>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

WE'LL VISIT AN AREA OF CAPE COD THAT'S SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION FOR COUNTYLESS ARTISTS.

-- COUNTLESS ARTISTS.

>> IN THE NATIONAL SEASHORE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU COULDN'T BE IRSPIED.

>> WITH THE CLOSE OF THE 2021 OLYMPICS, WE LOOK TO THE START OF THE PARAOLYMPIC GAMES AND WE'LL GET AN INSIDE LOOK FROM A LOCAL GOLD MEDALISTIST.

>> IF THERE'S AN CLEAT WITH -- ATHLETE WITH SER REWAL PALSY, THEY'RE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR BODY IS ABLE TO DO.

>> AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT A SELFIE IS, BUT WHAT'S A SELFIE MURAL?

WE'LL TAKE A TRIP TO NORTH ADAMS TO FIND OUT.

>> PEOPLE LOVE COMING TO A CITY DISPOSTING A PICTURE OF THEMSELVES THERE.

AND -- POSTING A PICTURE OF THEMSELVES THERE.

AND THESE MUSTER HELP THEM DO THAT.

>> WE'LL EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON CONNECTING POINT.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THIS WEEK MARKED THE END OF THE SO-CALLED DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, A TIME WHEN MANY HEAD TO THE COAST FOR SOME RELAXATION AND TO ESCAPE THE HEAT.

AND FOR MANY IN NEW ENGLAND, THAT MEANS GOING TO THE CAPE.

IN PART TWO OF OUR THREE-PART SERIES ON THE HISTORY AND BEAUTY OF THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE, WE VISIT THE OUTER DUNES OF PROVINCETOWN.

THERE ARE 19 SHACKS OF VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES THAT HAVE VERVED -- SERVED AS THE INSPIRATION FOR MANY GREAT WORKS OF AMERICAN LITERATURE.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES US TO A TOUR OF THIS HISTORIC REGION OF THE OUTER CAPE AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE 60 YEARS OF THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> THE DUNES ON THE OUTER BEACH OF CAPE COD WERE FORMED AS A RESULT OF EARLY SETTLERS CUTTING DOWN THE TREES.

WITH NOTHING TO HOLD THE SANDY SOIL IN PLACE, THE LAND WAS SHAPED AND ERODED BY EACH PASSING STORM.

WHEN THE DUNES BECAME PART OF THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE, ACCESS WAS CAREFULLY RESTRICTED TO MINIMIZE FURTHER DAMAGE.

TO SEE THEM ONE MUST EITHER HIKE IN VIA ONE OF THE PARK'S APPROVED TRAILS, OR BE DRIVEN IN BY A GUIDE FROM ARTS DUNE TOWERS.

-- TOURS.

THE ONLY TOUR GUIDE COMPANY THAT'S ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE TUNES BY VEHICLE.

>> IT'S ALWAYS A TREAT OUT HERE BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFERENT.

EVERY TRIP, BETWEEN THE LIGHTING, THE CLOUDS, THE COLORS, THE VEGETATION, THE PEOPLE'S INTEREST, AND THE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, SO BETWEEN ALL OF THAT, EVERY SINGLE TOUR, EVERY SINGLE DAY, IS DIFFERENT.

>> ROB COSTA AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN TAKING ON PEOPLE ON TOURS SINCE 1946.

HIS DAD STARTED THE BUSINESS AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM WORLD WAR II.

>> HE ENDED UP BUYING A 1936 FORD WOODIE, AND HE STARTED HIS OWN COMPANY BECAUSE HE LOVED IT SO MUCH, YOU CAN -- YOU KNOW.

AND HE STARTED RUNNING PEOPLE OUT HERE IN THE DUNES AND GIVING THEM KIND OF A THRILL RIDE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ .

>> TUCKED INTO THE DUNES OF PROVIDENCETOWN ARE A NUMBER OF SMALL SHACKS WITH A RICH HISTORY.

