LANDSCAPES, WILDLIFE.

THEY SET UP THEIR EASELS AND THEY SPENT HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES FOR THEM TO CAPTURE THAT IMAGE.

WHEN WE TALK WITH PEOPLE ABOUT MORADA WAY ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT'S PARADISE PAINT OUT WE EXPLAIN TO THEM WE HAVE INVITED 25 ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO COME TO THE FLORIDA KEYS TO PAINT FROM ISLAMORADA TO OCEAN REEF, CLEARING.

THESE ARTISTS SHOW THROUGH THEIR WORK HOW THEY SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS.

SOME ARE PAINTING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, SOME ARE PAINTING IN LITTLE NOOKS AND CRANNIES.

A LOT OF LOCALS AND VISITORS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THEIR FAVORITE ARTISTS FROM START TO FINISH CREATING THESE MASTERPIECES.

WHEN THEY ARE FINISHED WITH THE PAINTING, THEY BRING IT TO OUR WET ROOM GALLERY IN THE ART DISTRICT AND THEY PRICE THEIR ART.

WE HANG IT, WE SHOW IT, AND OFTENTIMES WE SELL IT.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEK.

MANY, MANY COLLECTORS HAVE COME IN, IDENTIFIED PIECES OF WORK THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE OR WALKED OUT THE DOOR WITH ART IN THEIR HANDS.

I'VE LOVED COMING DOWN HERE TO PAINT BECAUSE THE SCENERY IS SO INSPIRING.

I CAN'T HELP BUT FALL IN LOVE WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE LOOKED AT SO FAR.

SO SUBJECT MATTER WISE IT'S BEEN HARDER TO DECIDE WHAT NOT TO PAINT.

THE UPPER PIECE OVER HERE IS A PIECE I DID AT A PLACE CALLED ROBBIE'S.

ROBBIE'S I'M SURE THE LOCALS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT ALL THE DIFFERENT LITTLE VENUES AND TENTS AND EVERYTHING SET UP THAT THE VENDORS HAVE WERE JUST TAILOR MADE FOR SUBJECT MATTER TO PAINT.

THE PAINTING OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER WAS ONE THAT I DID STAYING AT LA SIESTA RESORT.

I WENT DOWN TO THE BEACH ONE MORNING AND LOOKED BACK AND I FELT LIKE THE BUNGALOWS WERE SORT OF REPRESENTATIVE OF OLD FLORIDA AND ALL THE PALM TREES AND EVERYTHING SO IT WAS JUST THAT GRABBED MY ATTENTION.

MANY HAVE NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE SO WHEN AN ARTIST WALKS IN WITH A PIECE OF ART AND WE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY IT WHETHER IT'S A LITTLE ABSTRACT OR NOT OUR HEARTS ARE FILLED WITH THE APPRECIATION OF THE FLORIDA KEYS, OF THE PARADISE.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE KEYS BEFORE.

SO ALL THE MORE I WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.

OF COURSE WHERE I'M FROM IT'S FREEZING NOW.

SO WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?

I COME FROM MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE I HAVE LIVED FOR 34 YEARS AND HAVE A GALLERY THERE.

ORIGINALLY FROM POLICEMAN, NEW YORK, IN CASE YOU CAN'T TELL.

I HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE EARLIER, TRIED TO ENTERTAIN THEM AND DO A GOOD PAINTING.

I HAD A CLASS OF THIRD GRADERS HERE.

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS.

IT STARTS OUT OH, WHAT ARE YOU PAINTING, WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING, WHY ARE YOU USING THAT COLOR AND EVENTUALLY GETS TO DO YOU MAKE MONEY FROM IN?

HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE?

ARE YOU MARRIED?

[LAUGHTER] THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY HERE.

ASIDE FROM EVENTUALLY PULLING THE PAINTING TOGETHER AND BEING PLEASED WITH IT, AND IF I'M PLEASED WITH IT GENERALLY THOSE WHO ARE VIEWING IT ARE PLEASED WITH THE PAINTING.

EVERY TIME WE GO TO A DIFFERENT SPOT.

THEY EACH BRING THEIR OWN SORT OF CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT IN THE PAINTING.

WHEN I ARRIVE AT AN AREA I WILL SCOUT IT OUT, CHOOSE MY SUBJECT AND I KNOW THAT SOMEWHERE IN THERE IS A PAINTING.

WHEN I FIRST THOUGHT OF THIS PAINTING IT WAS OVERCAST.

SO I SAID, OKAY, THAT'S THE DEAL.

