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

A WORLD REFOUND GLASS ARTIST LOOKS BACK ON HIS FIVE-DECADE CAREER.

>> I FEEL SO FORTUNATE THAT THE PIECES THAT I LIKE TO MAKE AND THE CONCEPTS THAT I LIKE TO EXPLORE IN GLASS SEEM TO BE THINGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO COLLECT.

>> WE'LL DISCUSS THE NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE'S MISSION TO SHOWCASE LOCAL MUSICIANS.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WITH THE SONG BOOK, WHAT WE CAN DO IS SHOW WHAT'S THE BEST STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND SO THAT IT'S AS GOOD AS ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD HEAR ON THE RADIO.

>>> AND WE'LL TAKE A STROLL DOWN PITTSFIELD'S NORTH STREET FOR THEIR FINAL ARTSWALK OF THE SEASON.

>> A LOW-KEY ENVIRONMENT WITH THE ARTIST AND IF YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU LOVE, YOU CAN TAKE IT HOME, BUT IF NOT YOU GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLU ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

ARTIST JOSH SIMPSON FIRST MADE GLASS IN 1971 WHILE SPENDING A WINT SEMESTER AT GODDARD COTTAGE.

HE RENTED LAND IN NORTHERN VERMONT, LIVED IN A TEEPEE, AND BUILT A TINY GLASS WORKING STUDIO OUT OF OLD BARN BEAMS.

HE'S CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE ONE OF THE BEST GLASS BLOWERS IN THE WORLD.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TALKED WITH CEPTION RECENTLY WHO REFLECTED BACK ON HIS 50-YEAR CAREER.

>> WHEN I STARTED TO BLOW GLASS, I NEVER FOR A MOMENT CONSIDERED IT AS A POTENTIAL CAREER.

IT WAS JUST THE MOST FUN, EXCITING THING THAT I COULD POSSIBLY DO AT THE TIME.

¶ ¶ >> FOR HALF A CENTURY, JOSH SIMPSON HAS BEEN CREATING ART OBJECTS FROM GLASS.

HIS STUDIO IS THIS BIG RED BARN, IN SHE WILL BURN FALSES -- SHELL BURN FALLS.

>> I THINK ALL THE WORK I DO IS IN SOME WAY RELATED TO SPACE, WHETHER PLANETS THAT I MAKE GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN ASTRONAUT ORBITING AROUND THIS SMALL LITTLE WORLD, BUT I MAKE PIECES THAT I CALL TECH TIGHTS THAT HAVE USED THE SIM FORMULA OF GLASS AS MOOTERRITES THAT HAVE FALLEN TO EARTH FROM OUTER SPACE.

I ALSO MAKE PLATE THAT ARE WHAT FEEL -- PLATE THAT ARE MY MY " -- IDEA OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOOK UP AT THE SKY.

>> THE PROCESS STARTS WITH A SMALL RED-HOT MALLEABLE MASS OF LIQUID ON THE END OF A BLOW PIPE.

FIGHTING GRAVITY WITH EVERY TURN, SIMPSON STOPS ONLY TO REHEAT AND THEN REWORK THE PIECE UNTIL HE'S SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME.

>> GLASS AND INSANELY HOT.

YOU CAN NEVER TOUCH IT.

IT IS ONE MATERIAL THAT AS AN ARTIST I CAN NEVER, EVER TOUCH IT WITH MY HANDS.

THE RESULT WOULD BE HORRIFIC.

AND SO MY JOB IS TO CREATE SOMETHING AND GET THAT LIQUID TO COOPERATE.

THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGE.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES IT FUN, IS THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO GET AS CLOSE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO THIS DANGEROUS LIQUID.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> IDEALLY WITHOUT BURNING YOURSELF, OR CLOSE ENOUGH TO FEEL THE HEAT.

>> IN 1976, SIMPSON STARTED MAKING GLASS PLANETS, COMPLETE WITH OCEANS, CONTINENTS, VOLCANOES, AND CLOUDS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE LITERALLY LEFT THIS EARTH, INTO OUTER SPACE, TRAVELING WITH HIS WIFE, ASTRONAUT KATHERINE KATIE COLEMAN, WHO LIVED ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS -- INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IN 2011.

