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

USING ART TO BRING AWARENESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> IF YOU CAN USE POSITIVE MESSAGES TO SPREAD HEALTH INFORMATION, THAT IT HAS A DIFFERENT IMPACT, BECAUSE PEOPLE KIND OF ARE MOTIVATED BY JOY.

>> A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE THAT EXPLORES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER AMID CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES WATER AND I THINK IF YOU REMIND THEM OF WHAT YOU LOVE -- IF YOU'RE REMINDERRED OF WHAT YOU DO, YOU WORK TO PROTECT IT, TO SAVE IT.

>> AND A LOCAL RESTAURANT THAT'S SERVED UP FOOD AND FAMILY TORE 6 A YEARS.

>> I GOT GOOSE BUMPS THINKING ABOUT IT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS MANY PEOPLE TO COME, ESPECIALLY THIS MANY BUSINESSES ON A DAY LIKE TIGHT.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MORE UP NEXT ON CONNECTING POINT.

>>> SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, MANY OF THE BUILDING, STREETS, AND SIDEWALKS IN SPRINGFIELD HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED WITH MURALS AND MESSAGES CREATED BY STREET ARTISTS.

THIS SUM THE SPRINGFIELD CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY SMIEWS SCHOOL PARTNERED TO FORM THE TRUST FRANCE FER PROJECT, A PROGRAM THAT WILL SEE ARTISTS BRING MESSAGES SURROUNDING PUBLIC HEALTH TO THE CITY'S SOUTH END AND METRO NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEIR FIRST PROJECT IS CALLED, "CHALK FOR CHANGE," AND CPR'S ROSS -- "CONNECTING POINT" ROSS LIPPMAN SPENT THE DAY WITH THE PARTICIPATING ARTISTS.

>> ON ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE SUMMER AT SPRINGFIELD SOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTER, STREET ARTIST RAMIREZ DEVARS COMBES HAS A CHALLENGE AHEAD OF HIM.

>> I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

>> WITH TEMPERATURES REACHING THE 90S BY 9:00 A.M., HE'S STARTING HIS FIRST OF THREE CHALK ART PIECES.

AHE ALONG WITH SEVEN OTHER ARTISTS ARE RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK, CREATING NEW MESSAGES THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR THE TRUST TRANSFER PROJECT.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWS FOR ARTISTS TO BE FROM THE BEGINNING PART OF MESSAGING HEALTH IMAGES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND -- MESSAGES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE HOPING ONE ARTIST AT A TIME, ONE MESSAGE AT A TIME, WE CAN FILL OUR CITY WITH HOPE, EXSEPARATION, AND TO COME BACK OUT INTO THIS NEW LIFE AFTER COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY SO GREATLY.

>> EACH ARTIST HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED THE -- TO DESIGN TEMPORARY CHALK ART INSTALLATION, FROM HIS "I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE" IN THE SOUTH END, TO MARK AUSTIN'S MESSAGE OF LOVE, OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL.

>> WHEN THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ALLOW ARTISTS TO USE THEIR ART TO KIND OF CONVEY HOW THEY FEEL WITH THE COVID-19 AND -- CORONAVIRUS AND EVERYTHING GOING ON, I FELT LIKE IT WAS GREAT.

COLORS ARE REALLY VIBRANT.

I HOPE IT BRINGS A LOT OF LIFE.

>> ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THE MASS CULTURAL COUNCIL ASKED THE MUSIC SCHOL TO BE A DESIGN PARTNER OR SOMETHING CALLED CULTURE RX INITIATIVE.

IT'S BASICALLY THIS BIG IDEA THAT ARTISTS, CENTERING ARTISTS' VOICES IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU MAY HEAR A SONG OR SEE A PIECE OF POETRY, AND YOU CAN IDENTIFY THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

SO I THINK PUTTING ARTISTS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING OR ANY MESSAGES FOR THAT MATTER IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> SPEED IS THE NAME OF THE GAME TODAY.

>> TIMED PROJECTS AREN'T NEW.

>> RAIN IS COMING.

