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

THE PANDEMIC INSPIRES A LOCAL PAINTER TO SHOWCASE THE ESSENTIAL WORKER.

>> IT BECAME REALLY OBVIOUS, HOW IMPORTANT EVERYONE IS IN THIS SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN, PARTICULARLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE OFTEN WILL TAKE FOR GRANTED.

>> WHAT'S THAT UP IN THE SKY?

A LOCAL ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR SHOWS KIDS THE WONDERS OF THE HEAVENS IN HER WHEN WE COME BACK "SKY GAZING."

>> THE OLDEST STORIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ARE ABOUT THE STARS.

AND THEY WERE WAYS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

>>> AND WE'LL TAKE A CLASS IN THE ART OF MAKING STAINED GLASS.

>> I TRAVELED TO SPAIN AND THAT HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE STAINED GLASS I'VE EVER SEEN.

SO THAT KIND OF CLUED THEY MOO TO TAKE THIS -- ME IN TO TAKE THIS CLASS.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE, THE CREATIVITY, 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 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THROUGHOUT HIS MORE THAN 40-YEAR CAREER, ARTIST ROBERT MASLA'S WORK HAS MOVED FROM VISIONARY AND SYMBOLIC PAINTINGS TO LANDSCAPES, PARTICULARLY THE AREAS AROUND HIS STUDIOS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND MEXICO.

BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, HE CREATED A SPECIAL COLLECTION OF WORK THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE UNRECOGNIZED ESSENTIAL WORKER.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER CAUGHT UP WITH THE ARTIST AT HIS ASH FIELD STUDIO RECENTLY AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> OUTSIDE HIS STUDIO, ARTIST ROBERT MASLA STANDS AT HIS EASEL, CREATING AN IMAGE OF A BROWN WEATHERED BARN WITH A HINT OF A WHITE CAR IN THE BACKGROUND.

MUCH OF HIS WORK DEPICTS BUCOLIC FIELDS, WOOD WINDS AND WATERWAYS, OVER 40 YOURS.

>> I ALWAYS HAD AN AFFINITY TO NATURE.

I LOVED BEING IN THE WOODS.

THERE'S THE WOODS ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE THAT I WOULD SPEND MOST OF MY DAYS PLAYING IN.

SO I'LL OFTEN SKETCH IN PLAINAIRE, SOMETIMES I'LL COMPLETE A SKETCH OUTSIDE.

MORE TIMES IT'S THE ENERGY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THAT SENSE OF PLACE, SOMETHING THAT HIT ME ABOUT IT COULD BE THE LIGHT, COULD BE THE ATMOSPHERE.

MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MADE ME WANT TO PAINT IT.

>> IN 2020 HIS WORK WAS INFLUENCED BY THE PANDEMIC.

AND WHAT HE SAW AS A CHANGE IN AMERICAN CULTURE.

>> I CAME BACK FROM MEXICO, COVID HAD JUST STARTED TO REALLY RAMP UP, AND IT BECAME REALLY OBVIOUS HOW IMPORTANT EVERYONE AND IN THIS SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN.

AND PARTICULARLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE OFTEN WILL TAKE FOR GRANTED.

>> HE YEATED A SERIES OF WORKS ENTITLED "GRATITUDE, THE UNRECOGNIZED ESSENTIAL WORKERS SERIES," THAT HUNG AT THE R. MICHAELSON GALLERY IN NORTH HAMPTON.

>> SO I'D TAKEN SOME FORECASTS OF FARMWORKERS.

I'VE DONE SKETCHES OF THEM IN THE PAST.

THE MAILMAN CAME UP THE DRIVEWAY AND I SAID WILLIAM, WOULD YOU MIND POSING FOR A PAINTING I'M THINKING OF DOING.

SAME THING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

MY DAUGHTER WHO'S A TEACHER, I GOT A PHOTOGRAPH OF HER WHEN SHE WAS TEACHING A YOUNG BOY NOT EVEN A STUDENT, READING HIM A STORY.

