>> AT THE END OF MY SHIFT, YOU HAVE A PATIENT WHO THANKS YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.

I WORK AT THE HOSPITAL.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 20 PLUS YEARS.

WE HAVE INCREASED PATIENT LOAD.

WE HAVE A NURSING SHORTAGE.

IT HAS BEEN TOUGH.

WE WANT NURSES OUT THERE TO KNOW IT IS A NICE PLACE TO WORK.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT.

HELP THEM NAVIGATE THAT.

>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> BACK IN THE 1980'S, AS RHODE ISLAND'S FIRST ATTORNEY GENERAL, ARLENE VIOLET WAS NICKNAMED ATTILA THE NUN.

THE FORMER SISTER OF MERCY TOOK NO MERCY ON THE MOB.

HOW WOULD YOU APPLY THE LESSONS FROM THAT FIGHT TO THESE?

ARLENE: PEOPLE DD HAVE A SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

DAN: I COULD DO OTHER OCCUPATIONS.

I HAVE OTHER SKILLS.

BUT I FIND THAT WHEN I TAKE A DAY OFF, WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?

I WANT TO MAKE ART.

I WANT TO SEE MUSIC.

I WANT TO PLAY MUSIC.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ONCE OBSERVED THAT SHE LOOKED LIKE A NUN, WHICH SHE DOES, AND SHE TALKED LIKE A CRUSADING PROSECUTOR, WHICH SHE ALSO WAS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARLENE VIOLET.

IN RHODE ISLAND POLITICS, SHE WAS A PIONEER AND A FORCE OF NATURE, TAKING ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION AS THE STATE'S FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SHE RAN AS A REPUBLICAN.

ARLENE VIOLET STILL PUTS HER VALUES FRONT AND CENTER, URGING ALL OF US TO DO BETTER.

ACT IN NOVEMBER, SHE SAT DOWN FOR A CONVERSATION WITH CONTRIBUTING REPORTER DAVID WRIGHT.

DAVID: SHE IS A RHODE ISLAND ICON.

ARLENE: TONIGHT, I AM ANNOUNCING THAT I AM GOING TO BE YOUR CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

DAVID: A VOICE OF CONSCIENCE IN RHODE ISLAND POLITICS.

ARLENE: THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE MITTS OF BIG BUSINESS.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET IS NO SHRINKING VIOLET.

BACK IN THE DAY, THEY CALLED HER ATTILA THE NUN.

AT AGE 78, SHE HAS NOT GIVEN UP THE FIGHT.

ARLENE: I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS THAT ARE STILL TILTING AT WINDMILLS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THERE IS A ROLE TO PLAY, TO TRY TO BRING US BACK TO OUR SENSIBILITIES -- IF NOT MORALLY, AT LEAST AS A NATION.

WE PURPORT TO HAVE THESE PRINCIPLES.

DAVID: SHE GOT THE FIGHTING SPIRIT AT AN EARLY AGE IN NEWPORT, NOT FAR FROM THE GILDED AGE MANSIONS, ON THE CAMPUS OF SALVE REGINA.

FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, IT WAS ORIGINALLY A WOMEN'S COLLEGE TO PROMOTE VIRTUE, PIETY, AND LEARNING.

HE WENT TO THE CONVENT IN 1960?

ARLENE: 1961.

DAVID: 18 YEARS OF AGE.

ARLENE: I THOUGHT I WOULD GET KICKED OUT, BECAUSE I WAS SORT OF WILD WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET DID NOT GET KICKED OUT.

SHE GRADUATED AND TOOK HER VOWS.

CATHOLIC NUNS ALL TAKE VOWS OF POVERTY, CHASTITY, AND OBEDIENCE.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY TAKE A FOURTH VOW -- SERVICE.

ARLENE: OF COURSE, THE ORDER TALKED ABOUT RESPONDING TO THE UNMET NEED, AND WHAT MADE SOMETHING UNMET WAS NOBODY HAD DONE IT YET.

IN MANY WAYS IT SOUNDS STUPID, BUT THE CONVENT TURNED ME FEMINIST, BECAUSE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE YOU -- YOU WERE ENCOURAGED TO TRY THINGS NO ONE HAD TRIED BEFORE.