THESE DUNE SHACKS WERE ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED AS LIFESAVING CUT HUTS FOR COAST GUARDS IN THE LATE 18 90S.

BUT MOST WERE BUILT IN THE '20S AND '30S AND USED BY THE TARTISTS COLONY.

THEY PROVIDED SAL TUD AND A TRANS -- SOLITUDE AND A CHANCE OF -- >> IT'S MAGICAL.

FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE YOU THE TOURNAMENT OF SOLITUDE IN THE NATIONAL SEASHORE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU COULDN'T BE INSPIRED.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> IT'S ABOUT A TWO-MILE WALK THROUGH SOFT SAND FROM YOUR CAR TO REACH THE DUNE SHACKS.

THEY HAVE NO RUNNING WATER AND NO ELECTRICITY.

THERE ARE KEROSENE LAMPS FOR LIGHT AND WELLS DUG IN THE HAND FOR HAND PUMPING WATER.

JULIA TREMBLEY HIKES OUT OFTEN.

>> I STARTED GOING OUT TO THE DUNES TO SHOOT JUST THE DUNES AND I DISCOVERED THE SHACKS AND THEN I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AND IT BECAME LIKE SORT OF THIS QUEST LIKE THIS REALLY FUN TREASURE HUNT TO TRY TO FIND THEM ALL AND FIGURE THEM OUT.

>> ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS EARLY RESIDENTS OF THE DUNE SHACKS WAS PLAYWRIGHT EUGENE O'NEIL.

BUT THEY'VE DRAWN THE LIKES OF TENNESSEE WELLS, JACKSON POLLOCK, NORMAL MAYER, AND E.E.

CUMMINGS.

TODAY SEVERAL -- HELP WITH SUMMER RESIDENT DI PROGRAMS.

>> IF YOU WANT A CLEAN COMPOSITION, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GO BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT HUGE EXANLSES GOING OUT.

-- EXPANSES GOING OUT.

YOU'VE GOT THE OCEAN, THE INCREDIBLE SKIES, THE SAND, YOU'VE GOT THE LIGHT.

IT'S CRAZY BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS ABOUT 5:00 IN THE MORNING.

AND WHAT WAS GREAT WAS THAT THE MOON AND -- MOON SETTING AND THE SUN RISING WERE HAPPENING WITHIN LIKE 10 MINUTES OF EACH OTHER.

SO THE SUN IS JUST COMING UP AND IT'S JUST HITTING THE TOP AND YOU CAN SEE IT HITTING THE TIPS OF THE FENCE, SO IS STILL ON -- STUN IS -- SUN IS STILL ON ITS WAY AND UP THE MOON IS ON ITS WAY TOWN.

THAT WAS A NICE BONUS.

>> FOR ME THAT WAS A NEXT-LEVEL EXPERIENCE.

I DIDN'T WALK OUT TO THE DUNE SHACKS OR THAT LANDSCAPE UNTIL I WAS 40.

WHEN YOU GET TO THE TOP AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE GOINGI DESERT, AND -- GOBI DESERT AND YOU'VE NEVER SEEN LIKE THAT ON CAPE COD, I HAD THE THOUGHT HOW DID IT TAKE ME THIS LONG TO GET TO THIS SPOT.

>> ROB COST WRAY AND HIS CREW CONTINUES TO INTRODUCE VISITORS TO THIS BACK SHORE ENVIRONMENT OF PROVINCE TOWN BY WAY OF HIS TOURS.

THIS YEAR HIS COMPANY WILL CELEBRATE 75 YEARS.

INSPIRATION AND CREATIVITY SEEM TO GO HAND IN HAND ON THE OUTER BEACH.

ARTISTS FLOCK HERE FOR THE SOLITUDE, THE LOVE OF THE LAND, AND THE CREATIVITY IT INSPIRES AND FAMILIES STILL COME AND RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.

