>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A PRINTMAKER WHO DRAWS ON HER PAST TO MAKE ART IN THE PRESENT.

>> HERE I WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH JUST A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER AND I COULD DO WHATEVER I WANTED ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER.

>>> A NEW EXHIBIT DOCUMENTS THE HISTORY OF ICONIC LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES.

>> HE CAPTURED JANIS JOPLIN AND JERRY GARCIA, THE YEARS IN WHICH THOSE ARTISTS PASSED AWAY.

SO HIS PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MADE THAT MUCH MEMORABLE.

>>> AND ART ON THE ROCKS -- >> I THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

WE CARVE IT.

IT LOOKS GREAT AND IF THE WEATHER CHANGES, IT'S GONE.

>> 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."

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

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

GROWING UP IN ICELAND HAD AN IMMENSE EFFECT ON EDDA SEGODAR'S DAUGHTER SENSE OF VISUAL DELIGHT, COLOR, AND FORM.

FEW TREES ALLOWED FOR UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF HORIZONS, MOUNTAINS, WATERFALLS, RIVERS AND GLACIERS.

AND TODAY SHE FINDS THAT SHE DRAWS ON THESE VISUAL MEMORIES IN HER MONOTYPE PRINTS.

HER MOST RECENT SHOW OPENS TOMORROW AT THE OXBOW GALLERY IN EAST HAMPTON AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED HER RECENTLY AND BRINGS US HER STORY.

>> IT'S VERY THERAPEUTIC, BECAUSE THERE'S AN AIR IN HERE THAT GIVES ME CREATIVE VIBES.

EVER SINCE I WAS IN ART COLLEGE WAY BACK IN THE POLLEDDEN -- OLDEN DAYS, I HAD VOWED I WANTED TO GO MOO PRINTMAKING -- INTO PRINTMAKING WHEN MY WORK WOULD CEASE, HAVING WORKED REALLY HARD ALL MY LIFE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN.

BUT HERE I WAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH JUST A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER AND I COULD DO WHATEVER I WANTED ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER.

AND TO ME, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE.

MY FATHER'S FIRST NAME IS SEGUDA AND DOTA MEANS DAUGHTER.

SO I'M SEGODAR DAUGHTER.

THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS IN ICELAND.

I THINK A LOT ABOUT WEATHER.

WHEN I GREW UP IN ICELAND, ON AN ISLAND, IN NORTH ATLANTIC, IT'S VERY WINDY.

SO I THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT.

AND SO YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE I'M TO SEE SOME OF THAT IN THESE PRINTS.

¶ ¶ >> I DO MOSTLY MONOTYPE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S REALLY JUST A ONE PRINT, AN ORIGINAL PRINT THAT CANNOT BE MULTIPLIED.

AND EVERYTHING IS HAND PULLED FROM A PRINTING PRESSION.

AND I -- PRINTING PRESS.

AND I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A LOT OF FREEDOM TO EXPLORE COMPOSITION AND COLOR COMBINATION AND THE TECHNICAL PARTS OF PRINTMAKING IS VERY, VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

I'LL ADD A LITTLE RED.

I USE A PLEXIGLAS PLATE AND I ROLL THE INK ON THE PLATE IN THE AREAS WHERE I WANT IT TO GO.

SOMETIMES I JUST LEAVE IT THE WAY I PUT IT ON OR I MIGHT WIPE INTO IT TO CREATE SOME KIND OF TEXTURE.

THEN I'LL TAKE TO THE PRESS.

AND ROLL IT THROUGH.

AND THEN WHEN IT'S THROUGH, I PICK UP THE PAPER AND I SEE WHAT I HAVE.

AND THEN I DECIDE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO NEXT.

SOMETIMES IN MONOTYPE, YOU CAN ALTER THINGS A LITTLE BIT BY OVERPRINTING THINGS.

SO IT HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A PRINT.