DAVID: UNMET NEEDS IN THE 1960'S INCLUDED THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, FARM WORKERS RIGHTS, AND PROTESTING THE VIETNAM WAR.

IS IT TRUE YOU USED TO GO TO ANTIWAR RALLIES IN YOUR NUN'S HABIT?

ARLENE: I DID.

SOMETIMES I WOULD NOT HAVE ONE, BUT I WOULD BORROW IT FROM ANOTHER ORDER.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO SHOW THAT THE CHURCH WAS STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PROTESTERS, THE WAR PROTESTERS.

DAVID: THE HIPPIES.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO YOU?

WHAT DID THEY MAKE OF YOU?

ARLENE: FINE, I GUESS.

OCCASIONALLY I GOT DRAGGED INTO POLICE STATIONS WITH THEM.

IN RHODE ISLAND, PARTICULARLY PROVIDENCE, THE POLICE WERE MOSTLY CATHOLIC, SO I WAS SORT OF AN EMBARRASSMENT.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET WAS ONE OF THE FIRST NUNS TO MOVE FROM THE CONVENT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN THE OLD HARTFORD AVENUE HOUSING PROJECT.

MOST OF HER NEIGHBORS DID NOT TAKE VOWS OF POVERTY.

THEY WERE STUCK WITH IT ANYWAY.

ARLENE: A LOT OF POOR PEOPLE THERE.

AND THAT EXPERIENCE SHOWED ME THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS, VICTIMS, VICTIMS.

THE POLICY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS RE-VICTIMIZING THEM.

SEEING WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I SAID THIS IS AWFUL.

I PROBABLY HAVE TO BECOME A LAWYER.

DAVID: IT WAS AT THAT POINT YOU DECIDED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

ARLENE: I ASKED MY SUPERIORS, AND THEY SAID IF YOU GET IN, THAT'S FINE.

DAVID: SHE GOT HIM, WENT TO BOSTON COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL, AND WHEN SHE GRADUATED, BECAME A 1-9 LEGAL AID SOCIETY.

-- A ONE-NUN LEGAL AID SOCIETY.

SHE SAW CORRUPTION WAS RAMPANT.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GIVING ME FOR A LONG TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

DAVID: RAYMOND WAS THE BOSS OF THE NEW ENGLAND MAFIA, HOLDING COURT OUT OF THE COIN-O-MAT ON FEDERAL HILL IN PROVIDENCE.

ARLENE: WHEN I RAN IN 1982, HE WAS OUTSIDE HIS SHOP, SMOKING HIS CIGARETTE, WHITE SOCKS ON.

I WAS WALKING BY, AND HE SAID, HI, SISTER.

I SAID, I'M NO SISTER TO YOU.

DAVID: BEDEVILED BY LEGAL PROBLEMS AND FAILING HEALTH, HIS REIGN AS NEW ENGLAND CRIME BOSS WAS ALREADY STARTING TO CRUMBLE.

>> A LARGE CROWD OF THE CURIOUS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE TO WATCH AS HE ARRIVED.

HE LOOKED TERRIBLE, EYES CLOSED, OXYGEN TUBES IN HIS NOSE, AND INTRAVENOUS MEDICATION BEING POURED INTO HIM AS HE WAS CARRIED UP THE STEPS OF THE BUILDING AND INTO COURT.

DAVID: THIS NEWS STORY SHOWS HIM ON A HOSPITAL GURNEY, FACING MURDER CHARGES.

>> JOHN CICILLINE SAID PATR IARCA PLEADS INNOCENT ON BOTH COUNTS.

DAVID: ARLENE VIOLET MADE HER FIRST BID FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

ARLENE: IT WAS AN UNLIKELY THING TO DO TO WORK FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I DID KNOW THAT.

DAVID: EVEN THOUGH SHE RAN AS A NOVELTY, RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES THAT MATTERED, SHE HAD A STRONG ENOUGH SHOWING TO ENCOURAGE HER TO RUN AGAIN.

WHEN YOU FINALLY WON, WERE YOU FACED WITH A CHOICE?