>> I TOOK MY MOM A DUNE TOUR MANY YEARS AGO.

SHE TELLS EVERYBODY IN THE TRUCK I WAS CONCEIVED BEHIND IT.

I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOD, MOM!

[LAUGHTER] MIC DROP MOMENT.

BUT IT WAS A TRUE STORY.

SO LIKE I GOT MARRIED OUT HERE TO MY HUSBAND ROB.

AND THAT'S WHY, BECAUSE I WAS CONCEIVED AND YOU KNOW -- GOT MARRIED.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I DIE, IF I CAN GET SOME ASHES OUT HERE, THAT WOULD BE GOOD, TOO.

¶ ¶ .

¶ ¶ >>> THE 2021 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN JAPAN CAME TO AN A CLOSE THIS WEEK, AND NOW THE TORCH HAS PASSED TO A NEW GROOM OF ELITE ATHLETES, PEAR OLYMPIANS.

THE PEAR LOCKHEED MARTIN GAMES ARE A MAJOR SPIR -- PARAOLYMPIC GAMES ARE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL SPORT COMPETITION FOR DISABLED ATHLETES AND REGINS ON AUGUST 24TH.

-- BEGINS ON AUGUST 24TH.

MIKE PROUT HOLDS BRONZE AND GOLD MEDALS FOR THE 2004 GAMES.

THIS TIME HE'LL BE A COACH OF THE U.S. PARAOLYMPIC SWIMMING TEAM.

HE DISCUSSED HIS SWIMMING CAREER, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARAOLYMPICS, AND WHO HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO AS A COACH AT THIS YEAR'S GAMES.

>> THE PARAOLYMPICS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1948 ALONG WITH THE OLYMPICS, THEY'RE PAICIALEL.

SO THE -- PARALLEL.

THEY'RE PHYSICALICALLY DISABLED, PHYSICAL VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THAT ARE COMPETING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, SO SAME RULES APPLY AS WITH THE OLYMPICS.

YOU HAVE TO COMPETE WITHIN THE RULES OF THE SPORT.

AND THE GOLD AND SILVER AND BRONZE, IT'S IN THE SAME VENUES AS THE OLYMPICS.

THERE'S USUALLY ABOUT A TWO- TO THREE- WEEK CHANGEOVER TIME ALLOWED BETWEEN THE TWO SO THEY CAN SWITCH OUT ALL THE OLYMPICS SIGNAGE WITH ALL THE PARAOLYMPIC SIGNAGE AND GET ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND EVERYBODY AND THE HOST CITIES TO BE PREPARED.

BUT OTHERWISE THE OLYMPICS, PARALYMPICS ARE KIND OF THE SAME TWO-SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.

>> YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PARALYMPICS YOURSELF.

HAVING COMPETING IN ATHENS 2004, BEIJING 2008 AND LONDON 2012.

HOLDING BOTH GOLD AND BRONZE MEDALS.

HOW DID YOUR BACKGROUND IN SWIMMING BEGIN?

>> SO I STARTED IN SWIMMING.

ON A TEAM WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6 YEARS OLD.

AFTER I'D HAD A HIP SURGERY WHEN I WAS 5, THE DOCTOR HAD RECOMMENDED SWIMMING AS A GREAT LOW-IMPACT SPORT.

SO I STARTED SWIMMING ON A TEAM WHEN I WAS 6.

SWAM ALL MY LIFE ON ABLE-BODIED SWIM TEAMS.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PARALYMPICS UNTIL I WAS 16.

AND I STARTED COMPETING IN MEETS AT THAT POINT.

I ALSO CONTINUED SWIMMING ABLE-BODY THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD, INCLUDING SWIMMING AT EMASS AMHERST BEFORE -- UMASS AMHERST.

AFTER I GRADUATED COLLEGE I MOVED TO THE OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER TO TRAIN FOR THE LONDON GAMES.

