[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> A NEW SHERIFF HAS SOME BOLD IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO REHABILITATE INMATES AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE COUNTY JAIL.

>> SOME PEOPLE SAY WHY ARE YOU HELPING THESE PEOPLE GET A JOB.

I HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A JOB.

MY RESPONSE WOULD BE I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INMATE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A JOB UPON RELEASE, WHO DOES NOT HAVE HOUSING UPON RELEASE, WHO DOES NOT HAVE DRUG TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT UPON RELEASE.

THOSE ARE THE INMATES I AM WORRIED ABOUT COMING BACK.

>> WHAT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE ABOUT HIS PAINTING?

>> YOU COULD SEE AND YOU COULD FEEL THE HEART AND SOUL HE PUT INTO HIS WORK.

HIS LANDSCAPE SCENES WERE VERY BUCOLIC, VERY SERENE, VERY SOMBER TONES IN HIS PALETTE.

HIS WORK WAS NOT GOOD BECAUSE HE WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN P HIS WORK WAS GREAT BECAUSE HE WAS A DEDICATED PAINTER AND THAT IS ALL HE WANTED TO DO.

>> MY KIDS MISS HIM EVERYDAY SO I LET THEM KNOW HOW THEY ARE DOING.

I KNOW I AM NEVER GOING TO FORGET HIM.

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED.

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT A GOOD PERSON HE WAS.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WE BEGIN TONIGHT IN BRISTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS WHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS THERE IS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN.

>> PAUL HEROUX CAMPAIGNED ON RUNNING A DEPARTMENT THAT IS FOCUSED ON REHABILITATING INMATES AND HAD SOME AMBITIOUS IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

HEROUX WATNNTS EVERY INMATE TO LEAVE THE JAIL WITH A JOB, HEALTH CARE AND A PLACE TO LIVE.

TO MANY OF HIS DETRACTORS THAT MAY SEEM LIKE PIE IN THE SKY BUT HEROUX OPTIMISTIC HE CAN PROVE THEM WRONG.

>> PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOT ABOUT THOSE WHO SERVE.

ABOUT THOSE WHO WOULD BE SERVED.

>> NEW SHERIFF OF BRISTER COUNTY HAS PROMISED TO RUN WHAT HE CALLS A MORE WATER JAIL SYSTEM.

HE WANTS TO PRIORITIZE REHABILITATING INMATES.

BUT HE KNOWS HE NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF HIS NEW COLLEAGUES TO GET IT DONE.

>> I ALSO HAVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES INTERNALLY AS WELL MANAGING A JAIL.

NEVER MAKE DECISIONS ALONE AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING.

>> HEROUX IS NOT AFRAID TO MAKE BIG MOVES.

.

SOON AFTER BECOMING SHERIFF HE ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO CLOSE THE ASH STREET JAIL IN NEW BEDFORD.

THE PLAN INCLUDES MOVING INMATES TO THE ICE FACILITY.

>> THIS IS THE OTHER HALF OF THE ICE BUILDING.

AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS A BIG ORGAN DORMITORY -- BIG OPEN DORMITORY STYLE ROOM.

>> THIS HAS BEEN VACANT FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS PER SAYS MOVING THE INMATES WOULD ALLOW ALL OF THE INMATES TO BE ON THE SAME CAMPUS.

>> IF WE EVER HAD A SECURITY INCIDENT, THEN YOU HAVE MORE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ON THIS CAMPUS WHEREAS ASH STREET IS A 15 MINUTE DRIVE FROM HERE.

IT IS BETTER TO HAVE THE OPERATION IN ONE PLACE.

>> HE ESTIMATES CONVERTING THE FORMER ICE FACILITY TO INDIVIDUAL CELLS WOULD COST ABOUT $10 MILLION.

>> IT IS NOT THE HARDEST TO REPLACE.

IT IS JUST OLD.- >> HE IS MAKING HIS PITCH TO LAWMAKERS.

>> IT IS OLD.

WE CANNOT DO AS MUCH PROGRAMMING HERE.

>>>> IT IS A MOVE HE SAYS THAT WOULD QUICKLY PAY FOR ITSELF.

