[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> MY PRIMARY AIM IS TO ENTERTAIN VIA TAP DANCING.

I WANT A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN THE AUDIENCE TO GET SOMETHING WONDERFUL OUT OF MY DANCE AND I WANT A 70-YEAR-OLD MAN TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT TOO.

I WANT THEM TO LEAVE FEELING AS THOUGH THEY HAVE DANCED.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE OR YOU IMAGINE FOR A BIRD THAT LIVES INSIDE A CAGE FOR DECADES?

WHAT KIND OF QUALITY LIFE REDUCTION DO THEY EXPERIENCE?

>> GREAT EXPERIENCE QUESTION.

CAPTIVITY IS INHERENT CRUELTY FOR A WILD ANIMAL, AS IT IS FOR A HUMAN.

NO BEING IS MEANT TO BE STUCK IN A CAGE.

PARROTS HAVE ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL GIFTS NATURE CAN GIVE US, FLIGHT, AND WE ROBBED THEM OF THAT.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> FAMOUS AMERICAN TAP DANCER, THE LATE JOHN BUBBLES ONCE SAID, LISTEN TO MY FEET AND I WILL TELL YOU HE STORY OF MY LIFE.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT FEATURES ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED TAP DANCERS IN RHODE ISLAND.

BRIAN JONES HAS BEEN TAPPING HIS LIFE STORY FOR NEARLY FIVE DECADES.

DANCE AFICIONADOS MAY REMEMBER JONES FROM HIS DAYS TOURING WITH HIS COMPANY, THE ALL TAP REVIEW.

THESE DAYS, THE PERFORMER AND CHOREOGRAPHER CONTINUES TO SHARE HIS LOVE OF ALL THINGS TAP WITH AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES.

>> HEY EVERYBODY.

IT IS CLOSING NIGHT.

WELCOME, CONGRATULATIONS.

LET'S GET WARMED UP.

>> BRIAN JONES HAS BEEN ENTERTAINING CROWDS THROUGH TAP DANCING FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

ON THIS NIGHT, JONES IS TAKING A BACKSEAT.

>> A LITTLE BIT QUICKER AND -- >> AFTER MONTHS CHOREOGRAPHING A ROUTINE FOR STUDENTS, HE IS SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THEM.

>> I FELL IN LOVE WITH TAP DANCING IN 1971.

MY 11TH GRADE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS SHOWING THE MOVIE 42ND STREET, RUNNING THE PROJECTOR AND I MADE A JOKE ABOUT THE TAPS.

THEY WEREN'T REALLY BEING MADE BY HER FEET.

THERE WAS SOMEONE OFFSCREEN.

MY TEACHER WAS INCENSED AT THE JOKE.

MY TEACHER TAP DANCE IN FRONT OF THE CLASS.

WE WERE SHOCKED.

SHE WAS A SOBER WOMAN.

I ASKED HER WHEN SHE LEARNED THAT?

SHE SAID, WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE WERE ALL GOING TO BE THE SECOND SHIRLEY TEMPLE.

♪ >> SHE SHOWED ME THE FIRST STEP.

STEP.

SECOND STEP, BRUSH.

I PRACTICED AT HOME THAT NIGHT.

NEXT ENGLISH CLASS A COUPLE DAYS LATER I SHOWED THEM TO HER AND SHE SAID YEAH.

I WAS GOOD ENOUGH THAT I GOT A PAIR OF TAPS ON MY LOAFERS, PRACTICING IN MY PARENTS BASEMENT, CONCRETE FLOOR.

DO NOT DANCE ON A CONCRETE FLOOR.

SHE WROTE ME INTO BEING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF ANYTHING GOES.

>> THANKS EVERYBODY, CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

>> BREAK A LEG.

>> BEFORE THE DANCERS TAKE THE STAGE -- >> BRIAN JONES, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE A LITTLE WAVE.

>> HEY EVERYBODY.

[APPLAUSE] >> BRIAN DID THE TAP PIECE IN THE SHOW.

ENJOY.

>> I WANT THE AUDIENCE TO BE CHEERING AT THE END, TO BE IN STREAM MILLION THROUGH THE -- TO BE EXTREMELY ENTHUSIASTIC.

AT OUR FIRST REHEARSAL, I WAS VERY PLEASED AND THRILLED TO DISCOVER TECHNICALLY EXCELLENT ANSWERS.

YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAN ALREADY DO THE BASICS.

♪ VERY NICE VERY NICE.

SAME THING.

>> I LOVE TAP DANCE BECAUSE I LOVE PLAYING WITH MUSIC AND DIFFERENT RHYTHMS THAT GO WITH IT.

I FOUND IT IS A VERY GOOD WAY FOR ME TO EXPRESS MYSELF.

I WAS EXCITED TO WORK WITH BRIAN AND LEARNED MORE FROM HIM.

>> DEBORAH, BALL CHANGE, STEP HOP STEP SHUFFLE BALL CHANGE.

>> IT WILL BE MY FIRST TIME ON THIS STAGE.

VERY EXCITED.

I THINK THIS WILL GET PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT CAP AGAIN FOR SURE.

♪ -- TAP AGAIN FOR SURE.

IT IS A LOST ART BUT MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING TO APPRECIATE IT AGAIN AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT COME BACK EVEN BIGGER THAN BEFORE.

>> LONG BEFORE JONES BECAME A RESPECTED CHOREOGRAPHER, HE WAS MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN COLLEGE AT THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT MOMENT AT THE AUDITORIUM, 1975, WHEN YOU ARE DANCING TO HAPPY FEET?

THAT SONG BY THE WAY I HAVE BEEN PLAYING IT IN MY HEAD.

>> ♪ I GOT THOSE HAPPY FEET ♪ ♪ THAT IS A GREAT TUNE.

>> TAKE ME BACK.

>> I WAS YOUNG.

WE WERE IN OUR SECOND YEAR.

WE PUT THAT DANCE TOGETHER, MADE UP MOSTLY OF THE STEPS MY ANGUISH TEACHER HAD TAUGHT ME A COUPLE YEARS EARLIER IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE WERE NERVOUS WRECKS.

I WAS SURPRISED AS I LOOKED AT THE FOOTAGE THAT WE WERE NOT STUMBLING ALL AROUND.

WE HAD PRACTICED AND PRACTICED AND DRILLED AND DRILLED AND DRILLED.

>> YOU ARE BEAMING AS YOU SAY THIS.

>> WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

THEY WERE OUTSIDE OF REGULAR LIFE IN 1969, 1970.

THAT WAS FLOWER POWER HIPPIE TIME.

THE VIETNAM WAR, THE STRIKE.

LOTS OF CHANGE IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC.

THE BEATLES WERE BIG.

THINGS WERE SHIFTING FROM ROCK 'N' ROLL TO ROCK.

I WAS HAPPY TO STEP ASIDE FROM THAT AND BE ENGAGED IN SOMETHING CLASSIC.

[APPLAUSE] >> MANY NATIVE RHODE ISLANDERS WHEN THEY SEE THIS PIECE MAY RECOGNIZE YOU FROM YOUR TIME.

>> PROBABLY.

>> TAKE ME BACK TO THOSE DAYS.

>> I AM PROUD OF THE FACT IT LASTED 10 YEARS.

WE REOPENED THE OCEAN STAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

THERE WAS DESTINED TO BECOME A PARKING LOT IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

THE WHOLE GROUP CAME TOGETHER, ETHEL MERMAN, THE MARINE CORPS BAND, THE RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC, THE ALL TAP REVIEW REOPENED THAT THEATER 50 YEARS AFTER IT OPENED ORIGINALLY.

♪ >> YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE RISDI DANCER WITH THE LIGHTEST FEED AROUND.

HOW DID THAT FEEL?

>> I ONLY WEIGH 120 POUNDS.

MAYBE IT IS A TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION.

MY ENGLISH TEACHER, THAT WAS HER STYLE.

UP ON THE BALLS OF THE FEET, LEAPING AND SPRINGING, GRASSHOPPER LIKE.

VERY FRED ASTAIRE.

IN FACT, FRED ASTAIRE AND BILL ROBINSON BROUGHT TAP DANCING UP OFF THE GROUND, THE HOOFING, AND INTO THE AIR.

THAT HAS BEEN MY STYLE AS WELL.

>> THE GENRE OF MUSIC THAT APPEALS TO YOU WHEN DANCING, WHAT KIND?

>> ANYTHING.

I LOVE TECHNO FOR ITS ON SYNCOPATED RHYTHMS.