BUT GREW UP KIND OF WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS ANY ABLE-BODIED SWIMMER DID.

ON THEIR CLUB TEAM, PRACTICING JUST AS I WOULD OTHERWISE.

BEING IN A HIGHER CLASSIFICATION ALLOWED ME TO DO THAT A LITTLE BIT EASIER THAN ATHLETES THAT ARE IN THE LOWER CLASSIFICATION THAT ARE MORE SEVERELY DISABLED.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND NOW WE TRY AND GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ATHLETES TO KIND OF GET THOSE SAME EXPERIENCES.

>> YOU WERE BORN WITH YOUR DISABILITY AND HAVE ENTERED MULTIPLE -- ENDURED MULTIPLE SURGERIES WIN BEFORE BEENING YOUR MEDALS.

YOU ALSO OWN SEVERAL AMERICAN SWIMMING RECORDS.

HOW HAS THIS SPORT IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?

>> WHAT I STARTED DOING -- [INAUDIBLE] WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND NOW THAT I'M ON THE RETIRED SIDE, I HAVE BEEN COACHING, SO I COACH A CLUB TEAM WITH ABLE-BODIED SWIMMERS.

I RUN AN ADAPTIVE SWIM PROGRAM THAT HAS A SWIM TEAM AND SWIM LESSONS.

THROUGH SWIMMING I WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP A LOT OF SKILLS LIKE SELF-DISCIPLINE, TIME MANAGEMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND BEING AROUND THE SPORT AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE SPORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENJOYABLE FOR ME AND I THINK THAT'S WHY AFTER TAKING A LITTLE BREAK FROM IT AFTER I STOPPED COMPETING, I WAS DRAWN BACK INTO THE SWIMMING WORLD.

>> SPEAKING OF COACHING, YOU'RE HEADING TO TOKYO TO BE ONE OF THE COACHES FOR THE U.S. PARAOLYMPIC SWIM TEAM.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT TRANSITION INTO COACHING AND WHAT YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT.

>> I'VE TAKEN A BREAK FROM SWIMMING WORLD AFTER I STOPPED COMPETING.

AND THEN I'D BE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF COACHING AGAIN BACK IN 2016 AROUND THE RIO PARAOLYMPIC TRIALS MEET.

AND REALIZED THAT I WAS SOMETHING THAT I MISSED AND WANTED TO GET BACK INTO.

SO I STARTED COACHING ON THE NATIONAL TEAM SIDE DOING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS WITH THEM AND GOING TO CAMPS AND CLINICS, AS WELL AS COACHING MORE FULL-TIME.

AND I THINK FOR THEM IT MAKES IT EASIER TO CONNECT WITH ME KNOWING THAT I AM ALSO PARALYMPIAN AND I'VE GONE THROUGH THE SAME THINGS THAT THEY'VE EITHER ALSO GONE THROUGH OR ARE GOING THROUGH NOW.

>> AS A COACH FOR SUMMERS WITH DISABILITIES HAVING A DISABILITY YOURSELF AND YOUR HAVING SWAM WITH ABLE-BODIED SWIMMERS, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE FOR THESE ATHLETES RATHER THAN HAVING AN ABLE-BODIED COACH?

>> ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES IS -- ADVANTAGES JUST THAT.

WHEN WE'VE DONE A COUPLE CLINICS AT UMASS AM BURST -- AMHURST, I BROUGHT IN COACHES SPECIFICALLY BASED ON SOME OF THE ATHLETES' DISABILITIES AND WE NOTICED WAS THAT IF THERE'S AN ATHLETE WITH, SAY, CEREBRAL PALSY, COACHING ATHLETES THAT ALSO HAVE C. P., THEY'RE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR BODY IS ABLE TO DO.

AND NOT ABLE TO DO AND KIND OF STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES A LOT EASIER.