MILLS WOULD NO LONGER BE TRANSPORTED THREE TIMES A DAY TO NEW BEDFORD.

PLUS THE ASH STREET JAIL IS MORE THAN 10 TIMES BIGGER THAN THE ICE FACILITY.

WHEN YOU RAN FOR SHERIFF YOU WOULD NOT COMMIT TO CLOSING THE JAIL.

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER BECOMING SHERIFF YOU ANNOUNCED YOU HAD A PLAN TO CLOSE IT.

WHAT CHANGED IN THOSE TWO WEEKS?

>> WHEN I WAS RUNNING, I RECOGNIZED IF I SAY I'’M GOING TO CLOSE ASH STREET AND I DID NOT HAVE ALL THE FACTS SO I DID NOT pWANT TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING.

WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A VISION.

IT IS A HOPE.

IT IS A PLAN BUT IT IS NOT A DECISION BECAUSE I CANNOT MAKE THE DECISION ALONE.

I NEED THE GOVERNOR TO BE ON BOARD AND ANY THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO BE ON BOARD AS WELL.

>> THE 46-YEAR-OLD DEMOCRAT SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES INMATES RECEIVE WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED.

>> WE HAVE 700 INMATES.

EVERY SINGLE INMATE WOULD KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO FOR HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND A JOB AFTER RELEASE.

AND SO THAT IS A MODERN APPROACH TO DISCHARGE PLANNING.

WHILE PEOPLE ARE HERE, WE ARE ALSO OFFERING AS MUCH TREATMENT AS WE CAN FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ANGER MANAGEMENT, ADDICTION SERVICES.

>> YOU KNOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HEAR THIS SAY YOU ARE MAKING THE JAIL SOUND LIKE A SOMEWHAT DESIRABLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO TO END UP.

>> IT IS CALLED A HOUSE OF CORRECTION.

WE SHOULD BE CORRECTING.

IT IS A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE SHOULD BE CORRECTING.

>> HE WANTS CASEWORKERS AND EMPLOYERS TO WORK WITH INMATES TO HELP THEM SECURE JOBS UPON THEIR RELEASE.

BUT HE NEEDS THE MONEY AND RESOURCES TO DO THAT AND THAT COULD A HARD SELL.

>> I CANNOT DO THIS BY MYSELF.

THE INMATES HAVE TO ALSO WANT THIS SUPPORT.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY WHO DOES.

IT DOES NOT STOP THERE.

I NEED THE RESOURCES FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I NEED THE OUTSIDE GROUPS, THE NONPROFITS, THE THIRD PARTIES TO COME INTO THE JAIL SYSTEM, DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE INMATES THAT WHEN THE INMATES ARE RELEASED THEY SAY I HAVE GOT SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO HELP ME GET ON MY FEET ONTHE OUTSIDE.

>> IS THERE ANOTHER JAIL SYSTEM SOMEWHERE IN MASSACHUSETTS OR IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS DOING WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU CAN POINT TO AND SAY THEY HAVE DONE THIS SUCCESSFULLY?

>> I DON'’T KNOW OF ANYWHERE BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT DOING IT.

>> ONE MONTH AFTER HE DEFEATED THOMAS HODGSON, THE SHERIFF WHO HAD THE JOB FOR 25 YEARS SHOWED HIM AROUND THE JAIL.

AND INTRODUCED HIM TO MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'’S OFFICE.

>> WE HAD A REALLY TOUGH CAMPAIGN.

WE REALLY BEAT EACH OTHER OUT.

THAT IS WHAT CAMPAIGNS DO.

WITH THE ELECTION WAS OVER, HE WAS PROFESSIONAL.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK I WAS PROFESSIONAL.

AND THE ELECTION WAS OVER.

WE SAID NOW WE HAVE TO DO A TRANSITION TO HE WAS VERY POLITE.

HE WAS ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN.

I CAN SEE WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY LIKED HIM.

>> BOTH MEN KNOW THERE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES FACING THE DEPARTMENT.