THESE SOME ACTS -- SIMPLE ACTS.

>> THE SERIES OF IMAGES HUNG IN THE GALLERY OF 2020.

HE ALSO LOOKED AT THE RAY SOCIAL SURVIVAL -- WAY SOCIAL TURMOIL HAS ENGULFED THE NATION.

>> THIS IS AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE TAKING -- WERE TAKING MOMENTS OF SILENCE TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BELIEVES MOVEMENT -- WITH THE BLACK LIVES MOVEMENT.

THEY'D GATHERED TOGETHER AND WALKED DOWN MAIN STREET IN SILENCE AND WE GATHERED IN THE COMMONS IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH AND WE TOOK A KNEE FOR THAT ALLOTTED AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT FELT SO POWERFUL THAT PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT -- PARTICULARLY IN THE HILL TOWNS WERE COMING TOGETHER IN RECOGNITION OF THIS.

I THOUGHT, THIS IS AN HISTORIC MOMENT.

AND SHOULD BE RECORDED AND I TOOK A COUPLE OF PAB RAMMIC PHOTOS -- PANORAMIC PHOTOS, DID A WATERCOLOR PAINTING, AND DECIDED TO MAKE A LARGE OIL PAINTING FROM THAT.

>> HE ALSO CREATED A WORK CALLED "30TH OF MAY, 2020."

PERSECUTION OF THE DEFENDERS OF A REAL DEMOCRACY.

>> YOU KNOW, WHETHER I WAS TO PAINT IT REALLY EXPRESSIONISTICALLY, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY POWERFUL, OR TO KEEP IT MORE IN A REPRESENTATIONAL VAIN, I CHOSE TO GOAR WITH THE MORE REPRESENTATIONAL COLLAGE, BECAUSE IT WAS NEWS.

IT IS FACT.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.

>> WE'VE LEARNED THAT SOCIETY DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT THE WORKERS.

THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT THERE WAS A TRIBUTE, YOU KNOW, TO THEM.

BOB SEES THEM.

YOU KNOW, HE SEES THEM AND IN HIS PAINTINGS, THAT COMES THROUGH.

>> THROUGHOUT HIS PAINTING CAREER, MASLA SAYS HE ALLOWS THE INNATE SPIRITUALIM PULSE IN FOR HIS WORK.

HE'S PAINTING IN BOTH PLENAIRE AND IN STUDIO.

HE SAYS NATURE HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HIS LIFE AS A TEACHER, ARTIST, AND HEALER.

>> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE PAINTING WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THERE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT PAINTING IN YOUR JOURNAL OR THE SKETCH, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IT BRINGS BACK A WHOLE FLOOD OF MEMORIES BECAUSE YOU SPENT A HALF-HOUR, AN HOUR, OR SO, NOT JUST TWO SECONDS CLICKING A PHOTOGRAPH.

YOU'VE ACTUALLY ABSORBED THAT ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, IT ENGAGES YOU WITH LIFE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> 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.

AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXTWA -- EXTRA, ROBERT MASLA WHO WERE JUST PROFILED DISCUSSES THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF A SPECIAL WORK HE CREATED JUST AFTER RETURNING TO HIS WESTERN MASS HOME FROM MEXICO IN 2020.

>> I WAS VERY MUCH TAKEN YEARS AGO WITH THE WORK OF GERMAN ROMANTIC PAINTER CASPER DAVID FRY DRINK.

THE USE OF FISH TREES AND TREES AS A SENSE OF HOPE AND FAITH.

AND I WAS THINKING WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE BLIZZARD, SKETCHING THIS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF HOPE AND FAITH RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED STRENGTH.

>> THIS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> LOCAL AUTHOR AND EDUCATOR MEG THACHER WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AS A FINALIST FOR THE 2022 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT IN SCIENCE AND SOUP BREW PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE BOOKS.