>> THE WAY HE LOOKS AT THE PIECE, THE WAY HE IS SO SURE IF HE WANTS IT TO BE A CERTAIN WAY, HE CAN JUST DO THAT.

IT'S IN A WAY LIKE THE SPACE PROGRAM.

PEOPLE SAY WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET TO MARS.

WE'REWE'RE GOING TO GO WHEN WE'E READY AND IT'S A LONG JOURNEY.

IT'S A LOT OF ACTUALLY SMALL STEPS.

I SEE THAT IN HIS WORK AS WELL, WHERE SOMETHING THAT HE'S BEEN THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 40 YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, A KIND OF EXHIBITION OF GLASS AND THEN -- COMBINATION OF GLASS AND WHAT HE'S BEEN LEARNING, I'LL SEE HIM KIND OF GO BACK TO THAT AND GO, WOW, THAT THING THAT I COULDN'T DO BACK THEN, NOW I'VE GOT A WAY TO DO THAT.

>> JOSH AND KATIE MARRIED IN 1997.

AND ONE WOULD THINK THAT MARRYING AN ASTRONAUT WAS THE REASON FOR THE CREATION OF THE PLANETS.

BUT ACCORDING TO JOSH, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

>> I WAS MAKING PLANETS LONG BEFORE I MET MY WIFE.

IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT KATIE JOINED NASA IN 1992, AND SHE HAS GOT TO EXPLORE THE WORLD THE WAY I IMAGINE EXPLORING THE WORLD.

I MAKE THESE GLASS SPHERES AND I THINK ABOUT FLYING AROUND THOSE, WHETHER IT'S UNDER WATER SCENE OR WHETHER I FEEL LIKE I'M AN ASTRONAUT FLYING IN ORBIT AROUND ONE.

>> MANY OF THE PLANETS CEPTION'S MADE HAVE BEEN -- SIMPSON'S MADE HAVING PLANTED ON MOUNTAINTOPS, HIDDEN IN FORESTS AND BURIED AT SEA ALL OVER THE WORLD AS PART OF -- PART OF HIS INFINITY PROJECT.

HE ESTIMATES 3,000 GLOBES HAVE BEEN HIDDEN IN DIVERSE PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

>> WHEN I MOVED HERE, 40 YEARS AGO, NO ONE WAS COLLECTING MY GLASS.

AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD -- I SHOULD MAKE LITTLE SPHERES AND HIDE THEM AROUND THE WORLD, NOT WITH MY NAME ON THEM, BUT JUST HIDE THEM AND MAYBE SOMEDAY THEY'LL BE FOUND BY A RANDOM STRANGER OR BY A KID.

AND IT'S KIND OF A PRESENT TO GIVE TO SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE.

>> SINCE LEARNING GLASS BLOWING IN THE EARLY 1970s, HE'S MADE THOUSANDS OF PLANETS AS WELL AS TREMENDOUS GLASS PLATTERS, GOBLETS, AND BOWLS.

THE LARGEST PLANETS ARE A FOOT IN DIAMETER, AND WEIGH 50 POUNDS OR MORE.

>> I FEEL SO FORTUNATE THAT THE PIECES THAT I LIKE TO MAKE AND THE WORK AND THE CONCEPTS THAT I LIKE TO EXPLORE IN GLASS SEEM TO BE THINGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO COLLECT.

AND I'VE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLY LUCKY THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M DOING AND WANT TO SHARE THAT.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WESTERN NEW ENGLAND IS HOME TO SEVERAL VIBRANT MUSIC SCENES AND ONE LOCAL NONPROFIT'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND HELP ADVANCE THE CAREERS OF THE AREA'S TALENTED MUSICIANS.

THE NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE IS DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING CRAZYIVE, LOCAL MUSICIANS WHO WRITE ORIGINAL MUSIC, AS WELL AS PROMOTING OUR REGION AS A DESTINATION FOR ORIGINAL MUSIC WRITING, PRODUCTION, AND PERFORMANCES.