JUST ONE DAY AFTER HE BECAME SHERIFF, A 41-YEAR-OLD INMATE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS JAIL CELL IN AN APPARENT SUICIDE.

SINCE 2000, THE SHERIFF'’S OFFICE SAYS 29 INMATES HAVE TAKEN THIR OWN LIVES.

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE APPROPRIATELY SELF-CRITICAL.

WE HAVE TO SAY WHERE CAN WE BE BETTER, HOW CAN WE BE BETTER?

I'’M GOING TO BRING IN A THIRD PARTY.

DAVID -- A NATIONALLY RENOWNED EXPERT.

I WENT TO BRING HIM ON BOARD, HAVE HIM LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM AND COME BACK AND SAY THIS IS WHERE YOUR BLIND SPOT IS.

THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE MISSING.

>> HE HAS A MASTERS DEGREE IN YEARS WORKING FOR JAIL AND PRISON SYSTEMS IN PHILADELPHIA AT MASSACHUSETTS.

BUT HE ADMITS HIS CAREER PATH IS UNCONVENTIONAL.

BEFORE BECOMING SHERIFF, HE SPENT FIVE YEARS AS THE MAYOR OF ATTLEBORO AND SERVED AS A MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FIVE YEARS.

>> I DON'’T KNOW IF THERE IS A CONVENTIONAL PATH TO POLITICS.

AND I WAS IN UNDERGROUND I STUDIED PSYCHOLOGY NEUROSCIENCE.

I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH BEHAVIOR AND THE BRAIN.

I WAS LOOKING AT GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL OR DOING A PHD IN NEUROSCIENCE.

THEN SEPTEMBER 11 HAPPENED.

>> 15 OF THE 19 HIJACKERS ON SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH FROM SAUDI ARABIA.

HE WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.

HE LIVED THERE FOR SIX MONTHS IN 2003 TEACHING ENGLISH.

HE REMEMBERS WHAT IT WAS LIKE AFTER COMPOUNDS WERE BOMBED.

>> THERE WERE CHECKPOINTS BROUGHT UP EVERYWHERE.

I WAS NUMEROUS TIMES PULLED OVER AND SUBJECTED TO SEARCHES.

I HAVE HAD A 50 CAL GUN MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE HUMVEE POINTED AT ME BEFORE.

WHY?

>> BECAUSE I WAS A WHITE WESTERNER IN SAUDI ARABIA WHICH WAS FOOLISH BECAUSE THE PERPETRATORS OF THE COMPOUND ATTACKS DID NOT SHARE MY PROFILE BUT THE SECURITY OPERATION WAS NOT AS PROFESSIONAL.

>> HIS FASCINATION WITH NON-WESTERN CULTURES HAS TAKEN HIM AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING A NINE DAY TRIP TO NORTH KOREA WHEN HE WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL.

IT WAS AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE AND LEFT HIM RESOLVED TO MAKE ADDITIONS BETTER FOR INMATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO THEY SAVED IS HOW A JAIL OR PRISON SHOULD BE RUN, THEY DESCRIBE WHAT IS DONE IN SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES.

I REMIND THEM OF THAT.

I SAY THAT IS NOT WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY.

>> HE PROMISED VOTERS IF REELECTED HE WOULD NOT SERVE MORE THAN 26-YEAR TERMS AS SHERIFF.

WHEN HE LEAVES THE OFFICE HE HELPS THE COUNTY JAIL HAS A STRONG RECORD OF REHABILITATING INMATES.

>> SOME PEOPLE SAY WHY ARE YOU HELPING THESE PEOPLE GET A JOB.

I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING.

A JOB I RESPONSE WOULD BE I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INMATE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A JOB UPON RELEASE.

WHO DOES NOT HAVE HOUSING UPON RELEASE.

WHO DOES NOT HAVE DRUG TREATMENT OR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE UPON RELEASE.

THOSE ARE THE INMATES, THE ONES WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT, THOSE ARE THE ONES I AM WORRIED ABOUT COMING BACK.

♪ >> UP NEXT, PROVIDENCE IS CALLED THE CREATIVE CAPITAL AND NO WONDER.