I MOVED HERE BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND SO ONCE I HAD MOVED HERE, I FOUND THIS PLACE.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ARE VERY OPEN TO SHARING TECHNICAL ISSUES OR -- OR THEY MIGHT COME AND SAY, YOU KNOW, MAY I LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND -- IT'S VERY COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL.

BUT EVERYONE IS ALWAYS VERY GENEROUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW THEY'RE DOING IT AND SOMETIMES WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.

AND I FEEL DEFINITELY THAT I'M IN MY OWN WORLD AND -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE JUST WORKING HERE.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE, YOU KNOW, TALKING WITH EACH OTHER.

IT'S QUIET.

AND EVERYONE IS SORT OF DOING THEIR THING AND THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> AND IF YOU LOVE THE ART OF PRINTMAKING, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB PAGE FOR MORE ON THE PROCESS BEHIND THE ART.

ESTABLISHED IN 2000, ZEA MAYS' PRINT MAKING IS A WORKING STUDIO WHERE ARTISTS COME TO MAKE PRINTS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FREE OF HAZARDOUS TOXINS.

IN A DAMAGE CONTRACT, FOUNDING DIRECTOR LIZ CHALFIN TALKS ABOUT THE MISSION OF THIS STUDIO THAT'S TUCKED AWAY IN AN OLD MILL BUILDING IN FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

>> MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE HAD PRINTMAKING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD TO LEAVE THE FIELD BECAUSE OF TOXICITY ISSUES AND HEALTH ISSUES.

SO FINDING THIS STUDIO IS A WAY TO COME BACK INTO AN ART FORM THAT THEY LOVE AND HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE WE OFFER A SAFER WAY TO DO IT.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGIT EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

IF YOU ARE MISSING THE EXPERIENCE OF CONCERTS AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS' LATEST EXHIBIT WILL TRANSPORT YOU INTO THE CENTER OF SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC PERFORMANCES IN MODERN MUSIC HISTORY.

FRONT ROA CENTERS, ICONS OF ROCK, BULLDOGS, AND SOUL, IS CURRENTLY OPEN THROUGH MAY 1ST AT THE D'AMOUR MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS AND FEATURES THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF LARRY HULST WHO HAS CONCORRALLED FIVE DECADES' WORDS OF CONCERT.

I SPOKE WITH MAGGIE NORTH, CURATOR OF ART FOR THE SPRING FEDERAL MUSEUMS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION.

>> WE WANTED TO BRING THIS NOT JUST BECAUSE THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE STELLAR EXAMPLES AND EXCITING APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT AS BECAUSE THE SHOW IN ITS TOTALITY REALLY CHRONICLES THE HISTORY OF MODERN MUSIC IN AN EXCITING WAY.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE MUSIC, PEOPLE WHO LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY, TO COME TOGETHER AND SO E -- TO SEE ICONS OF ROCK, BLUES AND SOUL.

LARRY HUTST WAS BORN IN CALIFORNIA.

HE JOINED THE MILITARY AND WRURND TO THAT -- RETURNED TO THAT AREA IN 1969 WHERE HE BEGAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF CONCERTS.

IT COMBINED HIS TWO PASSIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND GOING TO SEE LIVE MUSIC.

AND HE'S HAD AN INCREDIBLE CAREER AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST.

HIS WORK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN MAJOR MAGAZINES LIKE GUITAR AND "ROLLING STONE."

HE'S ALSO BEEN ABLE TO SHARE HIS PHOTOGRAPHS THROUGH EXHIBITIONS LIKE THIS ONE.

AND WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN, HE ACTUALLY WORKED FOR A COLLEGE NEWSPAPER AND GOT HIS START AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST THAT WAY.

HIS APPROACH REALLY TOOK PHOTOGRAPHY -- INVOLVES BEING A CONCERT-GOER FIRST.

HE LOVES TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE, SO HIS PHOTOGRAPHS OFTEN FRAME THE PERFORMERS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE VIEWERS.