I SPOKE WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARK SHERRY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARK RAMONEE, AND BOARD MEMBER MIRIAM SIROTA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION, ITS EVENTS, AND INITIATIVES.

>> THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE IS JUST SO INCREDIBLY RICH IN THIS REGION.

AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WELL KNOWN ANYWHERE OUT OF THE AREA.

AND MUSICIANS TRADITIONALLY GET ATTENTION MUCH MORE SO IF THEY'RE SOMEWHERE AROUND, YOU KNOW, EITHER A MAJOR CITY OR A MUSIC CLUB LIKE, YOU KNOW, NASHVILLE OR AUSTIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND AROUND HERE IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR REALLY GOOD ARTISTS TO GET KIND OF ATTENTION THAT THEY DESERVE.

THERE'S AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF MUSIC HERE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GO TO NEW YORK CITY EVENTUALLY.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE STAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE COME BACK HERE.

AND I JUST FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO GIVE THEM THE KIND OF ATTENTION AND ALSO FOSTER YOUNG MUSICIANS AND TRY AND HELP THEM ASSIST THEIR CAREERS AND HELP THEM ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.

>> YOU RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE ESSENTIAL WESTERN NEW ENGLAND SONGBOOK THAT CONTAINS 151 SONGS WRITTEN BY ARTISTS FROM THIS REGION.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT AND WHAT MAKES THIS SONG BOOK SO ESSENTIAL.

>> I FEEL LIKE THAT WITH THE SONGBOOK, WHAT WE CAN DO IS SHOW WHAT'S THE BEST STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND SHOW THAT IT'S AS GOOD AS ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD HEAR ON THE RADIO.

IN FACT, IT'S A LOT -- YOU DO HEAR ON THE RADIO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU SEE THE BREADTH AND THE QUALITY THAT'S THERE AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, I CAN GO OUT AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ON THE WEEKEND.

>> I'M SURE THERE ARE NEEDS THAT WILL SURPRISE PEOPLE THAT ARE INCLUDED FROM THIS AREA THAT HE LISTEN TO ALL THE TIME.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM THIS BOOK?

>> IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1950s.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN IT LIKE THE FIVE SATINS AND GENE PITNEY, WHO ARE JUST ICONS FROM BACK THEN, AND PRODUCED SOME GREAT STUFF.

>> BILL FLAG.

>> BILL FRAG, AS WELL.

EAST -- FLAG, AS WELL.

HE'S THE INVENTOR OF ROCKE BILLY.

AND PEOPLE AROUND US.

TAJ MAHAL FROM SPRINGFIELD.

ARLOW GUTHRIE FROM OUT IN THE BERKSHIRES.

STAIN FROM SPRINGFIELD WHICH WAS A MEGA SELLING BAND.

AVERY SHARP, A LEGEND IN THE JAZZ WORLD.

WE COULD GO ON!

[LAUGHTER] >> THEY'RE ALSO WHAT I REALLY ENJOY ABOUT IT, TOO, IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG BANDS COMING OUT OF HERE OF.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF I CAN.

WHO HAVE THUNK IT WHO ARE GREAT.

THEY'RE A WOMEN'S BAND.

THEY'RE VERY YOUNG.

THEY'RE VERY ORIGINAL.

THERE'S LIKE NOTHING DERIVATIVE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.

YES, IT'S FUNK MUSIC BUT THEY -- THEY ARE IN THE SONGBOOK.

>> NOW, THEY ARE SEVERAL WAYS THAT YOU WORK WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING OFFERING WORKSHOPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, AS WELL AS HAVING THE NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE RADIO HOW THAT YOU'RE D SWRRKSs -- DJs FOR.

NOW, WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT IT AND HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING THAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT DOING THIS RADIO SHOW?

>> I JUST THINK THAT IT'S GREAT THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO LARGE COMPANIES AND NATIONWIDE COMMERCIAL STATIONS ARE FEEDING US FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

WE CAN LISTEN TO LOCAL TALENT ON SMALL COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS, SEE BANDS AT LOCAL VENUES, AND LISTEN TO SONGS THAT WERE PRODUCED BY LOCAL RECORDING STUDIOS.