>> TO STRAIT ARTISTS LIKE -- TO STRAIGHT ARTISTS LIKE -- STREET ARTISTS LIKE NERO.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE ON THE WAY FOR THE THIS AFTERNOON.

>> I GOT TWO MORE T DO.

YEAH.

>> COMMON HEALTH MURALS, PARTNERED WITH THE TRUST TRANSFER PROJECT, TO FIND ARTISTS.

YOU'VE LIKELY SEEP THEIR WORK ACROSS -- SEEN THEIR WORK ACROSS SPRINGFIELD.

>> OKAY.

>> IT'S A CITY FILLED WITH LARGER THAN LIFE MURALS.

>> YOU COULD FIND OF START FEELING THAT -- FILL THAG IN.

>> IN TOTAL 20 INSTALLATIONS WERE COMPLETED IN JUST A FEW HOURS, EACH A REFLEX OF THE ARTIST'S EXPERIENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY HOPE GIVING ARTISTS THE FREEDOM TO CREATE THEIR OWN DESIGNS, IT WILL ALLOW SPRINGFIELD RESIDENTS TO BETTER CONNECT WITH EACH MESSAGE.

>> THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN HAVING SOMEBODY TELL YOU YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING, RIGHT?

IT'S YOUR OWN INTERNALIZING OF IT, YOUR OWN EXPRESSION, AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE IT ON A PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SEE THE POWER OF THE ARTS TO TRANSFORM.

>> IF YOU KIND OF TAKE A STEP FORWARD AND DO THIS FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, WE CAN LOOK AT TOMORROW AS A BRIGHTER DAY.

WE CAN COME OUT OF THIS IN A MORE HOPEFUL WAY.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN -- IF YOU CAN USE POSITIVE MESSAGES TO SPREAD HEALTH INFORMATION, THAT IT HAS A DIFFERENT IMPACT, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED BY JOY.

¶ ¶ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPORS 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.

THIS WEEK MARKS THE 52nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING, AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES A LOOK BACK AT THIS HISTORIC MOMENT THROUGH THE EYES OF THOSE WHO WATCHED AS IT HAPPENED.

>> EAGLE HOUSTON, WE -- HOUSTON, WE SEE YOU ON THE STAIR, OVER.

>> MY FAMILY GATHERED AROUND THE TELEVISION TO WATCH THE LUNAR LANDING.

WHAT MADE THAT EXTRA SPECIAL FOR US IS THAT MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN TOWN TO WATCH WITH US.

THIS MAN BORN IN 1896 WITH A HORSE AND BUGGIES, WATCHED THE LUNAR MODULE LAND ON THE MOON AND MEN WALK ON THE MOON.

THE WAY WE LIKE TO PUT IT IS FROM CARTS AND CANDLES TO COMPUTERS AND CONTROL MODULE.

>> ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.

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

>>> THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM HAS UNVEILED A NEW EXHIBIT, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2022.

IT FEATURES WEAR RORKS OF ARTIST AND SOCIAL SAFETY EYE WAY-WAY'S CAREER.

PRESENTING ARTWORK THAT REPRESENTS HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE MATERIALS, METHODS, AND ARTIFACTS.

WAY WAY'S WORK ADDRESSES SOCIAL JUSTICE WHILE ALSO EXPLORING THE CULTURAL PRESENCE THAT IS INFORMED BY THE PAST.

AND I SPOKE WITH MAGGIE NORTH, CURATOR OF ART TO LEARN MORE.

>> EYE WAY-WAY IS AN ARTIST AS WELL AS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST WHOSE WORK HAS INTERNATIONAL RENOWNED.

AND ALSO I THINK INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

HE WORKS ACROSS MEDIA AND HE'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A FILMMAKER, AN INSTALLATION ARTIST, A CONCEPTUAL ARTIST, A POLITICAL DISSIDENT.

BUT AS PEOPLE WILL SEE, HIS WORKS SPEAK TO ISSUES OF UNIVERSAL IMPORTANCE, ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, LIKE HUMAN RIGHTS, THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE SPEECH.