IT BOASTS THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND MUSEUM, TRINITY REP, DOZENS OF GALLERIES AND FOR NEARLY A HUNDRED 50 YEARS, THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB.

IT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE NATION.

TONIGHT, A LOOK INSIDE AT THE TALENT AND TOLERANCE OF ITS FOUNDING MEMBERS AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE ARTS IN TODAY.

BEHIND THE BIG GREEN DOOR OF THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB LIES A CANVAS OF CONTEMPORARY GALLERIES , PAINTING CALLUSES, OLD WOOD DINING ROOMS AND COLLECTIONS OF WORKS BY ITS MEMBERS STRETCHING BACK DECADES.

DAN HAS BELONGED FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE IN TIME MACHINE.

THERE IS SOME AMBIENCE THAT COMES FROM EVEN THE FOYER.

YOU LOOK UP THE STAIRS AND YOU SEE TIME GONE BY.

>> IN 1880 WHEN WOMEN DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE VOTE AND BLACK ARTISTS WERE PRACTICALLY NONEXISTENT A GROUP FROM THE EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE MADE A BOLD STROKE.

>> THE ART CLUB HERE WAS FOUNDED BY 16 PEOPLE.

SIX WERE WOMEN.

THEY WERE NOT ALL ARTISTS.

THEY WERE PATRONS INVOLVED.

FOUNDED FOR ALT KERCHER.

-- ART CULTURE.

THEY ALSO ONE OF THE CAMARADERIE OF PEOPLE WHO FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT LIFE AND WHAT THEY DID.

THEY MADE A GREAT TIME OF IT.

>> HE SAYS MANY OF THOSE GREAT TIMES HAPPENED HERE IN THE TINY CABARET ROOM.

THERE ARE STORIES OF EARLY MEMBERS SMOKING LONG CLAY PIPES WHICH CONTINUED TO LINE THE WALLS TODAY.

ALONG WITH VINTAGE WINE BOTTLES THAT HANG FROM THE CEILING.

OVERSEEING ALL THE FESTIVITIES, A DEVIL PAINTED IN THE RAFTERS.

AS UNCONVENTIONAL AS SOME OF THE INTAKES MAY SEEM, THE FOUNDERS WHO SERIOUSABOUT THEIR ART AND WELL RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THEIR LEADING MEMBERS, BLACK ARTIST EDWARD MITCHELL AND ESTHER, -- EDWARD MITCHELL BANISTER, OIL PAINTER, ABOLITIONIST, PHILANTHROPIST.

OF ALL THE STRIKING SILHOUETTES OF ARTISTS AND PATRONS LINING THE WALLS, HIS HAS A DISTINCTION.

THE NUMBER ONE INDICATING HE WAS THE PRIME MOVER OF THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB.

IN A DAY WHERE WE ARE ACTIVELY DISCUSSING REPRESENTATION IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY, PROVIDENCE ARTS CLUB IT SEEMS WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME.

>> WITHOUT QUESTION.

>> NANCY IS BOTH ARTIST AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB.

WHY WERE THEY WILLING TO RALLY AROUND EDWARD BANISTER, A BLACK ARTIST?

>> I THINK THEY SAW HE WAS AN ARTIST OF NOTE.

THEY RECOGNIZED WHO HE WAS.

ARTISTS DON'’T SEE A BLACK-AND-WHITE.

IT WAS HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS WORK AND EVERYTHING HE DID TO HELP CREATE THE NEW ENGLAND CULTURAL COMMUNITY.

>> THE RURAL NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY AND NARRAGANSETT BAY SHORELINE ARE PROMINENT THEMES IN BANISTER'’S LANDSCAPES.

ARE SOME ON DISPLAY AT THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB.

MANY MORE HANG AT THE SMITHSONIAN.

WHAT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE ABOUT HIS PAINTING?

>> YOU COULD SEE AND YOU COULD FEEL THE HEART AND SOUL THAT HE PUT INTO HIS WORK.

HIS WORK JUST EXUDES AN ATMOSPHERE THAT IS HARD TO ATTAIN AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER HE DID NOT GO TO EUROPE TO STUDY ART.