I LOVE SWING MUSIC.

ANYTHING THAT SWINGS.

WALTZ.

ANYTHING THAT HAS A REGULAR BEAT IS SATISFYING TO A TAP DANCER.

>> YOU'RE NOT JUST 1930'S?

>> NO.

ALL TAP DANCERS HAVE A LOVE FOR THAT.

IT IS WHERE MODERN TAP STARTED.

>> YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A VAUDEVILLIAN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> MY PRIMARY AIM IS TO ENTERTAIN VIA TAP DANCING.

I WANT TO SEVEN EUROS GIRL IN THE AUDIENCE TO GET SOMETHING WONDERFUL OUT OF MY DANCE AND A 70-YEAR-OLD MAN TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT TOO.

BY WORKING FOR ALL SORTS OF CROWDS, JUST AS VAUDEVILLIAN'S DID.

♪ [APPLAUSE] >> TAP, WHEN YOU FIRST BEGAN IN THE 1970'S, HAS EVOLVED DRASTICALLY.

>> IT SURE HAS.

WHEN I DID IT IN THE 1970'S, IT WAS A REPLICATION OF EARLY FORMS.

THEN OTHER PEOPLE CAME ALONG, GLOVER WRENCHED IT BACK INTO A BLACK HERITAGE BUT IT HAD SORT OF BEEN ALMOST EMBARRASSING TO BE A TAP DANCER AND BE BLACK AT A CERTAIN POINT BECAUSE WHAT WAS LEFT WAS ALL THESE SEMI-EMBARRASSING HOLLYWOOD CLIPS OF ROBINSON.

♪ >> THE NICHOLAS BROTHERS.

THEY WERE WONDERFULLY INVENTIVE TAP DANCERS.

WOULD THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN IN HOLLYWOOD IN THE'30'S.

IF THEY HAD ONLY BEEN YOUNG NOW, THEY WOULD BE KINGS OF TAP DANCE.

TO BE A PERSON IN THE 70'S OR LATE 1960'S WEARING AN AFRO, BEING PROUD OF BEING BLACK, YOU KIND OF AVOIDED TAP DANCING.

LUCKILY, THANKS TO BLACK PEOPLE SAYING WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT ANYMORE, TAP HAS FINALLY REGAINED ITS APPROPRIATE PARENTHOOD AS A BLACK AND AMERICAN DANCE FORM.

>> AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TAP, IS TAP DEAD?

>> IT HAS BEEN DEAD AND BACK IN BACK AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN MY LIFETIME.

THERE IS YET AGAIN ANOTHER YOUNGER GENERATION OF PEOPLE BRINGING TAP TO LIFE.

THEY ARE NOT ONLY GREAT, THEY'RE DOING THE THINGS ALL THE PREVIOUS REVIVALS KIND OF FORGOT IN THE THRILL OF TAP, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THE DANCE MEAN SOMETHING, TO GIVE IT A STRUCTURE, TO GIVE IT THAT ENTERTAINMENT QUALITY WHERE IT WILL REACH ACROSS AND BE OF INTEREST TO A NON-TAP CROWD.

I SEE THIS HAPPENING NOW.

[APPLAUSE] >> HE REALLY BELIEVE ANYBODY CAN PUT ON TAP SHOES AND BECOME A DECENT DANCER?

A GOOD TAP DANCER/ >> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

MANY PEOPLE SAY I HAVE TWO LEFT FEET.

IF YOU CAN WALK AND HAVE A SENSE OF RHYTHM.

EVERYBODY DOES.

I HAVE NEVER MET A NON-RHYTHMIC PERSON.

PICKING UP THE FACILITY IS NOT DIFFICULT.

>> CAN ANYONE LEARN THESE BASICS?

MY PRODUCER PUT ME TO THE TASK.

>> THAT ONE SOUND IS A BRUSH.

BRUSH.

GOOD.

WHEN YOU GET GOOD AT THIS.

♪ STEP, SHELF.

THAT IS WHAT PRACTICE DOES.

LUNCH.

[LAUGHTER] THERE YOU GO.

THAT IS IT.

ONCE AGAIN.

>> THAT IS THE HARDEST PART.

>> LUNGE, EXCELLENT.

VERY GOOD.

>> HE IS A PATIENT MAN.

>> HOLD THE APPLAUSE.

>> WHO IS GOING TO CLAP FOR US?