HER CHILDREN'S BOOK ENTITLED "SKY GAZING" IS NOMINATED IN THE HANDS-ON SCIENCE BOOK CATEGORY.

IT OFFERS A TOUR OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND TEACHES SKY GAZERS HOW TO FIND PLANETS AND CONSOLATIONS -- CONSTELLATIONS IN BOTH HEMISPHERES.

THACHER JOINS ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BOOK AND THIS NATIONAL RECOGNITION.

>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK FOR KIDS ABOUT DOING ASTRONOMY IN THE CITY, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE AS MANY THINGS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU CAN'T DO ASTRONOMY IN THE CITY AT ALL.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE SUN AND THE MOON AND SOME REALLY BRIGHT STARS AND PLANETS AND EVEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS GOING YEAH -- OVERHEAD.

SO I WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THAT.

AND I'VE BEEN WRITING FOR KIDS' MAGAZINES FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

AND SUDDENLY OUT OF THE BLUE, DEB BURNS, WHO IS AN ACQUIRING EDITOR AT STORY BUBBLING -- PUBLISHING, CONSTANTED ME AND SAID -- CONTACTED ME AND SAID, HEY, YOU TEACH ASTRONOMY.

WOULD YOU WRITE US AN ASTRONOMY BOOK FOR KIDS.

AND IT WAS PERFECT TIMING FOR ALL OF US.

>> YOU HAVE A DEGREE IN PHYSICS, A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ASTRO PHYSICS, HAVE STUDIED ASTRONOMY, AND ARE CURRENTLY TEACHING THAT AT SMITH COLLEGE.

WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN SCIENCE BEGIN?

>> WELL, IT PROBABLY BEGAN WHEN I WAS A KID.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK.

MY DAD USED TO ALWAYS TAKE US ON NATURE WALKS WHEN WE WERE KIDS.

AND MY MOM ALWAYS LIKED MATH.

THEN WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE, I TOOK PHYSICS CLASSES AND I JUST LOVED IT.

AND I HAD A WONDERFUL ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR AND THAT' JUST HOW -- THAT'S JUST HOW I GOT INTERESTED IN IT.

>> IT'S HISTORY EVER SINCE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT INTEREST THAT BEG -- BEGINS AS A CHILD, WHICH I THINK IT HAPPENS FOR SO MANY OF US -- MY DAUGHTER IS LIKE NOW, WE DID ONE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND SHE WANTS TO BE A SCIENTIST.

YOU MENTIONED YOU WROTE FOR CHILDREN'S MAGAZINES AND THIS BOOK IS TARGETED FOR KIDS AGE 9 THROUGH 14.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT TARGETING AND WRITING TO THIS AGE DEMOGRAPHIC AND IN TURN, WHAT CHALLENGES COME UP TRYING TO EXPLAIN THESE COMPLEX CONCEPTS IN A WAY THAT THESE CHILDREN CAN ACTUALLY COMPREHEND?

>> IT JUST -- I JUST REALLY LOVE COMMUNICATING ABOUT SOMETHING I LOVE IN TERMS THAT ARE REALLY COMPELLING FOR KIDS AND REALLY MEANINGFUL AND EXCITING FOR THEM.

WHAT'S HAPPEN -- WHAT'S CHALLENGING FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC IS WRITING ABOUT SCIENCE IN A WAY THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TO KIDS, AND THAT MEANS DEFINITELY USING VOCABULARY THAT'S AGE APPROPRIATE AND MAKING SURE THAT I WRITE TO THE PROPER READING LEVEL.

THAT FOR ME IS THE HARDEST PART.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT CONCEPTS THAT KIDS UNDERSTAND AT THIS AGE, LIKE I CAN'T TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR FUSION TO 5-YEAR-OLDS.

RIGHT?

BUT I CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT OBSERVING THE MOON.