AND WHEN WE SEE THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE GALLERY, WE HAVE A SENSE OF BEING RIGHT THERE WITH HIM.

>> I READ SOMEWHERE ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS THAT HE DID THAT I THINK HE -- AT SOME POINT HE WAS GOING TO LIKE 10 QUON CERTAIN AS MONTH -- CONCERTS A MONTH, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE.

AND THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT HE GIVES, IT GIVES YOU A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THESE DIFFERENT MOMENTS IN TIME.

I THINK IT'S -- THERE'S BEEN ICONIC AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES CHRONICLED IN THIS EXHIBIT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE EXAMPLES THAT VISITORS CAN EXPECT TO SEE AND DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

VISITORS CAN EXPECT TO SEE IMAGES OF CLASSIC ROCK ICONS, LIKE AC/DC OR LED ZEPPELIN.

THEY CAN ALSO EXPECT TO SEE IMAGES OF ROCK THAT IS EARLY PIONEERING ROCK, LIKE CHUCK BERRY.

THEY CAN SEE THE TALKING HEADS OR NEW WAVE OR KIND OF ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS OF ROCK.

AND SO IN THAT WAY, I THINK THERE REALLY IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS SHOW.

AND OF COURSE, THE EXHIBITION ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE BLUES GENRE WITH MASTERS OF THE GENRE LIKE B.B.

KING, MUDDY WATERS, AND BO DEADLY WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR ROCK 'N ROLL MUSIC TO THRIVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO VIEWERS WILL BE SURPRISED BY THE INCREDIBLE VARIETY WITHIN THIS EXHIBITION, AND THE MOMENTS IN WHICH ALREADY OPPORTUNITIES TO REFLECT ON CONDERTS THAT -- CONCERTS THAT YOU MAY KNOW OF OR HEARD OF THE ARTIST AND LEARN ABOUT NEW ARTISTS.

>> I THINK SOME OF THESE ARTISTS HAVE PASSED AWAY.

SO IT'S LIKE THIS IS THE -- VISITOR'S CHANCE TO SEE THAT MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY NEAT ABOUT THE EXHIBIT AS WELL.

>> LARRY HAD THIS INCREDIBLE ABILITY IN PART BECAUSE HE WENT TO SO MANY CONCERTS TO CAPTURE SMU ZIGSES AT HIGH -- MUSICIANS AT HIGH POINTS IN THEIR CREAR AND SOMETIMES AT THE END OF THEIR CAREER.

HE JANIS -- CAPTURED JANIS JOPLIN AND GARCIA.

SO THAT'S MADE MORE SPECIAL BY THE PARTICULARLY TIMMS HE WAS THERE, READY, AND READY TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM.

>> THIS EXHIBITION FEATURES OVER 70 IMAGES FROM HULST'S NEARLY 3,000 BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVES.

THAT SPANS OVER FIVE DECADES OF ROCK, BLUES, AND SOUL HISTORY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITEMANS AND HAVE YOU PERSONAL -- FAVORITE IMAGES AND HAVE YOU PERSONALLY BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM?

>> ONE OF THE IMAGES I CONNECTED WITH WAS LAUREN HILL TAKEN IN THE LATE 1990s AS SHE STARTED HER SOLO CAREER AND WERE SORT OF CAT YOU A PUTTING TO FAME.

AND I THINK THAT -- CATAPULTING TO FAME.

AND I THINK DIFFERENT GENERATIONS WHETHER COME WITH DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND DIFFERENT FAVORITE PIECES WITHIN THE SHOW.

BUT I KNOW THAT LAUREN HILL WAS MAJORLY INFLUENTIAL IN THE MUSIC THAT I WAS LISTENING TO AT A CERTAIN POINT IN MY LIFE.

AND CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE ARTISTS TODAY.

AND WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT LINEAGE OF INFLUENCE THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION.

SO MANY OF THESE ARTISTS WERE LOOKING BACK TO ARTISTS BEFORE THEM.