>> WHOEVER IS THROWING ROSES AND $20 BILLS.

[APPLAUSE] THIS IS A NEW STEP.

STEP, TOE, TOE, OTHER SIDE, STEP, TOE, TOE.

>> IT WAS TIME TO PUT ALL THE STEPS TOGETHER.

>> THREE STRIKES YOU ARE OUT AT THE OLD BALLGAME.

♪ >> HOLD THE POSE.

>> YAY!

WE DID IT.

JONES SAYS HE INTENDS TO KEEP TAP DANCING FOR MANY MORE YEARS.

>> NOT BAD.

AT LEAST UNTIL I HIT THAT 50 MARK.

I INTEND TO KEEP DANCING FOREVER.

THAT IS WHY I AM SO DANCING.

I NEVER STOPPED.

>> THERE IS NO AGE ON IT.

>> THERE IS BUT THERE IS NOT A SELL BY DATE.

.

OLD TAP DANCERS ARE OFTEN REALLY GOOD TAP DANCERS AND THEY ARE NO LONGER DOING HAND SPRINGS ARE CARTWHEELS.

IT IS REALLY NOT MY STYLE ANYMORE.

I WANT TO COMPETE ON THE THEATRICAL GROUND.

I WANT TO DRAW AN AUDIENCE IN.

I WANT THEM TO LEAVE FEELING AS THOUGH THEY HAD DANCED.

[APPLAUSE] >> BRIAN JONES HAS ALSO WORKED AS A GRAPHIC ARTIST, PHOTOGRAPHER AND WEBSITE DESIGNER.

STILL, TAP DANCING REMAINS A PRIMARY FOCUS.

JONES IS WORKING ON A CONCERT TO CELEBRATE HIS UPCOMING 50 YEARS OF DANCING.

>> NOW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION FROM DANCING FEET TO FLIGHTS OF FANCY.

AN EXOTIC BIRD SANCTUARY THAT GOES BY THE CLEVER NAME FOSTER PARROTS.

IT PROVIDES AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED SERVICE IN THE VAST WORLD OF ANIMAL CARE.

THEY PROVIDE SHELTER AND REHABILITATION FOR BIRDS ACQUIRED AS PETS, ONLY TO HAVE THEIR OWNERS REALIZE THEY CANNOT MANAGE THE RIGOROUS NEEDS OF AN AVIAN COMPANION.

WHEN THE EXOTIC BIRD SANCTUARY SUFFERED A SIGNIFICANT DISASTER A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE REGIONS ANIMAL WELFARE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORS STEPPED UP TO SHOW JUST HOW MEANINGFUL AN IMPACT FOSTER PARROTS HAS HAD.

BILL BARTHOLOMEW HAS THE STORY.

>> WELL, THE FRUSTRATION IS THAT PARROTS ARE THE THIRD MOST POPULAR PET IN THIS COUNTRY, EXCLUDING TROPICAL FISH.

THIS IS AN ENORMOUS SEGMENT OF THE PET POPULATION AND YET PEOPLE ARE NOT RECOGNIZING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH PARROTS.

THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE UNWANTED.

>> KAREN WINSOR IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FOSTER PARROTS, A SANCTUARY FOR EXOTIC BIRDS THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED OR RELINQUISHED FROM PREVIOUS OWNERS THAT FOUND THE ANIMALS TOO DIFFICULT TO CARE FOR.

HER HUSBAND, MARK JOHNSON, THEN A BOSTON-AREA POTTER, ONE OF THE BIRD FOR HIS STUDIO AND RAPIDLY BECAME A CARETAKER FOR OTHER BIRDS IN THE LATE 1980'S.

>> HE ANSWERED AN AD ABOUT A BLUE AND GOLD MACAW FOR A COMPANION IN HIS POTTERY AND THE SAME DAY, HE BOUGHT THIS MACAW AND WAS WALKING DOWN, CAME RUNNING UP WITH HER AND SAID, WILL YOU TAKE THIS BIRD?

I DON'T WANT THIS BIRD.

HE BOUGHT AND FIRST -- HE BOUGHT AND RESCUED HIS FIRST BIRD ON THE SAME DAY.

>> FROM THERE HE FOUND HIMSELF ON THE RECEIVING END OF MORE AND MORE EXOTIC BIRDS.