SO THESE ARE ISSUES THAT I THINK VIEWERS FROM BEIJING, CHINA TO, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, CAN RELATE TO.

>> THIS EXHIBITION WAS CURATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM'S AND FEATURES RARE WORKS.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DECIDE WHICH PIECES OF ARTWORK TO INCLUDE IN THIS EXHIBIT?

>> OH, IT IS ALWAYS SO CHALLENGING TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH AN ARTIST WHO HAS BEEN SO PROLIFIC.

AND WE REALLY CHOSE THEM BASED ON THE THEMES THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITHIN THE EXHIBITION.

THE THEME OF TRADITION, ESPECIALLY CHINESE MATERIALS, TRADITIONAL CHINESE IDEAS ABOUT ART MAKING, WHICH EYE WAY-WAY IS CONSTANTLY RECONTEXTURALLIZING, RE-PURPOSING.

SOMETIMES IN REALLY RADICAL WAYS, LIKE PAINTING A COCA-COLA LOGO ON A HAHN DYNASTY BASE.

SO WE WERE DRIVEN BY THAT INTEREST IN THIS ASPECT, THE FULLTY FACETED ASTICKET OF HIS -- ASPECT OF HIS PRACTICE, AND ALSO HIS ROLE AS A DISSIDENT ARTIST.

HE'S BEEN TARGETED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES DUE TO MANY OF HIS EXPRESSIONS OF FREE SPEECH, HIS IDEAS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH WERE NOT ALWAYS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH HE WAS WORKING.

AND HIS ART AS HE HAS SAID IS REALLY INSEPARABLE FROM HIS LIFE.

HE'S CONSTANTLY PLAYING WITH THESE TRADITIONAL MATERIALS AND MOTIFS TO PRODUCT AT HISTORY AND A LITTLE AT POLITICS AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE ALWAYS LIVING IN THE PRESENT BUT WE NEED TO GET TO KNOW HIS PAST.

>> EYE WAY-WAY MAKES THE OLD NEW AGAIN USING HIS TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERITAGE.

IN WHAT WAYS WILL WE EXPERIENCE THIS THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBIT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

MANY OF THE ARTWORK OSVIEW IN THE EXHIBITION USE PORCELAIN OR WOOD JOINERY OR JADE.

THESE ARE MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN CHINA FOR HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

PORCELAIN IN PARTICULAR IS A MEDIUM THAT VISITORS WILL SEE THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBIT.

AND IN ENGLISH IT'S COLLOQUIALLY REFERRED TO AS CHINA.

SO IT HAS THIS INCREDIBLE POWER TO STAND IN FOR THE COUNTRY OF CHINA ITSELF.

SO VISITORS WILL SEE A LOT OF PORCELAIN WITHIN THE EXHIBIT.

BUT PORCELAIN THAT'S BEEN USED IN REALLY NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS.

FOR EXAMPLE, TO REPRESENT OIL SPILLS IN ORDER TO GENERATE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COMEAFLT OF INDUSTRY -- IMPACT OF INDUSTRY ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

OR PORS LING BEING USED -- PORCELAIN BEING USED TO CREATE TYPY SUNFLOWERS SEEDS THAT ARE A POPULAR SNACK FOOD BUT ALSO A LOADED SYMBOL IN CHINA.

THE CHASE WERE -- CHINA WERE DESCRIBED AS SUNFLOWERS AND THE LEADER AS THE SUN OF THE SO THEY HELP US SPEAK TO THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE COLLECTIVE AND OF REALLY PRODDING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE ALL OPERATE WITHIN OUR SOCIETIES.

ALSO AS I MENTIONED THERE ARE TRADITIONAL ACTUAL ARTIFACTS THAT EYE WAY-WAY USES AS HIS RAW MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTING ARTWORK.

SO CHINESE TABLE THAT HE HAS TURNED INTO A SCULPTURE OR USING MARBLE TO CRAFT A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA.

SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY OF OUR CONTEMPORARY ERA.

SO BRINGING THAT CLASH OF THAT PAST AND PRESENT TOGETHER.