MY VALUES, MY PAINTING VALUES WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

THERE WON'T BE ANY DRAMA, BUT THE SUN CAME OUT WHEN I WAS ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THIS.

AT THAT POINT IT WAS EARLY ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO I CHOSE TO CONVERT IT TO A SUNNY DAY, HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND VERY FAST BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY CHANGEING AND WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF.

OBVIOUSLY AS THE SUN MOVES VERY QUICKLY AND ALL OF THIS WAS IN SUNLIGHT SOON ENOUGH BUT WE CALL THAT CHASING THE LIGHT.

WITH EXPERIENCE, I HAVE BENT PAINTING 50 YEARS, IT'S FRIGHTENING, AN INEXPERIENCED PAINTER WOULD DO EXACTLY THAT, CHASE THE LIGHT.

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE NO PAINTING AT ALL.

IT WOULDN'T BE HERE NOR THERE.

LIGHT AND SHAH OH CREATES DRAMA IN A PAINTING.

THIS IS INAUGURAL PARADISE, THE FIRST PAINT-OUT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER A WEEK LONG PERIOD IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

WE HAVE BIG PLANS FOR 2016.

NEXT YEAR THE PAINT-OUT WILL BE JURIED.

WE'LL HAVE A SELECTION COMMITTEE.

THE 25 ARTISTS HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS, THEY HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AND CREATED EXTRAORDINARY PIECES OF WORK.

I WAS SURPRISED PERSONALLY BY HOW THEY REALLY ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE ASKING FOR THESE ARTISTS BY NAME.

THE KEYS HAS ITS OWN SORT OF FLAVOR, SO BEING ABLE TO TRY TO CAPTURE THAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST.

THERE'S A CERTAIN VIBE HERE, THE LAID BACK, THE CASUALNESS OF IT ALL.

IT FEELS GOOD.

IN GHENT, NEW YORK, THE FIELDS SCULPTURE PARK AT ART OMI PRESENTS WORK BY INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN ARTISTS SPREAD THROUGHOUT A SPRAWLING NATURAL LANDSCAPE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AROUND ART OMI IS A 120 ACRE SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE PARK OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, NO CHARGE, SHOWING CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE.

WE'RE BRINGING INTERNATIONAL ART AND ARTISTS TO THE HUDSON VALLEY TO EXPOSE PEOPLE TO NEW WORK AND NEW IDEAS, TO CHALLENGE OUR AUDIENCE AND TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES.

THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT VISITING ART OMI IS THAT YOU CAN DO IT ON FOOT.

YOU CAN DO IT ON ONE OF OUR BIKES.

IN THE WINTER YOU CAN DO IT ON SKIS.

IT'S FREE.

YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOG, YOU CAN BRING YOUR KIDS.

IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO EXPLORE IN A LANDSCAPE THAT'S VERY ROLLING SO YOU COULD KIND OF TURN A CORNER AND BE SURPRISED BY SOMETHING.

IT'S NEVER PREDICTABLE BUT IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

IT'S SORT OF AN ADVENTURE.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT CONTEMPORARY ART, WHAT IS OUT THERE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR CONTEMPORARY INSTITUTIONS, OTHER SCULPTURE PARKS, MAJOR PUBLIC ART INITIATIVES IN MAJOR CITIES, FOLLOWING WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND THEN WITHIN THAT TRYING TO FIND THINGS THAT KIND OF PUSH THE BOUNDARY OF WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART, AND WHAT IS ART IN THE LANDSCAPE AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THINGS THAT WILL REALLY ENGAGE OUR AUDIENCE.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A RURAL AREA IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE HERE THAT IS DIVERSE AS PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS AS WELL AS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING UP FROM URBAN AREAS LIKE NEW YORK CITY WHO HAVE SECOND HOMES HERE.

HERE.

IT'S UNUSUAL IN THAT THERE ARE PIECES THAT YOU CAN INHABIT.

SO YOU HAVE A GLASS HOUSE ON A POND.

WE HAVE GOT A REACTOR THAT IS THE HOUSE THAT BLOWS IN THE WIND AND TIPS WHEN THE ARCHITECT PERFORMS IN IT.

WE HAVE A KNEW PIECE SHAPED LIKE AN OCTOPUS WITH FIVE ARMS THAT YOU CAN GO INTO AND SEE THE PARK FROM.

A HUGE FAVORITE IN THE PARK IS DEFINITELY ONE OF MINE IS TONY TASSET'S DEER.

THE PIECE IS A 20 FOOT LONG, 12 FOOT HIGH FIBER GLASS DEER.