I THINK IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE THAT PEOPLE WILL FIND VERY -- YOU KNOW, PLEASING AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF THEY JUST GO OUT AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

THE WAY IT'S DONE IS THAT EVERY WEEK, SOMEBODY PUTS TOGETHER THE PLAYLISTS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THE OTHER DJS AS A GUEST AND USUALLY VIOLET WHO IS FANTASTIC AND DOES OUR EDITING.

SO PUTTING TOGETHER THE LIST ITSELF IS SO MUCH FUN.

I TEND TO, YOU KNOW, GO FOR THEMES.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN THING.

WE ALL -- AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SIGH PEOPLE'S -- SEE PEOPLE'S THEIR POINT OF VIEW, WHAT THEY -- WHAT DRAWS THEM TO CERTAIN ARTISTS, LIKE I KNOW -- YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THIS PERSON, THEY MIGHT BRING IN SOME CLASSICAL OR JAZZ MUSIC THAT WE'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AMAZED ME IS I THOUGHT EVENTUALLY WE WERE GOING TO RUN OUT OF REALLY GOOD SONGS FROM ARTISTS FROM THIS AREA.

>> THEY KEEP POPPING UP.

>> I'M VERY, VERY COMMITTED TO ONLY, YOU KNOW, SHOWING LIKE REALLY WHAT THE BEST OF MUSIC CAN BE.

SO PEOPLE CAN SAY, WOW, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS.

SO WE HAVEN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO RUNNING OUT OF ALL THIS STUFF THAT PEOPLE ARE PRODUCING AND HAVE PRODUCED FROM THERE AREA -- THIS AREA THAT IS REALLY GREAT STUFF.

>> I WANTED TO TOUCH ONS A, BECAUSE MIRIAM AND MARK SHERRY, YOU HAVE RELOCATED TO THIS REGION.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS LIFT IN THE WESTERN NEW ENGLAND REGION.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT MUSIC AND ARTISTS THAT COME OUT OF THIS REGION SPECIFICALLY?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEGES IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

AND THAT'S USUALLY A GREAT HUB FOR LISTENING TO NEW, YOUNG, LOCAL TALENT.

>> AND ONE THING I WANT TO JUST REITERATE IS THAT JUST REMEMBER, EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAY IS ORIGINAL MUSIC BY LOCAL ARTISTS.

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC BY LOCAL ARTISTS.

>> NOW, FOR ANY LOCAL ARTIST OUT THERE, HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE A PART OF THE NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE?

>> NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE GMAIL.COM YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF US.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN GET ALL THAT INFORMATION THERE, TOO.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> SINCE MAY OF 2012, THE DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD CULTURAL ASSOCIATION HAS HOSTED WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE FIRST FRIDAYS ARTSWALK.

ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 5:00 AND 8:00 P.M., MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN TOUR SEVERAL BUSINESSES AND GALLERIES ALONG NORTH STREET IN PITTSFIELD, WHERE THE WORKS OF LOCAL ARTISTS ARE ON DISPLAY, OFTENTIMES WITH THE ARTIST ON HAND TO MEET THE -- PUBLIC.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 3RD WAS THE LAST INSTALLMENT OF THE YEAR AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN HIT NORTH STREET TO BRING US THIS NEXT STORY.

>> WHAT BETTER WAY TO USHER IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON THAN WITH FESTIVE LIGHTS AND THE SWEET SOUNDS OF SEASONAL STANDARDS BEING SUNG BY CAROLERS.

BUT WHILE ONE SEASON WAS BEING WELCOMED IN, ANOTHER WAS DRAWING TO A CLOSE AND DECEMBER 3RD MARKED THE LAST OF THE FERS FRIDAYS ARTSWALKS OF TWINE.

-- 2021.

THE EVENT IS PUT ON BY THE DOWD PITTSFIELD CULTURE ASSOCIATION.

AND SINCE 12 IT'S SERVED TO CONNECT COMMUNITY, BUSINESSES, GALLERIES AND ARTISTS, ARTESTS LIKE EILEEN RICHARD.