BUT IN ADDITION TO USING OLD MATERIALS TO MAKE NEW STATEMENTS, EYE WAY-WAY USES NEW MATERIALS TO MAKE DIFFERENT STATEMENTS ABOUT OLDER MOTIFS.

SO WITHIN THE EXHIBITION VISITORS WILL ALSO SEE A STUNNING AND REALLY, REALLY COLORFUL SET OF 12 ZODIACS THAT ARE MADE OUT OF BRIGHT LEGOS.

SO OUR VISITORS OF ALL AGES ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THESE AS LEGOS, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A MULTI-PLAYERED WORK.

IT SPEAKS TO THAT TRADITION OF THE -- MULTI-LAYERED WORK.

IT SPEAKS TO THE TRADITIONAL OF THE CHINESE ZONING -- ZONING YAK -- ZODIAC.

IT WAS SACKED DURING THE 18 60S.

AND SO THIS IS A WORK THAT -- IT'S FUN, IT'S MAGNETIC, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY, REALLY LAYERED AND SPEAKS TO IDEAS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.

>> SO THAT ZODIAC PIECE IS THE ONE THAT CAUGHT MY EYE.

NATURALLY BECAUSE IT'S VISUALLY APPEALING AND AS A CHILD I GREW UP PLAYING WITH LEGOS, RIGHT?

WITH SO MANY THOUGHT-PROVOKING BUSINESSES, WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE -- PIECES, WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE?

>> MY GOODNESS.

IT'S ALWAYS A HARD QUESTION.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE WORKS, OR AT LEAST ONE OF THE PIECES THAT I FIND MOST PROVOCATIVE, IT'S A HAHN DYNASTY VASE ON WHICH EYE WAY-WAY HAS PAINTED THE COCA-COLA LOGO.

IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL PIECE BECAUSE HE IS ADJUSTING A PIECE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AND AN ANCIENT OBJECT.

BUT IT PRINCE OUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE FACT THAT OBJECT WAS NOT SO UNLIKE A COCA-COLA BOTTLE, A FUNCTIONAL OBJECT, SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO HOLD LIQUID, SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRODUCED ENMASS.

SO HIS WORK IS SOMETIMES PROVOCATIVE.

IT REALLY PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES.

BUT IT BEGS US TO ASK THESIBILITYING AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, WHICH ARE -- THESE INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, WHICH ARE RELEVANT TO SOCIETY TODAY.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT PEOPLE IN OUR REGION TAKE AWAY WHEN VISITING THIS EXIST?

>> -- EXHIBIT?

>> I HOPE THE VISITORS WILL WALK AWAY WITH A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF EYE WAY-WAY'S WORK AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE IDEA THAT IS HE PRESENCE TO US.

AND THE LAST PART OF THE EXHIBITION AS YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH FULLY -- ACTUALLY INCLUDES AN AREA WHERE VISITORS ARE INVITED TO RESPOND TO SOME REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ART AND HOW CAN ART PROMOTE SOCIAL CHANGE, OR IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO CHANGE SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE.

SO I HOPE THAT VISITORS ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE BEYOND THE MUSEUM BECAUSE AND INTO THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY TAKE SOME OF THESE IDEAS HOME AND THINK ABOUT HOW THEY APPLY TO ALL OF OUR LIVES.

>>> IT WAS 1966 WHEN GEORGE BAY-LISS FIRST ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES FROM GREECE WITH HIS SIGHTS SET ON ACHIEVES HIS AMERICAN DREAM.

EIGHT YEARS LATER AFTER WORKING SEVERAL JOBS AND PUTTING IN COUNTLESS HOURS, HE PURCHASED A PIZZA SHOP IN GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TWO YEARS LATER IN 1976, THE REST OF HIS FAMILY JOINED HIM HERE, STATESIDE, AND HELPED TO MAKE VILLAGE PIZZA, THE INSTITUTION THAT IT IS IN GREEN BAYFIELD TODAY.

-- GREENFIELD TODAY.