AND SO IT'S EXCITING I THINK FOR OUR ADVISORS -- VISITORS TO COME IN AND CHOOSE THE IMAGE THAT THEY CONNECT WITH MOST.

>> THIS EXHIBITION REALLY FEATURES THE INTERSECTION OF MUSIC AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

AND AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, IT TRANSPORTS US TO THESE MOMENTS IN TIME AND HISTORY.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO ART FORMS AND HOW DO THEY COMPLEMENT ONE ANOTHER?

>> MUSIC AND PHOTOGRAPHY BOTH HAVE AN ABILITY TO SPARK MEMORIES WITHIN US WHEN WE AS VIEWERS CONNECT WITH THEM.

I THINK THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE MOMENTS AND TO MAKE US THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT A MOMENT OR A SCENE.

SO MANY VIEWERS WHEN WE'VE WALKED THROUGH THIS SPACE AREVILLE ENVOY -- HAVE REALLY ENJOYED AN ELEMENT WHERE WE HAVE SPEAKERS AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE MUSIC WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ARTISTS.

SO THAT MAKES THAT IMMEDIATE CONNECTION FOR OUR VISITORS.

AND AS YOU SAID, ALLOWS VISITORS TO FEEL TRANSPORTED.

THIS IS AN EXHIBITION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE POWER OF -- ART FORM OF PHOTOGRAPHY AS WELL AS THE POWER OF THE ART FORM OF MUSIC.

>> THE PHOTOGRAPHS CAPTURE THAT LIVE ENERGY AND EMOTION THAT IS UNMATCHED IN PRESENT IN LIVE PERFORMANCES.

AND IT'S A FEELING THAT MANY OF US HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WHAT TO YOU HOPE THE IMPACT OF THIS EXHIBITION WILL BE ON VISITORS?

>> YOU'RE SO RIGHT.

MUSIC CAN BE SUCH A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE AND I THINK IT CAN BE SO, SO POWERFUL FOR BOTH MUSICIANS AND THE PERFORMERS.

AND THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ALLOW US TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION.

EVEN IF WE WEREN'T THERE, WE'RE ALLOWED TO WITNESS IT AND TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION TO THE PERFORMER.

IN PART BECAUSE OF THE LARRY HULST AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE COMPOSES IMAGES BEAUTIFULLY AND USES BLACK AND WHITE TO FRAME THE IMAGE AND EMPHASIZE THE PERFORMER.

SO I HOPE THAT VISITORS COME AWAY FROM THIS ENJOYING SOME NOSTALGIA OF THE PAST PERHAPS, WHILE ADDITIONALLY LEARNING ABOUT NEW MUSICIANS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH.

AND I HOPE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN BEST CONCERT MEMORIES.

AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE ARTS, WHETHER IT'S MUSIC OR IT'S VISUAL ART, REALLY CAN BRING US TOGETHER AND CAN PROVIDE US WITH NOT ONLY A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THE WORLD BUT A CONNECTION WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXMORES THE CREATE TIEFT, 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.

EVER WONDER HOW THE EXHIBITS AT MUSEUMS COME TO BE?

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGIT EXCLUSIVE, MAGGIE NORTH, CUTATOR OF ART FOR THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS, GIVES US A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT WHAT GOES INTO CURATING EACH EXHIBIT AND WHAT SHE LOVES MOST ABOUT HER JOB.

>> VERY OFTEN WE TRY TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH OUR PERMANENT COLLECTIONS.

OTHER TIMES WE TRY TO BRING IN SOMETHING NEW THAT WILL COMPLEMENT WHAT WE HAVE ON VIEW BY REALLY BUILDING ON THIS STORY.

AND WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE SEASON, WHAT WILL THE EXHIBITION COINCIDE WITH.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW.

A NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THE CITY OF PILOTS -- PITTSFIELD AND THE BARRINGTON STAGE COMPANY RECENTLY HOSTED THEIR 11TH ANNUAL 10 BY 10 UPSTREET ARTS FESTIVAL.