>> A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A NURSE OVER AT BROOKSHIRE MEDICAL, SHE STARTED IT BECAUSE SHE FELT THERE WAS A NEED AND SHE WAS VERY MUCH INTO THE ARTS.

AND SHE WOULD TAKE PEOPLE ON A WALK-THROUGH DOWNTOWN.

THERE WERE DIFFERENT ART SHOWS PLACED IN DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AND SPACES IN THE AREA.

AND IT WAS A WHOLE EVENING'S WORTH OF ART ADVENTURES AND IT WAS A FUN THING.

SHE WOULD MEET UP WITH PEOPLE OVER AT THE BUS STATION AND WALK THEM THROUGH DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S HOW I GOT TO MEET HER AND HOW I GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ARTSWALK IS.

>> RICHARD IS ONE OF OVER 20 ARTISTS LOCATED HERE AT 311 NORTH STREET.

THE SPACE KNOWN AS THE NEW ARTS STUDIOS AND GALLERY HAS LYNN -- HAS AN ALMOST CLUBHOUSE FEEL TO IT.

ONE CAN BE FOUND BE IN THE CORNER STUDIO.

>> I'M A FAIRLY NEW ARTISTS TO THE NEW ARTS GALLERY AND STUDIOS COMMUNITY.

AND I'VE STARTED JOINING IN ON THE FIRST FRIDAYS ARTSWALK BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

THE ARTISTS HERE, THOUGH, ARE PRETTY CLOSE-KNIT GROUP AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF FIRST FRIDAYS ARTSWALK.

SO IT'S A LONG STARTING TWA ADDITION FOR A LOT OF ARTISTS HERE AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE JOINING IN.

>> BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ARTISTS UNDER ONE ROOF, THE NEW ARTS BUILDING IS ESSENTIALLY THE CENTRAL HUB.

FOR EILEEN RICHARD, WHO'S BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL OF THESE EVENTS, SHE KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT FOR OTHERS THE EXPERIENCE OF OPENING HER WORKPLACE TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IS STILL NEW AND SHE HOPES IT'S SOMETHING BOTH SIDES CAN ENJOY.

>> FOR FOLKS COMING INTO THE STUDIOS, IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN A LOW-KEY ENVIRONMENT WITH THE ARTISTS AND LOOKING AT THE ART AND IF YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU LOVE, YOU CAN TAKE IT HOME, BUT IF NOT, YOU GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FELLOW ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHILE THERE'S SURE TO BE PLENTY OF FOOT TRAFFIC HERE, THIS ISN'T THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN TONIGHT.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONSING UP AND DOWN NORTH STREET THAT PEOPLE CAN VISIT AS WELL AND HAVING THE MAP UPLOADED TO MY PHONE MAKES THEM EASY TO FIND.

SOMEA AROMAS HAS SCENTS, TASTY STUDS, AND ARTIST ELIZABETH PREPARING HER NEXT WORK OF ART, TKG REALTY HAD THESE TWO PIECES.

BACK TO THE NEW ARTS STUDIO, QUESTION COME ACROSS THE HOE HE WILL ON NORTH WHERE SCOTT TAYLOR'S WORK WAS BEING COMMITTED.

WE STOPPED BY HIS STUDIO EARLIER IN THE DAY WHERE WE DISCUSSED WHAT TO EXPECT THAT NIGHT.

>> THE SHOW YOU'LL SEE ON HOTEL ON NORTH REALLY CAME OUT OF -- OF BEING IN CURVED.

-- COVID.

AND IT'S CALLED WHEN WORLDS CLYDE.

SO THE -- COLLIDE.

SO THE INTERESTING PART IS THE THEME IS ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT SO WERE MY EMOTIONS AND AS AN ARTIST I PAINT EMOTIONS.

I'M ALSO A LANDSCAPE PAINTER AS WELL.

BUT I REALLY -- I REALLY ENJOY PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL THE ARTISTS DO DURING THE ARTS WALKS, PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THIS WITH THE BEST CASE SCENARIO THEY CAN SELL THEIR WORK.