THIS YEAR TWO OF HIS GRAN CHILDREN COGGER -- GRANDCHILDREN ORGANIZED A BLOCK PARTY TO SELL BRACE HIS 60TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND GIVE BACK BY DONATING THEIR PROFITS TO THE WESTERN MASS FOOD BANK AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

BRIAN SULLIVAN BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> IT WAS A RAINY AND DRIZZLY SUMMER IN A SUMMER SEEMINGLY FULL OF DAYS IN A LOOKED JUST LIKE THIS ONE.

BUT ON JULY 11TH, 2021, NO AMOUNT OF MOISTURE WAS ABOUT TO DAMPEN THE SPIRITS OF ANYONE AT THE BANK ROW BLOCK PARTY IN GREENFIELD.

THIS WAS, AFTER ALL, A CELEBRATION OF 60 YEARS FOR THE LITTLE PIZZA SHOP THAT COULD.

GEORGE AND HIS SISTER VICKIE, SON AND DAUGHTER OF CHRIS, WHO IS PART OWNER OF VILLAGE PIZZA, ORGANIZED THIS EASEMENT, BRINGING IN -- EVENT, BRINGING IN COUNTLESS LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CHIP IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

BUT HERE IN THE HEART OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, COMBINED WITH THE POPULARITY OF THE LOCAL PIZZA PLACE THAT STOOD THE TEST OF TIME FOR SIX DECADES, IT WAS STILL AN ELEMENT OF SURPRISE TO THE OVERALL TURNOUT.

>> I GOT GOOSE BUMPS THINKING ABOUT IT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS MANY PEOPLE TO COME, ESPECIALLY SO MANY BUSINESSES.

I WOULD HAVE EXPECT ADD PHONE CALL SAYING, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T MAKE IT.

>> BUT THEY DID AND SEVERAL BUSINESSES HAD TENTS SET UP FOR THE BLOCK PARTY.

WHETHER IT WAS THE LOCAL GYM, THE FARM STAND, COFFEE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

BUT JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR A SLICE OR EVEN THE SIZE OF THE CROWD THAT SURROUNDS THE PIZZA-EATING CONTEST, IT WAS CLEAR THAT VILLAGE WAS THE MAIN ATTRACTION.

WITH SO MANY IN ATTENDANCE HAVING SOME KIND OF SPECIAL MEMORY ABOUT THE FAMILY-RUN RESTAURANT.

>> WHEN HE FIRST OLD UP HERE 60 YEARS AGO, I WAS ONE OF HITS CUSTOMERS.

THEY MAKE THE BEST PIZZAS AROUND THAT I'VE EVER HAD.

AND THEY'RE A VERY -- WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH.

TO BUY FROM.

IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL.

>> THIS IS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE JUST COME TO.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO FOR YEARS.

FOR ME BACK TO -- BACK THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND EVERY TIME YOU CAME BACK FROM COLLEGE, THE FIRST PLACE YOU WENT TO ON THE WEEKEND WAS VILLAGE.

>> IN THE MID '70S I WENT TO ALASKA FOR VACATION AND DECIDED NEVER TO COME BACK.

MY BABY SISTER MICHELLE WOULD GO TO VILLAGE PIZZA, BUY ME PIZZAS, AND SHE WOULD FREEZE THEM AND SEND THEM TO ME IN ALASKA.

>> IF SOMEONE IS WILLING TO HAVE PIZZAS MADE TO THEM ACROSS THE CONTINENT, THEN WAITING A FEW MINUTES IN LINE IS CHILD'S PLAY.

THIS YEAR IS THE LINE FOR PIZZA.

AND I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT JUST HOW POPULAR VILLAGE PIZZA IS IN THIS TOWN.

THIS WHOLE EVENT IS ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN AN ANNIVERSARY.

THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, WHICH FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WERE BORN IN THIS COUNTRY, STILL CHASING IT, MAY STILL FEEL ELUSIVE.

BUT TO TALK TO CHRIS BAY-LISS, IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY.

>> WE ARE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

YOU KNOW, MY FATHER CAME HERE IN '66.

WORKED VERY HARD.

HE HAD THREE -- ALMOST THREE FULL-TIME JOBS.

HE WORKED 120 -- 112 HOURS A WEEK.

CAME WE CAME HERE IN '76.