SO HAVING THAT CONNECTION AND JUST BEING ABLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW -- HOW MY BODY MOVES VERSUS HOW SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR'S BODY IS ABLE TO MOVE, AND HAVING JUST A LITTLE BIT EXTRA INFORMATION JUST INTERNALLY FROM ALWAYS HAVING A DISABILITY AND KNOWING HOW TO -- I'VE HAD TO ADAPT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT ATHLETE WOULD HAVE TO ADAPT.

>> THIS YEAR NBC UNIVERSAL WILL BE AIRING THE FIRST PRIMETIME BROADCAST IN HISTORY OF THE 2020 TOKYO PARAOLYMPIC GAMES AND WILL AIR A RECORD 12 HOURS OF COVERAGE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE ATHLETES WHO DO NOT GET THE SAME COVERAGE AS OTHER OLYMPIANS TO REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRIES ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE?

>> IT MEANS A LOT.

IT'S CERTAINLY -- IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AND ASKING FOR, FOR A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF OTHER COUNTRIES, THE PARALYMPICS ARE AS BIG OR SOMETIMES BIGGER DEPENDING ON THE QUALITIES OF THEIR TEAMS.

AND WE'VE BEEN LAGGING BEHIND A LITTLE BIT IN THE U.S.

SO NOW I THINK WITH THE HELP OF STREAMING AND THE HELP OF JUST MORE RECOGNITION AND SPONSORS HELPING ATHLETES GET THEIR NAMES OUT THERE, THAT WE'RE STARTING TO CATCH BACK UP TO THE REST OF THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THE COVERAGE THAT WILL BE ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS TIME AROUND AND I THINK THAT IT'S AMAZING THAT PEOPLE -- MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO SEE THE PARALYMPICS THIS GO-AROUND AND IT WILL ONLY HELP TO CONTINUE BUILDING THE SPORT WITHIN OUR COUNTRY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT CONNECTING POINT EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

AS THE 2021 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN TOKYO DRAW TO A CLOSE THIS WEEK, WE REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN OLYMPIC HISTORY WITH TIES TO NEW ENGLAND.

THE MOST FAMOUS OF WHICH FOR MANY IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE U.S. HOCKEY TEAM'S MIRACLE "MIRACLE " WIN AGAINST THE SOAFD UNION DURING THE 1980 OLYMPICS.

THE TEAM WAS LED BY MASSACHUSETTS NATIVE MIKE ERUZIONE, WHO LOOKED BACK ON THE HISTORIC WIN IN THIS ONLINE EXCLUSIVE.

>> 17 OF US DRESSED THAT NIGHT.

NINE OF THE GUYS WERE IN THE STANDS.

>> HE SCORED THE WINNING GOAL.

>> I JUST FELT 10 MINUTES LEFT, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SCORE AND IT WORK OUT AND WE HAD TO LEAVE AND THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW ON NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AS THE HOME OF ONE OF THE LARGEST CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUMS IN THE COUNTRY, IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT THE CITY OF NORTH ADAMS IS NO STRANGER TO THE ARTS AND VISITORS TO TOWN FIND REMINDERS OF THAT EVERYWHERE THEY GO.

THIS SUMMER THE CULTURE DISTRICT IN NORTH ADAMS HAS ADDED TWO NEW MURALS TO THEIR GROWING COLLECTION OF PUBLIC ART.

WITH THE GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, TWO LOCAL ARTISTS WERE SELECTED TO CREATE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS SELFIE MURALS WITH THE HASHTAG NORTH ADAMS, AND BRIAN SULLIVAN METAL UP -- MET UP WITH THEM TO BRING US THIS STORY.

>> ANYONE TRAVELING ALONG ASHLAND STREET WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED NOT TO SEE THE IMMENSE MURAL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE APARTMENTS.

THIS MULTI-COLORED WORK OF ART IS A TRIBUTE TO ONE-TIME NORTH ADAMS RESIDENT LU GIM GONG.