WHILE IT'S GOOD TO HOPE FOR THE BEST, SOMETIMES THE SAFE BET IS TO TEMPER EXPECTATIONS AND HOPE TO HAVE A NICE TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE GET A MIXED BAG OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN HERE.

WE GET PEOPLE THAT ARE SERIOUSLY LOOKING TO BUY ART, PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST HERE TO ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES FOR A FEW HOURS, GET OUT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S COLD, SO THEY WANT TO GET OUT FOR A FEW HOURS.

AND IT'S A MIXED BAG.

REALLY IS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> 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 US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXTRA, WE HEAR FROM THREE ARTISTS PARTICIPATING IN PITTSFIELD'S FINAL FIRST FRIDAYS ARTSWALK OF THE SEASON TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL STYLES AND EXPERIENCES AS ARTISTS.

>> I AM AN ABSTWRACT ARTIST.

I DO A VARIETY TYPE OF ABSTRACTS BECAUSE I TRANSLATE MUSIC INTO PAINTINGS.

SO THAT MEANS THAT SOMETIMES A PIECE OF MUSIC WILL BE VERY GEOMETRIC AND STRAIGHT LINES AND SOMETIMES THE MUSIC IS VERY SOFT AND MOODY.

AND SO I HAVE MUCH MORE OF AN ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE KIND OF FEEL.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXTRA AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST RICHIE DAVIS IS BACK WITH A NEW BOOK ENTITLED "GOOD WILL AND ICE CREAM"."

THIS COLLECTION PICKS UP WHERE LIST LAST BOOK LEAVES OFF, SHARING MORE TRUE TALES FROM EXTRAORDINARY LIVES FROM THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.

THE STORIES SPAN FOUR DECADES AND WERE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE RECORDER T DAILY NEWSPAPER IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, WHERE DAVIS WORKED AS A REPORTER FOR NEARLY 45 YEARS.

DAVIS SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT THE BOOK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM.

>> ONE OF THE STORIES WAS ABOUT A -- UNLIKE ANY OF THE OTHER STORIES, IT WAS BASICALLY A TOUR OF ALL OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ICE CREAM PLACES.

10 ICE CREAM PLACES ON THE FIRST DAY AND SEVEN ON THE SECOND.

THE WE IS A FRIEND OF MINE, 13 YEARS OLD, WHO I TOOK ALONG BECAUSE I FIGURED, HOW CAN I DESCRIBE LIKE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ICE CREAM.

AND SO ETHAN SHWAITSER GASLIN GAME ALONG WITH ME BECAUSE I KNEW HE COULD ARTICUKATE THINGS IN A WAY I COULD NEVER -- ARTICULATE THINGS IN A WAY I NEVER COULD.

WE FINISHED UP THE SECOND DAY AND WE WENT TO THE ASHFIELD HARDWARE STORE.

WHERE LAURA BISSET WHO CO-OWNS THE STORE SAID, WE WANT THE SPIRIT OF "GOOD WILL AND ICE CREAM" TO REVAIL, BECAUSE THEY WERE SELLING ICE CREAM FOR A DOLLAR A CONE OR 50IENTS FOR KIDS.

AND "GOOD WILL AND ICE CREAM" JUST KIND OF SPOKE TO THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE BOOK FOR ME.

>> NOW, "GOOD WILL AND ICE CREAM" SERVES YOU HAVE TRUE STORIES ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GREENFIELD RECORDER, SPANNING OVER FOUR DECADES.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT CHOOSING WHICH STORIES TO INCLUDE IN THESE COLLECTIONS AND HOW DID IT FEEL TO REVISIT THE STORIES?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STORIES THAT ARE THERE TO ENTERTAIN.

WE TELL STORIES TO INFORM.

BUT WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME IS STORIES THAT REALLY NURTURE THE SOUL AND STORIES THAT ARE LOCAL BUT STORIES THERE ARE UNIVERSAL -- THAT ARE UNIVERSAL AND WHERE YOU CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES AND COME AWAY WITH A LOT MORE THAN THE -- THE BLACK AND WHITE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND SO THE FIRST BOOK WAS -- WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON PERSONALITIES, PROFILES OF PEOPLE I REALLY THOUGHT WERE -- SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BE FORGOTTEN.