'76.

AND EVER SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN HERE WORKING AND LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM.

IT'S WHAT YOU PUT IN IT.

YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY I THINK IS HERE FOR EVERYBODY THAT WANTS IT.

>> THE FAMILY MAY NOT BE THE ORIGINALMAN TEEN 61 -- ORIGINAL 1961 OWNERS HAVING PURCHASED IT IN 1974.

BUT THE 4 FUN-POUND MIXER -- 400-POUND MIXER, AND THE KITCHEN THAT KEEPS THEM HERE ALL DAY TO MAKE TIME WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS.

NOW ALL OF THOSE YEARS OF SERVICE HAVE CULMINNATED IN A ONE-DAY CELEBRATION, A CHANCE FOR FATHER AND SON TO SOAK IN THE MOMENT BY -- SIDE BY SIDE.

>> IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

IT MEANS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THIS PLACE.

THAT SUPPORTED US.

THE TOWN, AND THE IMHOAL COUNTRY -- WHOLE COUNTRY THAT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER OUR LIVESES.

-- OUR LIVES.

>>> THE KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE AND THE SERIOUS PLAY THEATRE ENSEMBLE FROM TEAMED UP TO PRESENT MOVING WATER, A THEATER PIECE CENTERED ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS.

THE PRODUCTION WILL BE PREMIERING LIVE ON A SOLD-OUT CROWD ON JULY 22 AND WILL ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE OPTION AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING BEGINNING JULY 30TH.

IT'S DESIGNED TO BRING AUDIENCE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO WATER.

AND I SPOKE WITH SABRINA HAMILTON, THE ARTIST DIRECTOR, AND ROSLYNES, DRAMA TURG FOR MOVING WATER TO LEARN MORE.

>> IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT WITH ALL THE BAD NEWS, PEOPLE NEED THE GOOD NEWS.

THEY NEED TO CONNECT TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO WATER.

EVERYBODY LOVES WATER.

AND I THINK IF YOU'RE REMINDED OF WHAT YOU LOVE, YOU WORK TO SAVE IT, TO PROTECT IT, TO CONSERVE AND -- CHERISH IT.

SO THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL IMPULSE.

>> YOUR FINE ART INSPIRED THE CREATION OF MOVING WATER AND A LOT OF YOUR WORK HAS FOCUSED ON THE INNER EXPERIENCE AND PHYSICALITY OF THE BODY.

WHERE DID THIS INTEREST IN SENSORY PERCEPTION BEGIN FOR YOU AND HOW DID YOU CHANNEL THAT FOR THIS PIECE IN PARTICULAR?

>> I THINK IT CAME FROM BEING A CHILD IN THE WOODS AND STREAMS OF WHERE I GREW UP IN MINNESOTA.

THAT THAT WAS A NATURAL PART OF GROWING UP.

AND THERE BECAME A POINT AT WHICH THERE WAS A SEPARATION THROUGH MY EDUCATION BETWEEN MIND AND BODY AND I FELT IT WAS TIME TO BRING THAT BACK TOGETHER.

AND THAT LED TO THE ENGAGEMENT WITH WATER ON A SENSORY BASIS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE AND THAT'S REALLY THE WAY WE KNOW WATER MOST INTIMATELY.

SO THIS PRODUCTION HAS ALL THE DIMENSION -- ALL THE SENSEORIES DIMENSIONS.

THE SOUND AND THE LIGHT AND THE -- AND EVEN THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN THE SOUND VIBRATES THE BODY.

SO THAT IT BECOMES A VISCERAL EXPERIENCE OF WHAT'S GOING ON ON STAGE.

>> UPON EXITING THE PERFORMANCE, ATTENDEES WILL BE MET WITH A HAND WASHING RITUAL THAT'S DESIGNED TO INVOKE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT ALL BEINGS HAVE TO WATER.

WHAT OTHER WAYS THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE WILL PEOPLE BE REMINDED OF THIS RELATIONSHIP?