A CHINESE IMMIGRANT WHO DEVELOPED THE FIRST FROST-RESISTANT ORANGE.

WE WERE THERE AS THEY WERE THERE TO APPLY THE FIRST COATS OF PAINT.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, THERE IT WAS, ALMOST AS IF THERE WAS NEVER A TIME THAT IT WASN'T ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

>> HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT IS ONE OF THOSE EXPRESSES THAT PROBABLY USE TOO OFTEN.

BUT IT'S THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE MURALS.

THEY SEEM TO JUST APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE, AND THEN ALMOST INSTANTLY, BECOME PART OF THE SCENERY.

AS IF THEY'D BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.

OF COURSE, THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO COVER EIGHT STORIES OF WALL SPACE, AS EVIDENCED BY THIS 9 BY 9 FOOT MONARCH BUTTERFLY MURAL BEING PAINTED BY A LOCAL ARTIST ON HOLDEN STREET.

SHE AND FELLOW LOCAL ARTIST AMY KOONE WERE COMMISSIONED TO CREATE WHAT ARE BEING CALLED SELFIE MURALS.

KUEHNE WAS PART OF A SIMILAR PROJECT IN 2020.

HER WORK CAN BE SEEN AMONG OTHER MURALS ON ASHLAND STREET.

>> LAST YEAR I MOVED TO NORTH ADAMS AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE ASHLAND STREET INITIATIVE MURAL, WHICH WAS A FOUR BY FOUR FOOT PAM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP -- PANEL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP BRING PEOPLE DOWN ASHLAND STREET AND CREATE A SENSE OF HOPE DURING THIS TIME OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO I GOT TO DO THAT PROJECT LAST SUMMER.

AND NOW FAST FORWARD ONE YEAR, THIS NEW MURAL THAT I'M DOING THAT'S AN 18-FOOT LONG MURAL.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> AMY WILL BE USING HER SPACE TO PUT A MODERN SPIN ON A CLASSIC POSTCARD DESIGN, GIVING VISITORS WHO MAKE SELF-Y IS -- SELFIES IN FRONT OF IT GIVING YOU A WISH YOU WERE HERE VIBE.

>> PEOPLE LOVE POSTING A PICTURE OF THEMSELVES THERE IS AND THE MURALS GIVE A BACKDROP TO DO THAT.

AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS WAS THERE WAS A #NORTH ADAMS AT THE BOTTOM.

>> WHILE SHE WAS ABLE TO WORK IN HER STUDIO, VALERIE SET UP SHOP RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE AND ASIDE FROM THE INTENSE HEAT SOME DAYS, THE EXPERIENCE HAD MORE PLUSES THAN MINUSES.

>> AS A WOMAN WHO PASSED BY THE OTHER DAY SAID TO ME, I WALK BY YOUR MURAL EVERY DAY.

IT BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY.

AND IT'S LIKE WE'VE ALL JUST EMERGED AFTER THIS PAST YEAR FROM A COCOON.

AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN THEY SEE THIS MURAL.

IT'S VIBRANT, IT'S JOYFUL, IT'S HOPEFUL.

>> SENTIMENTS THAT THE CULTURAL DISTRICT WOULD LIKE TO SEE PERVADE AMONG VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF THE STATE'S SMALLEST CITY.

IT'S A CITY THAT, FOR THE PAST QUARTER-CENTURY, HAS MOVED AWAY FROM ITS INDUSTRIAL ROOTS AND EMBRACED ITS ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.

THESE MURALS NOW ARE JUST MORE PIECES BEING ADDED TO THE EVER DEVELOPING JIGSAW PUZZLE.

>> THE TOWN OF NORTH ADAMS REALLY SUPPORTS ARTISTS BOTH LOCAL AND ALSO REGIONALLY.

AND IT REALLY -- NORTH ADAMS IS READ TO INVEST IN THE ARTS AND TO BRING -- TO BRING PEOPLE TO TOWN TO APPRECIATE IT.