SO IT'S REALLY TRYING TO -- TRYING TO KEEP IT ABLE APPROPRIATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE -- AGE APPROPRIATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

AND A FUN CHALLENGE FOR ME.

>> I KNOW YOU'VE DESCRIBED ASTRONOMY AS A GATEWAY SCIENCE.

SO CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU AND WHY DO YOU THINK ASTRONOMY IS SO COMPELLING FOR US ALL?

>> WELL, I CALL ASTRONOMY A GATEWAY SCIENCE AND I DON'T THINK THAT I'VE MADE UP THAT TERM, BY THE WAY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL IT THAT THAT.

SO KIDS JUST LOVE SPACE.

THEY ALSO LOVE DINOSAURS AND GIANT MACHINES.

SO THESE ARE TOPICS THAT WE CAN USE TO GET KIDS INTERESTED IN OTHER SCIENCE.

AND IT ALSO INSPIRES WONDER.

ASTRONOMY PROVIDES A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS IN FOR KIDS.

SO THERE ARE SOME KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SPACE TRAVEL.

AND THERE ARE OTHER KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE STORIES THAT PEOPLE MAKE UP ABOUT THE CONSTELLATIONS.

THERE'S SOME KIDS THAT JUST LOVE IT WHEN STUFF BLOWS UP AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT IN ASTRONOMY.

AND THE NIGHT SKY IS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

SO I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS FOR KIDS TO CONNECT WITH ASTRONOMY.

AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT MAKES IT COMPELLING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT KIDS CAN CONNECT WITH ASTRONOMY THROUGH YOUR BOOK, BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS NOMINATED IN THE HANDS-ON SCIENCE BOOK CATEGORY FOR THIS AWARD.

SO IN WHAT WAYS WILL READERS EXPERIENCE SOME HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES THROUGH YOUR BOOK "SKY GAZING"?

>> EACH CHAPTER IS ABOUT A DIFFERENT FINE OF SKY -- TYPE OF SKY OBJECT.

THE SUN, THE MOON, THE PLANETS, AND THE STARS.

AND I TALK ABOUT HOW TO OBSERVE THEM AND WHERE TO LOOK FOR THEM IN THE SKY, HOW TO FIND THEM.

THERE ARE SKY CHARTS IN THE STAR AND CONSTELLATION CHAPTER.

EVERY CHAPTER ALSO HAS A LITTLE SECTION ABOUT HOW TO OBSERVE THESE OBJECTS WITH BINOCULARS.

AND I ALSO HAVE SOME SPECIAL EVENTS AND TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN SAFELY OBSERVE SOLAR ECLIPSES AND WHEN THEY SHOULD LOOK FOR METEOR SHOWERS AND HOW TO OBSERVE THOSE.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S HANDS-ON.

IT ALSO HAS JUST A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO PEOPLE CAN FLIP THROUGH AND SAY, OH, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF A STAR'S LIFE AND YOU CAN FLIP TO THAT SECTION.

>> THE OTHER THING TAI REALLY LOVE ABOUT -- THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK IS HOW INCLUSIVE IT IS WITH THE ENTIRE EARTH.

SO YOU'RE INCLUDING NOT JUST OUR HEMISPHERE.

WHAT WAS -- WHAT WAS THE DECISION MAKING BEHIND THAT, TO ADD THAT INTO THE BOOK AND INCLUDE OTHER PEOPLE -- WORLD REALLY, IN IN BOOK?

>> I WANT ALL KIDS TO BE ASTRONOMERS.

NOT JUST AMERICAN KIDS.

>> RIGHT.

>> NOT JUST KIDS LIVING SOMEWHERE WHERE THE SKY IS VERY DARK.

I'M VERY CAREFUL WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT ASTRONOMY TO SAY THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

IF YOU'RE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS.

AND IT JUST SEEMED TO NATURALLY FLOW OUT OF THE WAY I USUALLY TEACH AND THE WAY THAT I USUALLY TALK ABOUT ASTRONOMY.