A LOT OF THIS WAS EXPERIMENTATION.

HIS LANDSCAPE SCENES WERE VERY BUCOLIC, VERY SERENE.

VERY SOMBER TONES IN HIS PALETTE.

HIS WORK WAS NOT GOOD BECAUSE HE WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

HIS WORK WAS GREAT BECAUSE HE WAS A DEDICATED PAINTER.

AND THAT IS ALL HE WANTED TO DO.

>> SHE SAYS BANISTER FIERCE DEDICATION WAS FIRED UP BY AN ARTICLE HE READ IN THE NEW YORK HERALD IN 1867.

QUOTE THE NEGRO SEEMS TO HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR OUR LAW BEING UNABLE TO PRODUCE IT.

UNQUOTE.

IRONICALLY LESS THAN A DECADE LATER BANISTER WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO RECEIVE A FIRST PRIZE MEDAL AWARD.

IT HAPPENED AT THE PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION AND IT CAUSED A SENSATION WHEN THE JUDGES ANNOUNCE THE WINNER FROM HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS ENTERED AND A.

>> HE WENT UP TO GET HIS AWARD AND THEY WERE A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK AND SAID THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT.

HE IS A BLACK MAN PIT THEY WANTED TO RESEND IT.

THEY WANTED TO TAKE IT AWAY.

THERE WERE WHITE ARTISTS THAT CAME IN AND SAID NO.

HE IS GETTING HIS AWARD AND HE DID.

>> BANISTER'’S AWARD CERTIFICATE IS ONE OF THE ART CLUB MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS.

THE ARTIST WHO MADE HER MARK ON THE ART CLUB WAS A SCULPTOR.

>> SHE WAS BORN IN THE LATE 1880'’S TO ANY STORE NEARLY WEALTHY FAMILY IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> HER FAMILY SUMMERED IN NARRAGANSETT.

SHE WAS DISABLED AFTER A CHILDHOOD ILLNESS LEFT HER DEATH AND UNABLE TO TALK YET HER TALENT SPOKE VOLUMES.

SHE WAS SCULPTING IN FRANCE WHEN HITLER'’S ROSE TO POWER AND STARTED STEALING ARTWORK.

>> HER FATHER REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HE WANTED HER HOME.

BUT SHE WAS WORKING ON ALL THESE PIECES SO THEY BURIED THE WORK SHE WAS WORKING ON ON THE PROPERTY AND WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER I SENT AN AGENT BACK AND THEY UNCOVERED ALL OF THAT WORK AND IT WAS SENT BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

SHE BECAME A MEMBER IN THE LATE 1940'’S.

SHE WAS READILY ACCEPTED.

>> HER SCULPTURES ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN THE ANGEL'’S LANE ROOM AT THE ART CLUB.

THERE ARE HORSES, A LIKENESS OF HER BABY BROTHER AND OTHER WORKS .

HER BUST OF PRESIDENT EISENHOWER RESIDES IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

WHEN SHE DIED, SHE LEFT A SUBSTANTIAL BEQUEST STARTING THE ENDOWMENT FOR THE ART CLUB.

ANOTHER LEGACY WAS LEFT BY THE ARTIST WHO CRAFTED THESE DRAGON AND IRONS.

>> THEY ARE REALLY COOL PAIR THEY WERE HANDMADE BY SIDNEY BURLEY.

>> SHE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ART CLUB.

IT IS ONE OF THE FOUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT HOUSE THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB.

INSIDE, HE CONTINUED HIS DRAMATIC DRAGON THEME.

UPON HIS DEATH, HE WILLED THE PROPERTY TO THE ART CLUB WITH THE STIPULATION THAT MUST ALWAYS CURRENTLY, ANTHEA TOMASELLI IS THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE.

POPULAR RHODE ISLAND PAINTER MAXWELL HAYES ALSO WORKED IN THE STUDIO AND STORY LIKE DEPICTIONS OF NEW ENGLAND SCENES.

PROVIDENCE ART CLUB CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS AND PENSIONS PRESENT AND PAST.