>> IT SNOWBALLED.

PEOPLE WOULD SEE THESE BIRDS AND SAY I HAVE A BIRD I DON'T WANT.

>> JOHNSON ULTIMATELY MOVED TO A LARGER LOCATION AND FORMED FOSTER PARROTS, WITH THE HOPE OF ADOPTING THEM OUT.

FOR MANY OF THEM, THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION.

>> A LOT OF THESE BIRDS ARE WILD CAUGHT, DID NOT LIKE PEOPLE.

THEY HAD BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR MEDICAL ISSUES THAT PRECLUDED THEM FROM ADOPTION.

THEY WERE NEVER GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

THAT IS WHEN IT BEGAN TO DAWN ON US.

WE NEED SANCTUARIES.

THERE IS A PLACE FOR THESE BIRDS.

>> IN 2007, THEY MOVED AGAIN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

THE FORMER FARM IN HOPKINTON.

>> MY HUSBAND WALKED THROUGH THIS ABANDONED BUILDING AND SAID THIS IS IT.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING HERE.

WHICH TERRIFIED ME.

I KNEW HOW MUCH WORK IT WAS GOING TO BE.

>> THE HARD WORK AND GENEROUS DONATIONS PAID OFF.

OVER THE YEARS, FOSTER PARROTS GREW TO TAKE ON HUNDREDS OF EXOTIC BIRDS AS WELL AS A HANDFUL OF OTHER ANIMALS.

2014, FRESH OUT OF UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE, DANIKA BEGAN WORKING WITH THEM AS THEIR DIRECTOR.

>> AS SOON AS I GRADUATED, I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB.

ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIVISTS.

I SAW POSTING FOR A PARROT SANCTUARY.

I WAS NOT A PARROT PERSON BEFORE HERE.

I WORKED WITH WOLVES AND HORSES AND COMPANION ANIMALS.

LET'S CHECK THIS OUT.

SEE IF I CAN LEARN SOMETHING.

>> WHILE SHE SAYS SHE HAS LEARNED A LOT, SHE HAS BROUGHT A PUBLIC POLICY LENS TO FOSTER PARROTS WITH EXAMINATION OF THE GLOBAL BIRD TRADE AS WELL AS DOMESTIC BREEDING IN THE U.S. >> WHAT IS IT LIKE, WHAT YOU IMAGINE AT LEAST IT IS LIKE FOR A BIRD THAT LIVES INSIDE A CAGE FOR DECADES?

WHAT KIND OF QUALITY OF LIFE REDUCTION DO THEY EXPERIENCE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

CAPTIVITY IS INHERENT CRUELTY FOR A WILD ANIMAL, AS IT IS FOR HUMAN.

NO BEING IS MEANT TO BE STUCK IN A CAGE.

PARROTS ARE FLIGHTED.

THEY HAVE ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL GIFTS NATURE CAN GIVE US.

WE ROBBED THEM OF THAT.

>> IN THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT, THE BIRDS THRIVED.

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 1, 2021, KAREN WINSOR GOT DEVASTATING NEWS.

>> I WOKE UP AT 5 A.M. TO A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES WHO SAID THE BUILDING IS ON FIRE.

AND IT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE THE HORROR BECAUSE THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING.

NOT BUILT FOR PARROTS.

>> I LIVE IN BOSTON.

I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SHORTLY AFTER 5 A.M. FROM KAREN.

I'M SORRY, I WILL TRY MY BEST TO GET THROUGH THIS STORY.

SHE CALLED ME CRYING.

SHE SAYS THE BUILDING IS ON FIRE.

I WAS LIKE WHAT?

IT IS ON FIRE.

>> THE BUILDING HAD SUFFERED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

IT'S ALARM SYSTEM WAS WIRED DIRECTLY TO THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH THE FACILITY.

>> I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

VISUALLY, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANIMALS HAD GOT OUT.

IT WAS THE SURREAL EXPERIENCE OF LIVING YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE.

ANYONE WHO WORKS IN ANIMAL WELFARE OR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SANCTUARIES -- NATURAL DISASTERS, FIRES ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT.

>> THE NORTH WING OF THE SANCTUARY WAS LOST AND WITH IT, 96 BIRDS PERISHED.

>> ONLY TWO MADE IT OUT OF THAT SECTION OF THE BUILDING.