>> IN ADDITION TO TEACHING ASTRONOMY AT SMITH, YOU ALSO ARE THE ACADEMIC DIRECTOR FOR THEIR SUMMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO CHILDREN.

>> I WOULD SAY BE CURIOUS.

THAT'S WHAT GOT ME INTO SCIENCE, THINKING ABOUT WHY IS THAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

STAY OPEN-MINDED AS WELL.

I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN ONE PARTICULAR KIND OF SCIENCE.

BUT THAT CAN CHANGE OVER YOUR LIFE.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

I WOULD ALSO TELL KIDS, DON'T BE AFRAID OF MATH.

WHEN YOU'RE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MATH IS MOSTLY ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION, FACTS AND LEARNING YOUR MULTIPLICATION TABLES AND THAT'S NOT REALLY THE MAIN IDEA OF MATH.

MATH REALLY IS THE LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE.

SO ASTRONOMY IS MATH AND ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS.

AND SO MATH IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING IN SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET A GOOD GRADE ON THE TEST.

IT'S VERY EXPANSIVE.

>> THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, WHICH PRESENTS THE AWARD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR, REALLY EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SCIENCE LITERATURE AND ENCOURAGING CHILDREN AND ACTUALLY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE THAT LITERATURE.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES GAIN FROM YOUR BOOK?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, I WANT THEM ALL TO LEARN ABOUT ASTRONOMY.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND GET INTERESTED IN ASTRONOMY AND BECOME ASTRONOMERS SO WE'LL HAVE MORE ASTRONOMERS.

BUT WELL -- REALLY THE OTHER THING I WANT EVERYBODY TO GO OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE NIGHT SKY WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILY.

IT'S PART OF OUR HERITAGE AS HUMAN BEINGS.

THE OLDEST STORIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ARE ABOUT THE STARS.

AND THEY THERE WERE -- THEY WERE WAYS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

IT'S THE OLDEST SCIENCE, SO AS A HUMAN, YOU SHOULD GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE STARS AS OFTEN AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

¶ ¶ >>> WANT SOME EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW TO IDENTIFY THE STARS AND PLANETS IN THE NIGHTTIME SKY?

HEAD OVER TO NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT RIGHT NOW FOR MORE OF MEG THACHER'S ASTRONOMY TIPS AND TRICKS.

>>> ACROSS THE PIONEER VALLEY, THERE ARE COUNTLESS OLD MILL BUILDING DOTTING THE LANDSCAPE AS REMINDERS OF A BYGONE INDUSTRIAL ERA, THAT HAVE BEEN RE-PURPOSED RATHER THAN DEMOLISHED.

SUCH IS THE CASE WITH THE EASTWORKS BUILDING IN EAST HAMPTON, WHICH IS HOME TO SEVERAL ARTISTS INCLUDING DRAGONFLY STAINED GLASS STUDIO.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN STOPPED BY THERE RECENTLY FOR A BEGINNER'S CLASS IN MAKING STAINED GRASS SUN CATCHERS.

>> ON A FRIDAY MORNING IN NOVEMBER IN A ROOM THAT MADE ME FEEL I'D BEEN TRANSPORTED BACK TO MY HIGH SCHOOL ART CLASS, STUDENTS ARE INTENTLY FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND.

THE TASK, MAKING STAINED GLASS SUN CATCHERS, OF COURSE.

INSTRUCTOR HEATHER McCLAIN PATROLS THE ROOM WITH A CALMING PRESENCE.

WHICH IS HELPFUL BECAUSE AS NICE TO LOOK AT ACE THESE WORKS OF ART MAY BE, MAKING THEM CAN BE A TEDIOUS AND FROM TRAIL PROCESS -- FRUSTRATING PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN A BEGINNER CLASS.

IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE ROOM WHO UNDERSTANDS THIS, IT WOULD BE HERE.