AND THE SECOND BOOK, THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF STORIES.

SOME OF THEM NOT ALL LOCAL PEOPLE.

BUT THERE ARE STORIES THAT I FELT WERE UNIVERSAL AND THEY HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO PEOPLE.

THERE'S A STORY ABOUT AUSCHWITZ, ABOUT ROBERT JAILERTS, WHO IS A PUBLIC RADIO ANNOUNCER.

AND THERE'S A STORY ABOUT DOCUMENT -- A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FARMING FAMILIES THAT I THOUGHT REALLY SPOKE TO THE AREA.

>> YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS WIDE RANGE OF STORIES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THESE COLLECTIONS.

AND THE PERSONALITIES THAT ARE IN THEM AS WELL.

YOU HAVE A RECOVERING SUBSTANCE ABUSER WHO BECOMES CHAUFFEUR, A BODYGUARD, AND SOMETIMES AES LING BUDDY FOR THE DALAI LLAMA TO A SELF-TAUGHT FIDDLER WHO WEAVES COMMUNITY WITH HIS BOW AND HEART.

WHICH STORY OR THEMES IN THIS COLLECTION REALLY SPEAK TO YOU THE MOST?

>> WELL, I DEDICATED THE BOOK AT THE VERY, VERY END TO DAVID CANNER, WHO WAS THAT FIDDLER WHO DIED ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

AND WHO WAS REALLY CENTRAL TO NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY I LIVE IN, BUT TO FIDDLERS AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT HE'S VERY INCLUSIVE IN INVITING PEOPLE TO JUST PLAY AND TO COME IN AND JOIN IN.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF GOODWILL.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU ALSO TOUCH ON THE CHANGES AND STRUGGLES OF THE NEWSPAPER AND PRINT INDUSTRY THAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED IN YOUR NEARLY 45 YEARS AS A REPORTER AND EDITOR.

WHAT IS THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY JOURNALISM?

>> I THINK NEWSPAPERS AND -- YOU KNOW, LOCAL MEDIA CAN REALLY HELP BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND REALLY INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT NOT ONLY WHO'S IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING BUT GIVE PEOPLE A TASTE OF THE RICHNESS OF DIVERSITY IN -- WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO IDEAS THAT PEOPLE ADOPT AND BRING IN AND WAYS TO SHARE.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> ONE PART IN THE BOOK THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS WHEN YOU SAID, QUOTE, FOR YEARS I WAS SEEMINGLY LEFT BEHIND AS I WATCHED FELLOW REPORTERS LEAVE FOR THE BIG-TIME OR GIVE UP NEWSPAPERING FOR WHAT OTHERS CONSIDERED A REAL JOB.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THIS AREA?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT LIVING IN THIS REGION, SPECIFICALLY FRANKLIN COUNTY, THAT IS SO SPECIAL TO YOU?

>> I JUST FEEL LIKE WE ARE SO LUCKY TO LIVE IN A PLACE THAT'S JUST RICH IN -- JUST HAVING THE SPACE TO SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE INVITING EACH OTHER IN TO PARTICIPATE AND -- IN FIDDLING AND PLAYING AND DANCING, IF YOU CAN'T DANCE, DO IT ANYWAY.

A LOT OF THE PRETENSE OF YOU KNOW, MORE AREAS THAT ARE MORE A LITTLE BIT UP AND -- BUILT UP AND MORE RIGGED IS -- IS REALLY -- RIGID IS SOMEWHAT ABSENT HERE AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF LATITUDE FOR PEOPLE TO BE THEMSELVES AND THAT JUST FEELS TO ME TREMENDOUS.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR THIS EVENING.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGIT-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND A HEADS UP FOR OUR REGULAR VIEWERS ON NEP MTV.

BEGINNING ON JANUARY 6TH, CPR WILL BE MOVING TO A NEW DAY AND TIME, THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 7:30 P.M. WE'LL BE HERE FRIDAYS AT 6:00 FOR JUST TWO MORE WEEKS, AND THEN YOU CAN CATCH US AT OUR NEW DAY AND TIME FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