A CURRENT PROJECT IS HONORING THE LIFE OF EDWARD BANISTER.

THIS IS A MINIATURE OF WHAT WILL SOON BE A FIXTURE IN MARKET SQUARE NEAR THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN AUDITORIUM.

>> THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS SCULPTURE IS THAT IT IS NOT A MONUMENT.

HE IS NOT STANDING ON A PEDESTAL LOOKING DOWN AT PEOPLE.

HE IS SITTING ON A BENCH KIND OF WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO SIT NEXT TO HIM.

HE HAS A SKETCHPAD IN HAND.

ON THE SKETCHPAD IS A SKETCH OF HIS WIFE.

>> THE SCULPTURE IS BEING CAST LIFE-SIZE IN BROWNS AT A MASSACHUSETTS FOUNDRY PIT IT IS THE FINISHING TOUCH FOR A MAN WHOSE TALENT AND TENACITY BROKE DOWN BARRIERS LEAVING A LEGACY THAT IS NOT LOST ON ALL THOSE DRAWN TO VISIT THE ART CLUB.

♪ >> WE NOW TURN TO A TRAGIC EVENT THAT HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK.

ON FEBRUARY 20, 2003 A FIRE AT THE STATION NIGHTCLUB IN WEST WARWICK CLAIMED 100 LIVES AND INJURED MORE THAN 200 OTHERS.

THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY THAT QUICKLY SPREAD TO FOAM INSULATION.

PANICKED CONCERTGOERS TRIED TO ESCAPE BUT MANY WERE TRAPPED AT THE FRONT DOOR.

IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING.

THE ROAD LAWSUITS, JAIL SENTENCES AND SETTLEMENTS CONNECTED TO THE CATASTROPHE.

SENIOR PRODUCER JUSTIN KENNY HAS BEEN VISITING THE MEMORIAL WHICH SITS ON THE VERY SITE WHERE THE NIGHTCLUB STOOD.

IN RECENT WEEK HE SPENT TIMES WITH THE LABYRINTH OF THE VICTIMS WHO SEEK SOLACE AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE WHO WERE LOST.

♪ >> MY NAME IS KIMBERLY BECK.

I'’M FROM WEST WARWICK.

I LOST MY SISTER IN THE STATION FIRE.

FOR ME, SHE NOW ONLY WAS MY BIG SISTER.

SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND AND SHE WAS LIKE A SECOND MOM.

WE WERE VERY CLOSE.

SHE WAS A SOFT-SPOKEN NONJUDGMENTAL REALLY KIND BIGHEARTED PERSON WHO JUST DEVOTED HERSELF TO HER FAMILY AND HER WORK.

HIGHLY INTELLIGENT.

EVEN THOUGH YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW BECAUSE SHE WAS SO QUIET.

WE WERE CLOSE.

SO I WISH SHE WAS STILL HERE.

SHE HAS A GRANDDAUGHTER NAMED AFTER HER WHO IS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

I JUST BECAME A GRANDMOTHER.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR HER TO BE HERE THROUGH ALL THOSE MILESTONES THAT HER CHILDREN WENT THROUGH AND HOW THE FAMILY DYNAMIC IS.

♪ I THINK I HAVE PRETTY MUCH GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THE EMOTIONS.

INITIALLY, THE DEVASTATION.

IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK.

IT WAS SO SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED.

TO THE ANGER, TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE FOAM, ABOUT THE DOOR, ABOUT THE FIRE MARSHAL.

ALL THOSE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS ANGRY FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF THE ANGER SO IT DOES NOT CONSUME YOU.

AND THEN YOU GRIEVE WITH SADNESS A LOT BECAUSE EVERY HOLIDAY OR SPECIAL OCCASION, YOU CANNOT SHARE ANYMORE.

YOU CANNOT PICK UP THE PHONE.

YOU CANNOT DRIVE TO HER HOUSE.

THERE ARE STILL DAYS WHEN IT IS HARD BUT YOU DO TEND TO CARRY ON WITH YOUR LIFE AS YOU KNOW SHE WOULD WANT YOU TO.