>> ALMOST 35 YEARS AGO, I WAS GIFTED SOME STAINED CLASS EQUIPMENT AND A BOOK AND I TRIED TO DO STAINED GLASS AND IT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING.

SO I TOOK A CLASS.

AND THAT JUST SOLIDIFIED EVERYTHING FOR ME.

AND AFTER THAT, I CONTINUED DOING STAINED GLASS AND THRN SOME FRIENDS WANTED ME -- AND THEN SOME FRIENDS WANTED ME TO DEEP THEM.

AND I HAVE A BACKGROUND.

I'M A MONT SOREI TEACHER -- MONTESSORI TEACHER AS WELL.

THE TWO SKILLS WENT TOGETHER AND I'VE BEEN TEACHING AND DOING CUSTOM WORK AND IN TWINE I OPENED -- 2013 I OPENED DRAGONFLY STUDIO.

>> THIS DRAWS PEOPLE FROM A FIVE-TOWN RADIUS.

THAT WOULD BE WEISSFIELD AND AS CLOSE AS NORTH HAMPTON.

THERE WILL BE THE CHANCE FOR AN OUTLIER CANDIDATES COMING IN FROM STOCKBRIDGE.

>> WHEN I LEAVE FROM WORK, ABOUT FIVE MONTHS.

AND I PROMISED MYSELF I'D LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

AND STAINED GLASS IS SOMETHING THAT'S SUPER INTERESTING TO ME.

I TRAVELED TO SPAIN EARLIER THIS YEAR TO THE -- AND THAT HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE STAINED GLASS I'VE EVER SEEN, SO THAT CLUED ME IN TO TAKE THIS CLASS AND I FOUND THIS BY GOOGLING IT.

IT WAS THE CLOSEST ONE TO MY HOUSE IN THE BERKSHIRES.

>> CARRIE MARSHAL MAY BE HERE FOR STAINED GLASS ART, BUT IS NO STRANGER TO THE WORLD OF ARTS AND CRAFTS.

THIS CLASS SERVED AS A CHANCE FOR HER TO NOT ONLY TRY HER HAND AT ANOTHER ARDMUDS, BUT TO BRING -- ART MUDS, BUT TO BRING SOMETHING BACK.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT COMING IN AND HOW IT WAS GOING TO RUN, BUT SO 4 IT'S BEEN AMAZING.

I REALLY LIKE IT HERE.

I ACTUALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS PIECE FOR MY GRANDMOTHER FOR CHRISTMAS.

SHE'S ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME THROUGH MY ART.

SHE STILL KEEPS MY REPORTERWORK WHEN I WAS 6 HANGING -- MY ARTWORK WHEN I WAS 6 HANGING UP.

SO I LIKE TOR GIVE HER -- I LIKE TO GIVE HER MY CLASS.

>> THE OTHER PERSON IN CLASS WITH NO REAL ART EXPERIENCE, JUST A LOT OF STAINED GLASS SHE GOT AFTER A TRIP ACROSS EUROPE, WAS ALSO THE ONE PERSON W.H.O.

WAS A LITTLE MORE ADVANCED IN -- PERSON WHO WAS A LITTLE MORE ADVANCED IN HER PROJECT.

THAT'S BECAUSE THANK TO THOUGHTFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THIS WAS HER SECOND CLASS.

>> I RECEIVED THIS AS A RETIREMENT PRESENT FROM MY DAUGHTER.

AND THEN ALSO RECEIVED IT FROM MY THREE BEST FRIENDS WHO KNEW I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS.

SO I WAS ABLE TO TAKE TWO CLASSES, BECAUSE I RECEIVED TWO GIFT CERTIFICATE KNOWS.

SO I WAS -- CERTIFICATES.

SO I WAS HERE A MONTH AGO AND STARTED A BIGGER PROJECT.