THIS EVENT ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE ARTS, INCLUDING LIVE MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, AND HEIGHTS OF OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES.

AND AS PART OF THE FESTIVITIES, ON FEBRUARY 24, VISITORS GOT A CHANCE TO SEE SOME ICE SCULPTURES IN ACTION.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN DROPPED BY TO OBSERVE THESE UNIQUE ARTISTS AS THEY APPLIED CHISELS AND CHAIN SAWS TO SIX 300-POUND BLOCKS OF ICE.

>> THE ONLY THING COLDER OF THE MORNING AIR WAS A SPECIAL DELIVERY BEING MADE IN FRONT OF THE BERKSHIRE MUSEUM IN PITTSFIELD.

THE CONTENTS ARRIVED IN SIX PACKAGES, WEIGHING IN AT 300 POUNDS EACH.

BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE BLOCKS OF ICE TO SHED MUCH OF THAT WEATHER PUTT WEIGHT AS THEY TAKE TO CAR VINING AWAY -- CARVING AWAY.

DOING THE BIG CUTS WITH THEIR CHAIN SAWS AND EVENTUALLY FINE-TUNING THEIR DESIGN WITH THEIR CHISELS.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, BATES -- THEY'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE.

>> THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR HERE DOING ICE SCULP TURBULENCE.

-- SCULPTURES.

IT HAPPENS IN THE MUSEUM.

SO WE'RE AT A PRIME LOCATION FOR PEOPLE TO WALK BY, SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING, AS WELL AS VISITING THE MUSEUM.

>> AND THAT CAN GO A LONG WAY FOR TWO ARTISTS WHO, IN THEIR USUAL SETTINGS, DON'T REALLY COME ACROSS TOO MANY HUMAN BEINGS AT ALL FOR HOURS ON END.

BUT THESE AREN'T JUST TWO RANDOM SCULPTORS WHO WERE CHOSEN TO DO THIS PROJECT.

HE'S ARE TWO FRIENDS CLINTON RATING A A MEDIUM -- COLLABORATING ON A MEDIUM.

>> WE MET EACH OTHER THROUGH ART AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR 20 YEARS BECAUSE WE DO TAE KWON DO TOGETHER.

>> WE MET YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO, MAYBE, IN GREENFIELD, WHERE I INVITED -- IN -- I INVITED HIM TO DO AN ICE CULP TOUR.

-- SCULPTURE.

AND IT WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO HERE WHERE WE WERE INVITED BY PITTSFIELD TO DO A PROJECT TOGETHER.

IT'S BEEN NICE WORKING WITH HIM AND JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH.

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO WORK WITH ANOTHER ARTIST AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND WORK TOGETHER.

>> AS THEY CONTINUED TO CUT AND CHISEL THESE ICE BLOCKS, THE COLD MORNING AIR BECAME COLD AFTERNOON AIR.

NO UPTICK IN TEMPERATURE.

AND THAT'S AN ATTRIBUTE THAT'S DEFINED THE WINTER OF 2000.

-- 2022.

NOT THE SNOWIEST, BUT CONSISTENTLY COLD.

THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

BUT HERE IN NEW ENGLAND, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE CALENDAR.

THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE ARTISTS IS THESE ICE SKULL TOO YOU ARE -- SCULPTURES WILL STILL BE HERE BY THE TIME THE VERNAL EQUINOX ROLLS AROUND.

THAT MAY BE AN AN EXAGGERATION, BUT WITH A SPENDING -- PENDING SNOWFALL AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE FORECAST, THAT PREDICTION MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN TOO FAR OFF THE MARK.

>> WE MOVED THE DATE TO THIS -- TO TODAY THREE TIMES TO GET TO TODAY, CHASING THE WEATHER PATTERNS.

AND IF WE GET BY THE SNOWSTORM TOMORROW, IT'S GOING TO BE COLD FOR ANOTHER WEEK.