>>> AS WERE JUST -- WE JUST SAW, NORTH ADAMS IS A CITY THAT IS DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE ARTS AND HOSTS A THRIVING ARTISTIC COMMUNITY.

GETTING THAT ARTISTIC COMMUNITY CONNECTED TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE AREA IS A PROJECT THAT'S RECENTLY BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE NORTH ADAMS ARTIST IMPACT COALITION, IN PART THANKS TO A $100,000 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

THE COALITION IS WORKING ON CREATING TWO DIRECTORIES TO POLLSTER ARTISTS' ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND I SPOKE WITH MICHELLE DALY OF DALY ARTS CONSULT WHO GO IS SPEARHEADING THE PROJECT TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> IT IS TO KIND OF PUT A LIST OF ALL THE ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY IN ONE PLACE.

SO THAT EVERYONE -- SO THAT'S VISIBLE TO EVERYONE AND SORT OF THIS -- I THINK THE SUBGEL OF THAT -- SUBGOAL OF THAT IS FOR ARTISTS TO UNDERSTAND WHO ELSE IS IN THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT TENDS TO BE VERY SILENT IN SOME WAYS.

LIKE IF YOU COME IN A CERTAIN GENERATION OR PROGRAM, YOU HAVE THAT NETWORK BUT MAY BE YOU'RE NOT SO AWARE OF WHAT THE OTHER CREATIVITY NETWORKS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S A CHANCE TO KIND OF SEE WHO'S HER AND MAYBE FIND SOME COLLABORATORS.

MAKE FIND A CRITIQUE GROUP, MAYBE PAIR IT TOGETHER, GROUP TOGETHER ON A LARGER PROJECT, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> THE ARTIST DIRECTORY IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY A BUSINESS DIRECT TORE AS WELL.

WHILE ART CAN BE A HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE, HISTORICALLY ARTISTS TEND TO STRUGGLE WITH THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO EDUCATE ARTISTS ABOUT BUSINESS?

>> YEAH.

SO I THINK THERE'S KIND OF TWO PIECES TO THAT QUESTION.

THE FIRST IS A LARGER CULTURAL PERCEPTION OF THAT MYTH OF A STARVING ARTIST AND YOU KNOW, SOME PRESSURE TO NOT CARE ABOUT MONEY OR TO NOT HAVE IT BE ABOUT MONEY OR EARNING A LIVING IN SOME WAY.

AND I THINK THE REALITY OF THAT IS REALLY CHANGING.

AND I THINK THE REALITY OF THAT HAS BEEN CHANGING FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

I THINK IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT IT SOMETIMES.

EVERY ARTIST WHO CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN ARTIST, EVEN IF THEY HAVE OTHER EMPLOYMENT, IS A BUSINESS OWNER.

THEY'RE A SOLE PRIMESHIP -- PRIMESHIP FOR A D/B/A.

THEY ARE A BUSINESS.

SO HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS AND ALSO HOW TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR EXPENSES.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY YOUR LIFE.

NOT JUST YOUR IMMEDIATE LIKE WHAT IT COSTS ME TO MAKE A PAINTING, BUT ALL OF THE THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO THAT, ALL THE TIME, ALL OF THAT HAVING A LIFE AROUND THAT THAT GOES INTO MAKING THE SPACE AND TIME TO DO THAT, AND HOW TO SUPPORT ALL OF THAT.

BUT THE SECOND PIECE OF THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY SPECIFICALLY IS HELPING ARTISTS UNDERSTAND WHO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THEM, ALSO WHERE THEY MIGHT BE CUSTOMERS OF OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES WHERE MAYBE THEY'RE SHOPPING ONLINE NOW OR GOING TO A LARGER CITY.

MAYBE THERE'S A HIDDEN GEM FOR THEM LOCALLY AND THEY CAN SOURCE THAT AND BUILD THAT BLOL RELATIONSHIP, WHICH IS IMPORTANT I THINK TO ALMOST EVERY ARTIST.