AND YOU WOULD NORMALLY IN JUST A ONE-DAY CLASS.

AND TODAY I'M FINISHING MY PROJECT.

>> WHILE THE SUN CATCHERS MAY SERVE AS MOTIVATION FOR THE CLASS, THEY PROBABLY CAN'T BE SEEN FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THIS IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE EASTWORKS COMPLEX.

AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T COME OUT THIS WAY FOR THE RMV, THIS PLACE IS REALLY NEAT.

ANYTIME I GET A CHANCE TO COME TO ONE OF THESE OLD MILL BUILDING, IT'S A NOSTALGIC EXPERIENCE.

EVEN MORE WITH THE WORKSHOP LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM FLOOR.

AND I CAN GET SOME CONTRACT CARDIO -- EXTRA CARDIO IN BECAUSE THE CLASSROOM IS DOWN THE END OF THE HALL.

THESE BUILDING HOUSE DOZENS OF OTHER ARTISTS AND ARTISANS AS WELL.

AND IT'S A FEATURE THAT MAKES IT PRETTY FUN FOR HEATHER McLEAN TO COME TO THE OFFICE EVERY DAY.

>> IT'S GREAT TO COME TO EAST WEEKS AND WHAT'S AWESOME IS -- EASTWORKS AND WHAT'S AWESOME IS TO COME IN AND HAVE THE VARIETY OF ARTISTS WORKING HERE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY AND IT'S A DESTINATION, TOO, FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND FIND SPECIFIC TYPES OF ART.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND IF YOU LOVE STAINED GLASS AND WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW IT'S MADE, THEN LOG ON TO OUR WEB PAGE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS DRAGONFLY STAINED GLASS STUDIO OWNER HEATHER McLEAN TALKS ABOUT SOME OF HER TOOLS OF THE TRADE AND SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF CUSTOM-MADE ART.

>>> SINCE THE AGE OF 17, LUCILA SANCHEZ HAS HARBORED A PASSION FOR SEWING.

AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL YEARS AS A CHEF AND WORKING IN WANG MANAGEMENT, LUCILA FOLLOWED THIS PASSION AND OPEN UP AZALEA'S SEWING ACADEMY LLC AND HANDMADE SHOP.

THE SPRINGFIELD INTEASDZ ACADEMY TEACHES SEWING SKILLS TO ALL, FROM THE NOVICE TO THE MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS WHO WANT TO MAKE THEIR OWN CLOTHES.

SHE JOINS ME TO SHARE MORE ABOUT HER GOAL OF MAKING SEWING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF SKILL LEVEL.

>> BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, I STARTED SEWING MATCHES AND WE DONATED SO MANY OF THEM, AND BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY, PEOPLE STATED ASKING ME TO SELL THEM.

SO WE DID.

AND AFTER THAT, THEN ANOTHER ITEMS CAME OVER.

WE STARTED SEWING MANY OTHER ITEMS.

AND I DECIDE TO CHANGE CAREER AND GO INTO WHAT I REALLY, REALLY LOVE.

THIS IS MY PASSION.

>> YOU FIRST STARTED SEWING AT AGE 17 AFTER TAKING A HOME ECONOMICS COURSE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT SEWING THAT YOU LOVED SO MUCH?

WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, SEWING, IT'S NOT JUST A SKILL.

SEWING -- SEWING IS A THERAPY.

DO YOU KNOW THAT I DID BANKING FOR 14 YEARS.

THAT MEANS STRESS OVER STRESS!

AND I USED TO GO HOME AND SO A LITTLE BIT -- SEW A LITTLE BIT JUST FOR RELAXING.

SO MY PASSION IS NOT ONLY RELAXING.

IT'S ALSO A WAY FOR ME TO CREATE NEW THINGS, FROM SCRATCH.

SO I JUST LOVE IT!

>> SEWING JUST AS YOU SAID IS MORE THAN A SKILL.

FOR YOU IT'S THERAPY.