I'’VE ALWAYS DONE MY BEST TO LOOK AFTER HER GIRLS AND HER GRANDDAUGHTERS.

♪ SO THERE IS STILL SADNESS BUT THERE IS MEMORIES HERE TOO.

I COME HERE AND WE TALK ABOUT THE MEMORIES OF HOW OFTEN WE CAME HERE AND ENJOYED OURSELVES AND HAD SOME GREAT NIGHTS.

SO IT IS BITTERSWEET.

♪ I COME HERE PRETTY MUCH ON THE DAILY PAIRED I KIND OF SWING BY OR SOMETIMES I COME JUST TO SIT AND TALK ABOUT MY BAD DAY OR WHAT IS GOING ON.

MY FRIENDS WERE HERE THEY LOST THEIR LIVES.

IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER TO TALK TO THEM AND LET IT GO.

WHAT IS BOTHERING ME IT'’S RELEASED TO THEM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I WOULD'’VE DONE PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

THIS IS WHERE I FIND MY HAPPY PLACE WHERE I AM COMFORTABLE.

♪ >> I AM FROM RHODE ISLAND.

ORIGINALLY FROM THE BUCKET.

NOW I LIVE IN -- REGIONALLY FROM PAWTUCKET.

NOW I LIVE IN CHARLESTOWN.

♪ KEVIN WASHBURN WHO WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND, HE LOST HIS LIFE THAT NIGHT JUST BEFORE HIS BIRTHDAY.

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN -- HE WAS KIND OF THE CRAZY PART OF MY LIFE.

WE HAD FUN.

WE WOULD COME OUT EVERY WEEK.

WE WOULD GO TO THE STATION OR GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

HE WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND.

I USUALLY DON'’T TALK ABOUT IT SO I DON'’T CRY WHEN I COME HERE BUT KEVIN WASHBURN WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

I MISS HIM EVERY DAY.

HE WAS MY CONFIDANT, MY FRIEND, MY PARTYGOER SO I COME TO TALK TO HIM WHEN I'’M FIGHTING WITH MY HUSBAND, WHEN I'’M HAVING A BAD DAY, WHEN WORK WAS BAD.

♪ HE WAS THE GODFATHER TO MY OLDEST CHILDREN.

HE WAS NOT A FREQUENTER OF THE STATION BUT HE PASSED AWAY THAT EVENING.

MY CHILDREN LOST THEIR GODFATHER THAT NIGHT.

MY KIDS MISS HIM EVERY DAY SO I LET HIM KNOW HOW THEY ARE DOING.

HOW GRAND THEY ARE AND WHATEVER.

I KNOW I AM NEVER GOING TO FORGET HIM.

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED.

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT A GOOD PERSON HE WAS.

I WILL NOT FORGET YOU.

THAT IS WHAT I TELL HIM EVERY TIME I SEE HIM.

IT IS A HARD ONE FOR ME.

♪ SO I JUST SIT AND TALK TO HIM.

THEY CALL ME DOWN AND MAKE MY DAY FEEL GOOD.

HAVING THIS MEMORIAL IS AMAZING FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A PLACE WHERE I CAN TALK TO THEM STILL.

THEY ARE HERE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.

THIS IS WHERE THEY WERE LAST SEEN.

THIS IS WHERE THEY LAST WEAR.

SO FOR ME THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE AND I AM SO THANKFUL THEY BUILT THIS.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT IS A GREAT THING FOR THEM.

IT MEMORIALIZES THEM FOREVER.

PEOPLE WANT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED.

-- PEOPLE WANT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED.

♪ >> THE MEMORIAL MEANS A LOT.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT IS A PEACEFUL TRANQUIL PLACE I CAN COME AND SIT AND TALK TO MY SISTER.

THE GROUND, THE PARK, IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO WALK THROUGH.

I ALSO FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE ELSE WHO GOES UP AND READS THE TIMELINE TO READ IT, TO UNDERSTAND IT AND SO THAT WE NEVER FORGET THE 100 ANGELS THAT WE LOST.

♪ >> WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR THANKS FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH US.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE'’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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