THE ARTIST IS REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS NOTION OF ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST RUN UP TO IT AND GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.

IT IS A REALLY HOT SOCIAL MEDIA SPOT.

YOU KNOW, KIDS REALLY GET IT.

KIDS ARE OPEN AND I THINK THEY ARE WONDERFUL IN THAT THEY ALSO LEAD THEIR PARENTS.

WE HAVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE PARK SO KIDS ARE OUTSIDE HALF OF THEIR CLASS, ENGAGING WITH THE WORK, THEN COMING BACK UNSIDE AND DOING PROJECTS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN.

WE ALSO HAVE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

SO WE BRING ARTISTS, WRITERS, MUSICIANS, DANCERS, ARCHITECTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THEY STAY HERE.

THEY WORK.

THEY EXPLORE, THEY EXPERIMENT AND THEY BUILD COMMUNITY.

THE CHARLES B. BENENSON VISITOR CENTER WAS BUILT IN 2008.

SO WE OPENED IN 2008 AS THE FIRST LEED CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN COLUMBIA COUNTY.

IT'S A SPECIAL BUILDING BUILT WITH A LOT OF LOCAL MATERIALS, LOCAL BLUESTONE AND SLATE AND MUSHROOM WOOD.

SO THERE'S A REAL TACTILE SENSE.

THERE'S HORSE HAIR UNDER THE COUNTERS THAT KIDS LOVE TO TOUCH.

THE GALLERY SHOWS WORK ALL YEAR ROUND, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, INSTALLATION.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A WONDERFUL SHOW OF TOM NOZKOWSKI.

I THINK IF YOU COME TO ART OMI WITH NO EXPECTATIONS YOU'RE GUARANTEED TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE.

IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU CAN COME MANY TIMES DURING THE YEAR.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ART THAT SURPRISES YOU AND SOME OF IT IS QUIET, SOME OF IT IS SHOCKING AND IT'S ALWAYS INTRIGUING AND INTERESTING.

IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE PARK.

VERY RARELY, EVEN IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER, AM I EVER ALONE OUT THERE IN THIS PARK.

IT'S JUST VERY EXCITING TO SEE THE COMMUNITY REALLY ENGAGING WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.

LAFAYETTE GILCHRIST IS AN AMERICAN JAZZ PIANIST AND COMPOSER WHO DEVILS INTO THE CHALLENGING, TRANCE INDENT EXPERIENCE OF FREE IMPROVIZATION IN WAMU SITUATIONS LIKE TO CALL THE BIG ROOM.

GILCHRIST HAS RECORDED 14 ALBUMS AND TOURS INTERNATIONALLY.

SO NOD YOUR HEAD TO THIS.

[JAZZ MUSIC] STORIES OF HOW I GOT INTO JAZZ.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I CHOSE IT SO MUCH AS IT CHOSE ME.

WHEN IT'S WORKING, AND WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER, IT IS A TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE.

[JAZZ MUSIC] TRYING TO FUNCTION AS A COMPOSER IN IMPROVIZATIONAL MUSIC, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERESTING PROCESS FOR ME TO SEE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU PLAY WITHOUT A SET OF CHORD CHANGES OR A TIME SIGNATURE, WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING OR WHAT WE CALL IN THE BIG ROOM, COMPLETELY OPEN, THEN YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALLY FOR HANDLING ALL ELEMENTS OF MUSIC, I.E.

RHYTHM, MELODY, HARMONY, SPIRITUAL FEELING, AND ENERGY.

THAT ALL HAPPENS IN REAL TIME, WHILE WE'RE PLAYING.

[JAZZ MUSIC] THE FUTURE OF JAZZ IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HASH OUT.

AND DO ENOUGH HUMAN BEINGS WANT THAT?

AND TO HAVE IT IN ITS FULLEST EXPRESSION.

AND THAT'S EVER CHANGING.

SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO DECIDE IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO DECIDE IF WE CAN LIVE WITH IT OR LIVE WITHOUT IT.

[JAZZ MUSIC] AND THAT WILL BE THAT FOR THIS EDITION OF "ART ROCKS."

LUCKILY YOU CAN ALWAYS SEARCH, SEE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY SHARE EPISODES OF THE PROGRAM AT LPB.ORG/ARTROCKS AND IF THIS GLIMPSE INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE COUNTRY ROADS MAGAZINE MAKES A GREAT RESOURCE FOR DISCOVERING NEW ADVENTURE IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK I HAVE BEEN JAMES FOX SUBMIT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

"ART ROCKS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.