ROSE, OUR SCARLET MACAW AND BUDDY, THE UMBRELLA COCKATOO.

WE LOST ALL OUR COCKATOOS, OUR ENTIRE COLONY.

OUR QUAKER COLONY.

IT WAS DEVASTATING.

>> IN THE MONTHS AFTER THE FIRE, MEMBERS OF THE REGION'S ANIMAL WELFARE COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS OF THE SURROUNDING AREA WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

>> WHO IS THIS GUY?

>> TODAY, FOSTER PARROTS IS REBOUNDING PROVIDING SHELTER AND CARE FOR OVER 300 BIRDS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY BRINGING THE REMAINING BUILDING BACKUP TO WHERE WE CAN LIVE IN IT AND FUNCTION IN IT.

WE ALREADY HAVE IN FUNDRAISING TO REBUILD THE PART WE LOST.

THAT WILL HOPEFULLY START BEING BUILT FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

AT THAT POINT, WE ARE WORKING ON NEEDING TO RENOVATE THE REST OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.

THE CONDITIONS ARE STILL NOT, THEY ARE NOT GOOD.

IT IS STILL A CHICKEN COOP.

IT IS STILL AN OLD BUILDING.

>> KAREN WINSOR REMAINS GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE GOOD THE TRAGEDY GENERATED AND SHE HOPES FOR MANY, IT IS A WAKE-UP CALL.

>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE WORLD TO TAKE AWAY IS YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S LOVE FOR PARROTS AND WE LOVE THEM TOO BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THE WORLD THEY WERE MEANT TO LIVE IN, TO EXTRACT THEM FROM THE WILD.

PARROTS AS PETS, PUTTING A BIRD IN A CAGE.

THIS IS AN ANIMAL THAT WAS BORN TO INHERIT THE SKY AND WE TAKE THAT ANIMAL AND PUT IT IN A CAGE.

WOW!

THAT IS NOT OK.

IT IS ADMIRING THAT ANIMAL THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, THIS BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WANTING TO POSSESS.

IT.

I THINK WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO IS INSTEAD TAKE YOUR MONEY AND GO TO SOUTH AMERICA AND WATCH THEM FLY FREE.

THIS IS WHERE THEY BELONG.

>> FOSTER PARROTS HAS ENGAGED AN ARCHITECT TO REBUILD THE NORTH WING OF THE FACILITY AND HOPES TO HAVE IT COMPLETED SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR.

>> FINALLY TONIGHT, MICHELANGELO SAID GENIUS IS ETERNAL PATIENCE.

IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES WINDOW ON RHODE ISLAND, WE VISIT A CULTURAL CENTER WHERE VISITORS CAN SEE THE GENIUS OF AN ARTIST WHO PAID HOMAGE TO THE GREAT ITALIAN MASTERS, ONE GLORIOUS BRUSHSTROKE AT A TIME.

>> I AM DOMINIC.

WELCOME TO THE CULTURAL CENTER.

♪ MANY PEOPLE DRIVE BY THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH AND WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE, THE OUTSIDE GIVES NO HINT WHATSOEVER AS TO WHAT IS CONTAINED INSIDE.

IT CONTAINS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF FRESCO ARTWORK IN NORTH AMERICA.

THIS IS THE SAME STYLE AS THE FAMED SISTINE CHAPEL IN ROME.

SOME CALL IT THE SISTINE CHAPEL OF RHODE ISLAND.

WHAT WE SEE TODAY WAS NOT WHAT THE PARISHIONERS SAW BACK IN THE DAY.

THERE WERE NO FRESCO PAINTINGS.

THE AND CEILINGS WERE FINISHED IN GRAY STUCCO CEMENT.

NO STING GLASS WINDOWS.

THERE WAS NO MARBLE.

IT WAS A BYPRODUCT OF THE AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AT THE TIME, IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

MANY MILLS OPENED UP HERE IN WINSOCK IT AND THEY NEEDED WORKERS.

THEY TURNED TO CANADA.

SAINT ANNE'S WAS THE SECOND OF THIS.

IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1890.

1925, THEY ADDED THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS WHICH WERE IMPORTED FROM FRANCE.

THEN IN THE 1940'S, THE PASTOR AT THE TIME DECIDED, LET'S ADD MORE COLOR TO THE BUILDING.