SO THESE WILL LAST FOR -- AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK, WHICH IS NOT WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS AROUND IN FEBRUARY.

WITH THE WEATHER CHANGES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY.

WE'LL BE SEEING THESE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK HERE.

>> THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR PASSERSBY, WHICH SEEM TO BE FASCINATED AS THEY USE THEIR HAND TOOLS, TO CONVERT BIG BLOCKS OF FROZEN WATER INTO WORDS AND SHAPES.

HAVING THEIR WORK REMAIN VISIBLE FOR A LONGER PERIOD SEEMS LIKE A WORTH WHILE TRADE-OFF.

>> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE APPRECIATED.

AND THE -- AND IN THE WINTER TIME, WHAT'S THERE TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE?

SO WE LOOK -- TO LOOK AT ICE SCULP STIEWRS IS PRETTY IN -- SCULPTURES IS PRETTY INTERESTING FOR PEOPLE.

>> I THINK WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

WE CARVE IT.

IT LOOKS GREAT.

IF THE WEATHER CHANGES, IT'S GONE.

[LAUGHTER] ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND FOR MORE FROM THE ICE SCP -- SCULP -- SCULPTORS, VISIT US ONLINE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS PETER AND ROBERT TALK ABOUT THE TOOLS OF THEIR TRADE.

>> CHAIN SAW, YOU FOLLOW A LINE.

BUT THE CHUSEL, I HAVE -- CHISEL, YOU HAVE TO USE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE SO YOU DON'T DIG IN AND YOU WANT TO BE AT THE RIGHT ANGLE SO YOU'RE CURVING THINGS AROUND AND TAKING OFF JUST ENOUGH.

>> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ONLY AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> LAST FALL THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL OF SPRINGFIELD RECEIVED A STATE BUDGET ALLOCATION OF $50,000 FOR THEIR ADAPTIVE MUSIC PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE PROGRAM, WHICH SERVES OVER 500 STUDENTS IN 14 SCHOOLS, CONNECTS MUSIC AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TO ENHANCE AND UNLOCK THE LEARNING POTENTIAL FOR DIFFERENTLY-ABLED STUDENTS, AS WELL AS OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS.

I SPOKE WITH EILEEN McCAFFERY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL OF SPRINGFIELD, AS WELL AS MARY KAY BROWN, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AT JOHN J. DUGGAN ACADEMY IN SPRINGFIELD, TO HEAR HOW THE FUNDS WILL MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE PROGRAM.

>> ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO WE EMBARKED ON A PROJECT, WHICH WAS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS DEVELOPED DIRECTLY WITH THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY NUKE SCHOOL TO SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE WE HAVE A STRINGS PROGRAMS AND BAND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE AMAZING WORK HAPPENING IN THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NOW WE'VE EXPANDED INTO HOLYOKE.

IN THAT REGARD, AFTER WORKING IN THESE PARTNERSHIPS, WHAT WE REALIZED WAS THAT THE SPECIAL ED STUDENTS WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAMS WERE REALLY BENEFITING FROM THIS BEAUTIFUL ART FORM.

AND SO WE'VE DECIDED TO DO A DEEPER DIVE.

AND FORTUNATELY WE HAD IN OUR -- AMONG OUR FACULTY, NOT JUST MUSIC SPECIALISTS BUT ALSO SPECIAL ED FOLKS.

AND SO WE DEVELOPED A CAPACITY AND WE WENT TO A COUPLE OF OUR PARTNER PROGRAMS, SUCH AS DUGGAN ACADEMY AND MARY KAY BROWN AND ASKED IF WE COULD PIONEER THIS NEW PROGRAM CALLED THE ADAPTIVE MUSIC PROGRAM.

WE'RE NOW IN 14 SCHOOLS IN BOTH SPRINGFIELD AND HOLYOKE.

AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY OF REALLY TAKING OUR AMAZING SPECIAL ED STUDENTS AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MUSIC PROGRAM TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO THEIR NEEDS.