MYSELF AND ALMOST EVERY ARTIST I KNOW, LIKE THAT WEIGHS INTO WHERE WE SHOP.

SO MAYBE SOMETHING IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT WE WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, SOMEONE KNOWS WHAT WE DO AND IS ON OUR SIDE THAT A WAY THAT SHOPPING ONLINE MAYBE SOMEWHERE ISN'T.

>> HOW HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING TO BUILD BOTH OF THESE DIRECTORIES AND HOW DO YOU SEE IT BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY?

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CREATIVE GROUND PLATFORM, WHICH IS -- WAS CREATED AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AS OUR BACKBONE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DIRECT TORTS.

AND -- DIRECTORY.

AND THE BUSINESS PIECES BEING COMPILED THROUGH MY KNOWLEDGE AS A LONG-TIME NORTH ADAMS RESIDENT, THROUGH THOSE KNOWLEDGES OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS THAT ARE COMING INTO ME, AND JUST THROUGH OUTREACH TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

BUT REALLY IT'S JUST A CHANCE TO POINT EVERYONE TO KIND OF ONE RESOURCE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THEN WERE ALSO KIND OF EQUALIZING THAT PLAYING FIELD SO IT'S NOT BASED ON JUST A RECOMMENDATION, WHICH TENDS TO BE THE SAME FOLKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE EITHER THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST YOU KNOW, MOST SUCCESSFUL CAREERS OR BEST KNOWN, OR THEY'RE JUST KIND OF THE GO-TO.

SO HOW DO WE DEMOCRATIZE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL.

>> THESE DIRECT TORES ARE BEING EXCLUSIVELY BUILT FOR NORTH ADAMS AREA ARTISTS.

WERE THE -- WHY THE FOCUS ON NORTH ADAMS AND WHAT MAKES THE CITY SUCH AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK AND LIVE?

>> NORTH ADAMS HAS BEEN AN INCREASINGLY GROWING CREATIVE COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS OR SO.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE ANCHOR OF THAT.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN ATTEMPTS IN THE PAST TO DO THIS WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, DIFFERENT VENUES, AND I THINK WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS THE ARTISTS IMPACT COALITION IS THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ALL THOSE GROUPS.

SO INSTEAD OF MASS MOCA LEADING THE CHARGE OR M CLA OR COMMONWEALTH, THEY'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

SO WE'RE KIND OF -- IT'S THAT COLLECTED IMPACT MODEL WHERE WE CAN GATHER ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND LAYER IT -- ATOP ITSELF.

>> NOW, BEING AN ARTIST, A BUSINESS OWNER, AND A RESIDENT OF NORTH ADAMS YOURSELF, YOU HAVE BUILT YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DRAW ON THAT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROJECT?

>> I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN MOST VISIBLE AS AN ARTS ADMINISTRATOR IN THIS COMMUNITY VERSUS AN ARTIST, ALTHOUGH I'VE SHOWN MY WORK A FEW TIMES.

SO I -- YOU KNOW, THAT HAS GIVEN ME ACCESS TO ALL OF THESE SPACES AND GIVES ME FAMILIARITY WITH PROBABLY AT LEAST A COUPLE FOLKS IN THOSE SPACES.

SO I THINK IT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHO I AM, THEY KNOW MY WORK, AND THEY KNOW MY INTENTIONS SO THERE'S A FOUNDATION OF TRUST ALREADY THERE.

AND MY PERSONAL KIND OF CHEERLEADER OR SPIRIT FOR NORTH ADAMS IS THAT LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY INCREDIBLE ARTISTS HERE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET SEEN AND GET AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ART OF MY WORK, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, THAT'S -- THAT'S THE DRIVING FORCE.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR AUGUST 13TH, 2021.

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I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

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