ARLENE: A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I WON, I GUESS THE POLLS WERE COMING OUT TO SHOW I COULD WIN.

THE BISHOP GAVE ME A CHOICE.

I COULD EITHER STAY A SISTER OF MERCY OR I COULD CONTINUE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

IT WAS TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE I HAD BEEN A NUN FOR 23 YEARS.

LOVED IT.

TO ME, IT WAS A CHOICE BETWEEN THE REALITY OF RESPONDING TO UNMET NEEDS, OR I COULD KEEP THE TITLE OF BEING A NUN BUT NOT KEEP THE COMMITMENT.

THAT IS HOW I DECIDED.

DAVID: IN 1984, THE YEAR SHE TOOK OFFICE -- >> FROM SOUTHEASTERN DOING LIND'S LEADING NEWS STATION -- NEW ENGLAND'S LEADING NEWS STATION -- >> THE KINGPIN OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN DOING LIND IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 76.

-- OF NEW ENGLAND IS DEAD AT THE AGE OF 76.

ARLENE: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TO TELL PROSECUTORS THEY COULD NOT GO TO MOB RESTAURANTS.

THEY WOULD GO AFTER WORK AND HAVE A TAP FOR THEIR DRINKS OR MEALS PICKED UP.

I THREATENED AND SAID, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOB.

YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

HOW COULD THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE GOING AFTER THESE GUYS WHEN THEY ARE PAYING FOR YOUR DRINKS?

THAT LED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO WANT TO IMPEACH ME A MONTH OR SO AFTER I WAS IN OFFICE.

DAVID: THE PROBLEM WAS NOT JUST THE MAFIA, BUT THE CORRUPTION THEY SPAWNED, AS SHE LATER TOLD C-SPAN.

ARLENE: SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK MOB GUYS ARE "DEM, DESE, AND DOSE" GUYS.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT.

THEY PULLED SOME SCAMS ON WALL STREET THAT WOULD MAKE BERNIE MADE OFF LOOK LIKE A PIKER.

DAVID: HERE COMES SISTER ARLENE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, NO LONGER SISTER.

WERE YOU SCARED?

ARLENE: I DON'T GET SCARED.

I THINK THAT IS A SISTER OF MERCY THING.

DAVID: DO YOU THINK YOUR LIFE WAS REALLY IN DANGER?

ARLENE: I DON'T KNOW.

IT IS NOT ANYTHING I DWELL ON.

THEY TELL ME IT WAS.

I'M GOING TO LITIGATE AND GET YOU ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

DAVID: THAT IS INCREDIBLY BRAVE, STANDING UP TO THE MOB, THE DRUG CARTELS.

ARLENE: WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE JOB WAS, RIGHT?

YOU WANT TO DO A JOB, YOU SHOULD DO IT.

DAVID: SHE ALSO SOUNDED THE ALARM ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S BANKING SYSTEM, THEN ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT.

AND SHE FAMOUSLY REOPENED THE CLASS ON BULOW -- KLAUS VON BULOW CASE THAT INSPIRED THE MOVIE "REVERSAL OF FORTUNE."

>> WHY DID I STAY ALL DAY AT SUNNY'S SIDE WITHOUT CALLING A DOCTOR?

DAVID: SHE LOST THE CASE AND EVENTUALLY HER JOB AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND WENT ON TO WRITE BOOKS, AND MUSIC.

>> ♪ FAMILY VALUES KEEP YOU IN LINE ♪ DAVID: YOU WROTE A MUSICAL.

ARLENE: I SOUND LIKE I CAN'T KEEP A JOB.

[LAUGHTER] BUT YEAH.

DAVID: THINK OF IT THIS WAY.

IF THE MOB CAN BE FODDER FOR MUSICAL THEATER, THAT IS ONE SIGN IT IS NO LONGER AS SCARY AS IT ONCE WAS.

WHEN YOU STARTED TILTING AT THIS PARTICULAR WINDMILL, THE MAFIA IN RHODE ISLAND MUST HAVE SEEMED AN INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM.

LOOKING AROUND THE LANDSCAPE OF TODAY, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF INTERMINABLE PROBLEMS.