>> WHAT WAS THE -- WHAT WAS SO WONDERFUL ABOUT IT IS HOW COLLABORATIVE IT WAS.

THE MUSIC TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE SPECIFIC SKILLS THAT THE AMP MUSIC PROGRAM PROVIDES.

SO THE MUSIC TEACHER IN THE SCHOOLS TOGETHER WITH THE PARAPROFESSIONALS AND THE TEACHERS ALL COME TOGETHER AS A UNIT TO HELP SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTION FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND TO SEE THEIR EYES LIGHT UP WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR COMES INTO THE CLASSROOM, THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SINGING.

THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.

THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SINGING ABOUT THE CURRICULUM, BECAUSE THE INSTRUCTOR WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING KRUK LARLY IN THE -- CURRICULARLY IN THE CLASSROOM AND TURN IT INTO A STONG THAT THEY CAN SING THROUGH THE DAY WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR HAS MOVED ON TO ANOTHER CLASSROOM.

AND ALSO, HOW GOING REMOTE, WE DIDN'T MISS A BEAT.

AND WHAT WAS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT IT WAS NOT ONLY DID YOU HAVE THE STUDENT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT YOU HAD THE WHOLE FAMILY, BECAUSE THE PARENTS WERE THERE SITTING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ACCESSING THE ZOOM, ACCESSING THE CURRICULUM, AND NOW THEY GOT TO SING ALONG WITH ANDY.

>> WITH THIS FUNDING, WHAT IMPACT WILL THAT MAKE ON THIS PROGRAM?

>> SO WHAT WE'VE USED THE MONEY FOR AND WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE MONEY FOR IS NOT ONLY THE CLASSROOM WORK THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT MARY KAY IS REFERRING TO, BUT WE FOUND THAT CREATING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THAT QUESTION YOU ASKED ABOUT PIVOTING REMOTELY, THAT WAS PART OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE OUR FUNDING FOR, WAS TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL CAMERA WORK PROVIDED BY FOCUS SPRINGFIELD.

AND SOME OF THE FOLKS FROM LEGACY SOUNDS.

BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO USE THE MONEY TO INCREASE OUR OWN SKILL-BUILDING.

ALSO, FRANKLY, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK AROUND CREATING AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK FOR CULTURALLY AND HISTORICALLY RESPONSIVE PEDI GOGY AND PAYING OUR TEACHING ARTISTS TO DO MORE SITES AND PROVIDE MORE SERVICES ON THE GROUND.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU SERVE OVER 500 STUDENTS AND 14 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, WHICH IS AMAZING.

WHAT ARE THE HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS PROGRAM?

>> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS REALLY -- SCALE OF IT COULD BE REPLICATED MUCH MORE BROADLY.

WE'RE FORTUNATE WE USE THE FUNDING FROM THE STARS GRANTS FROM THE MASS CULTURE COUNCIL SUPPORT THIS.

BUT WE COULD OFFER THIS FAR MORE BROADLY INTO THELES SCHOOL.

AND SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE BREAKTHROUGHS HAVE COME -- LANGUAGE BREASTHROUGHS, JUNK PEOPLE WITH AUTISM WHO ARE NOT SPEAKING BUT COULD SING -- BREASTHROUGHS, YOUNG PEOPLE -- BREAKTHROUGHS, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COULD SING.

IT GIVES US SO MUCH HOPE.

AND OUR HOPE ASK WE WON'T TO DO THE WORK.

-- IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET THE TYPE OF FUNDING SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THIS WORK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

AND TO BE A NATIONAL MODEL.

SO THAT OTHER STATES LOOK AND SAY, BOY, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

WE COULD DO THIS AS WELL.

AND IF WE CAN MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE DOING THIS, THAT WOULD ALSO BE A GREAT HOPE AND JOY FOR US, IS TO SEE THIS FLOURISHING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, QUL TOUR, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US -- CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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