HE VISITED DIFFERENT CHURCHES AROUND NEW ENGLAND.

HE FOUND THE ITALIAN ARTIST, GUIDO NIKIRI.

>> HE WAS BORN IN ITALY.

HE WANTED, HIS FATHER WANTED HIM TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

HE HAD A HUGE PASSION FOR THE ARTS.

THEY HAD A BIG ARGUMENT.

HIS FATHER BEAT HIM WITH A STICK.

IT DISPLACED A COUPLE OF HIS VERTEBRAE.

OVER SEVERAL YEARS HE DEVELOPED A PRONOUNCED HUNCH.

HE WAS NOT DETERRED.

HE WALKED THE TRAIN TRACKS TO FLORENCE WITH THIS INCREDIBLE BACK PAIN AND HE WAS HOMELESS FOR A YEAR.

♪ ONE DAY, AN ARTIST WHO TAUGHT AT THE FAMED ACADEMY OF FLORENCE, FOUNDED BY THE POPULAR MEDICI FAMILY, LITERALLY TOOK HIM INTO HIS HOUSE AND GOT HIM INTO THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

HE MARRIED.

PART OF THE HONEYMOON, THEY DECIDED TO VISIT SOME FRIENDS THAT HAD COME OVER TO THE U.S.

WHILE HE WAS IN BOSTON, HIS FATHER WROTE TO HIM AND SAID DON'T COME HOME.

THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OF ITALY AT THE TIME, THE RISE OF FASCISM, THINGS WEREN'T GOING SO WELL IN EUROPE.

PART OF WHAT HE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT WHEN HE CAME INTO THIS BUILDING WAS HE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO HIS OWN SISTINE CHAPEL.

FRESCO STYLE DOES NOT PRESENT ITSELF OFTEN.

♪ , FOR EIGHT YEARS, THERE WAS WOODEN SCAFFOLDING IN THE BUILDING SOMEWHERE.

SOME OF THE INTERESTING FACES WE HAVE, ONE OF THEM IS THE PARISH SEXTANT, THE PARISH JANITOR, HE IS PORTRAYED AS JONAH IN JONAH AND THE WHALE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT JONAH AND THE WHALE, HE IS THIS VERY INCREDIBLE PHYSIQUE, THIS GREAT BODY.

THAT WAS HIS BODY AS WELL.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS WHEN THERE WAS A COAL FIRED FURNACE.

HE WAS IN THE BOILER ROOM SHOVELING COAL.

THE STORY WITH THE PAINTING OF THIS BUILDING HAS SO MANY SIMILARITIES TO WIND MICHELANGELO PAINTED THE SISTINE CHAPEL.

THERE WAS CONTROVERSY.

HE PAINTS ADAM AND EVE.

THE MOTHER SUPERIOR AT THE TIME KIND OF LED A REVOLT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT HAPPY THESE FIGURES WERE NUDE.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO ANOTHER PAINTING CALLED THE REBELLION OF THE ANGELS WHERE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL AND THE HEAVENLY ANGELS ARE CASTING THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS INTO HELL.

IN THAT PAINTING, MICHAEL IS PIERCING ONE OF THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS.

YOU CAN SEE PART OF HER FACE.

HE BASED THAT FACE ON THAT MOTHER SUPERIOR.

♪ ALL THE FACES ON THE WALLS AND CEILINGS, EVERY FACE WAS A PARISHIONER WHO SAT IN THESE PEWS OR A MEMBER OF THE CITY AND WHAT WE ARE SAVING ISN'T JUST A CHURCH STRUCTURE.

IT IS A SCRAPBOOK, A SNAPSHOT, A MOMENT OF TIME.

THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE IMMORTALIZED WERE TEXTILE WORKERS.

THESE PEOPLE WORKED IN THE WE HAVE PORTRAITS OF THE COMMON PERSON.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN A LOT OF PLACES.

>> THANKS TO DOMINIC FOR THE TOUR.

ON ANOTHER INTERESTING NOTE, SAINT ANNE'S ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER STARTED LIFE AS A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BUT PARISH ATTENDANCE DECLINED IN THE 1990'S AND THE DIOCESE DECIDED TO PUT THE PROPERTY UP FOR SALE IN 2000.

MANY POOLED RESOURCES TO SAVE IT FROM DEVELOPERS.

FOR THAT, MANY ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

♪