IT'S A CRAFT.

IT'S ALSO AN ART.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ARTISTIC ASPECTS OF SEWING AND WORKING WITH A NEEDLE AND A THREAD?

>> OH, GOSH, I LOVE THIS QUESTION.

I LOVE IT!

WHEN WE CUT THE FABRICS OR THE MATERIAL AND THEN WE CHOOSE THE THREAD, WHAT KIND OF NEEDLE WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, IT'S AN ART, LIKE YOU SAID.

AND THEN YOU SEE ALL THOSE PIECES OF MATERIALS.

AND THINK DON'T MEAN ANYTHING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM.

BUT WHEN YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER, OH, THEN YOU SEE THE CREATION.

I JUST LOVE IT.

IT'S AN ART LIKE YOU SAID.

>> THE SEWING ACADEMY OFFERS BILINGUAL CLASSES IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE LEVELS AND PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING MADE?

>> YES.

WELL, WE TEACH KIDS.

WE DO KIDS' CLASSES AND AGE RANGE FROM 8 OR 9 TO 10, 11.

AND NOSE TEENAGERS LIKE 12 -- THOSE TEENAGERS LIKE 12 TO 16, THEY GO INTO THE ADULT CLASS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SKILLS AND THEY ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE A MACHINE.

A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY OF SEWING.

THEY LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE MACHINE.

THEY LEARN HOW TO HANDLE THE MACHINE FROM SCRATCH LIKE FROM A TO Z, PROPER NAMES.

THE FUNCTION, AND THEY LEARN HOW TO SEW -- DO STRAIGHT LINES, SEMICIRCLES, HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A PROJECT, AND THEY ACTUALLY COME OUT WITH MAKING A BAG.

GORGEOUS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO MAKE.

BUT IT'S NOT.

THEY COME OUT WITH THE SKILLS.

>> AND UPON COMPLETION OF THE SEWING ACADEMY, YOU CELEBRATE THE STUDENTS WITH A GRADUATION.

>> I DO!

>> WHAT TYPES OF SKILLS WILL THE STUDENTS LEAVE WITH, ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS ONES, BUT THE SKILLS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO APPLY TO OTHER THINGS WITH SEWING?

>> THEY LEAVE WITH A LOT OF SELF-CONFIDENCE.

SO I LOVE WHAT, WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY'RE AFRAID TO TOUCH THE MACHINE.

THEY'RE AFRAID TO CUT FABRIC.

AND WHEN THEY GET INTO THE CLASS, AND IT'S NOT ONLY CONFIDENT FOR SEWING.

THEY APPLY THAT TO THEIR LIFE.

>> DESPITE THE CHALLENGING TIMES THAT WE ARE ALL FACING DURING THIS PANDEMIC, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND OPEN UP YOUR VERY ONLY SMALL BUSINESS.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER ENTREPRENEURS?

>> FOR ALL OF THEM, TO NOT TO GIVE UP.

GO GORE IT.

DO NOT -- GO FOR IT.

DO NOT LET THE PANDEMIC OR ANYBODY TELL YOU WHAT YOU CANNOT WHAT YOU CAN DO.

>> YOU'RE EMPOWERING EACH OF THESE EXARP PANTS -- PARTICIPANTS BY TEACHING THEM AN IMPORTANT LIFE SCHOOL -- SKILL.

HOW ARE THEY EMPOWERING YOU?

>> I HAVE LEARNED THEY ARE SO HUMBLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO COME AND HAVE BEEN SEWING FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

IT'S NOT EASY TO GO TO AN ACADEMY AND START LEARNING SOMETHING THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY KNEW.

SO PUTTING ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE SIDE, TO START FROM SCRATCH.

AND LET SOMEONE YOUNGER TO TEACH THEM, THAT REALLY INS -- INSPIRES ME.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR DECEMBER THSHED, 2021.

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

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA 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!