>> YOU SEE LITERALLY -- THERE'S WATER ON STAGE WHICH CAME FROM YOUR EARLY EXPERIMENTS IN SOME OF THE EARLIER PHASES WHERE YOU WERE WORKING OF TANKS OF WATER AND PROJECTIONING IT.

A TANK OF WATER THAT MOVES AND YOU SEE THAT IMAGE.

IT'S IN THE TEXT.

SO DIFFERENT YAWNED MEMBERS HAVE DIFFERENT -- AUDIENCE MEMBERS HAVE DIFFERENT PRIMARY SENSES AND I THINK WE HIT JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM IN THIS PIECE.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISPUTED BY SOME.

AND IN FACT YOU HAVE EVEN INCLUDED A CHARACTER IN THE PERFORMANCE THAT IS A CLIMATE CHANGE DEBBIER -- DENIER.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THIS CHARACTER AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO TAKE THIS STANCE ON THE MATTER?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE ALL DON'T COME INTO A THEATER AS ONE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPRESENT LOTS OF DIFFERENT VOICES.

OTHERWISE, IT'S SORT OF A RICH PIECE.

-- PITCH PIECE.

AND INSTEAD IT NEEDS TO REALLY BRING ALL THE VOICES TO THE TABLE IT CAN.

AND THEN WE WILL ALSO BE HAVE POST SHOW DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE CREATIVE TEAM OF COURSE, BUT ALSO SOME GUEST EXPERTS OR PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAD WATER CENTRAL IN THEIR WORK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> RECENTLY I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE WATER CRISIS OUT WEST AT LAKE MEAD WHERE THE RESERVOIR HAS REACHED ITS LOWEST POINT ACCORDING TO "THE WASHINGTON POST."

AND IT HONESTLY REALLY RESONATED WITH ME JUST -- YOU KNOW, WITNESSING THAT IN PERSON.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT HUMANS CAN BE REALLY MINDFUL OF THEIR WATER CONSUMPTION?

>> I THINK IT'S PARTLY A MATTER OF BEING AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF ONE'S WATER USE.

SO IT'S ABOUT BALANCING.

IT'S ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN FAMILY AND YOUR OWN -- PERHAPS YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, EACH OF US IS PART OF A WATERSHED THAT WE CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

EACH OF US CAN LEARN WHERE OUR WATER COMES FROM AND HOW TO PROTECT THAT.

>> IT'S SO MUCH A PART OF THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE MASSIVE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS.

SO MANY TOWNS ARE HAVING TO RETHINK THEIR SOLAR BYLAWS BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THEY'RE CLEAR CUTTING.

THERE'S A RIGHT -- RIGHT ACROSS FROM ME THEY WERE PROPOSING CLEAR CUTTING 40 ACRES OF LAND ON A FAIRLY STEEP GRADE RIGHT ABOVE A RIVER THAT IS AROUND A TROUT HATCHERY.

AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS ARE JUST HUGE IN TERMS OF HOW THAT WILL AFFECT IT.

SO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IS FINDING IN SMALL OR LARGE WAYS IS CROPPING UP.

>> HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THEATER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM TO CREATE AND PRESENT PERFORMANCES THAT BRING AWARENESS TO THESE SOCIAL ISSUES?

>> I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT TOUCHES THE HEART.

AND THAT IT CREATES -- I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS -- AS LIKE DROPPING A PEBBLE IN A POND AND YOU HAVE RINGS THAT SPREAD OUT.

AND MY METRIC IS NOT HOW MANY OR HOW MUCH.

IT'S HOW STICKY CAN WE MAKE THE EXPERIENCE.

HOW LONG CAN THOSE RIPPLES AND I THINK READING AN ARTICLE CAN BE TERRIFIC AT THAT, BUT GETTING INTO SOMEBODY -- USEE THE HAIRS ON PEOPLE'S ARMS RISE UP, YOU KNOW THAT THAT IMAGE IS GOING TO STAY.

¶ ¶ .

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR JULY 23RD, 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.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SOME SNAP SHOTS OF OUR FAVORITE SUNSET MOMENTS FROM THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND IN HONOR OF NATIONAL CAPTURE THE SUNSET WEEK.

BUT 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 NEEPG.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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