CLIMATE CHANGE, GUNS, RACISM.

HOW WOULD YOU APPLY THE LESSONS FROM THAT FIGHT TO THESE?

ARLENE: WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY, BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, PEOPLE DID HAVE A SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

THEY DID NOT BAPTIZE WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE.

THEY COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS EVIL AND THEY DID WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

THEY DID NOT CONDONE CORRUPTION.

THEY KNEW IT WAS WRONG WHEN PEOPLE WERE SELF-DEALING AS A POLITICIAN.

TODAY, ANYTHING GOES.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT ALL FACTS ARE CREATED EQUAL, SOMEHOW, INCLUDING MYTHS THAT EXIST.

SO I THINK IT IS INFINITELY MORE DIFFICULT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT EVEN AGREE ON BASIC FACTS.

DAVID: DOES THE LAW STILL WORK TO PROTECT THE LITTLE GUY?

ARLENE: THANK GOD THE LAW STILL EXISTS AND THERE IS AT LEAST A BEDROCK OF PRINCIPLES THAT ARE BASED ON WHAT SOCIETY SHOULD BE AND WHAT IS FAIR AND JUST.

I CREDIT MORE WITH AT LEAST BEING THE LAST BASTION OF HOPE TO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET JUSTICE.

DAVID: YOU HAVE FAITH?

ARLENE: I DO HAVE FAITH IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO FAR.

DAVID: THE FORMER NUN STILL HAS FAITH IN THE BIGGER SYSTEM AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH DISAPPOINT HER.

ARLENE: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH LOST ITS WAY BY DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE DURING THE SEX ABUSE ISSUES INVOLVING PRIESTS.

IT IS TERRIBLE.

IT HAS LOST ITS WAY.

IT HAS LOST MORAL AUTHORITY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

DAVID: WHAT WORRIES YOU MOST IN THE WORLD?

ARLENE: THE DIVISION.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE -- PEOPLE SOMETIMES SAY TO ME, WHAT IS YOUR NATIONALITY?

I SAY I'M IRISH, I'M FRENCH, I'M INDIAN, I'M ITALIAN.

I'M NOT REALLY ALL OF THAT NECESSARILY, BUT I'M THINKING THAT WAY, JUST LIKE I THINK THAT I'M BLACK AS WELL AS ASIAN, AND WHETHER I AM A CAUCASIAN OR NOT.

I'M HETEROSEXUAL, I'M GAY, I'M BI, I'M TRANSGENDER.

WHY ARE WE MAKING ALL THESE DISTINCTIONS?

IT IS CRAZY.

IF I HAD ANY WISH FOR THE WORLD, IT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD STOP DOING THIS.

WHO CARES?

WE ARE ALL EQUAL.

DAVID: THAT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IS AN ADMIRABLE VALUE.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT ENCOURAGES TRIBALISM, DOESN'T IT?

IT ENCOURAGES US VERSUS THEM.

THIS IS ABOUT ME.

THIS IS ABOUT YOU.

ARLENE: IT SHOULD NOT.

IT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL, LIKE WORKS OF ART, OR PEOPLE WHO DO TAPESTRIES, OR PEOPLE WHO MAKE CLOTHES FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES.

THERE SHOULD BE A WOW FACTOR TO IT.

LOOK AT THAT.

I'M SO DULL COMPARED TO THAT, YOU KNOW?

SO THANK YOU FOR COLORING UP MY WORLD KIND OF THING.

BUT WE DON'T DO IT.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR ALL THESE ANTAGONISMS, IT SEEMS TO ME.

DAVID: WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

ARLENE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

I WISH I HAD THIS BRAIN ENOUGH THAT I COULD FIGURE THAT OUT.

OTHER THAN TRYING TO PULL PEOPLE BACK TO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE -- IF YOU ARE A MINISTER, YOU ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO WHAT THE GOSPEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

DAVID: AT 78, ARLENE VIOLET IS NOT DONE TILTING AT WINDMILLS.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS NO PLANS TO RETIRE.

I THINK RHODE ISLAND IS BETTER OFF IF YOU DON'T.

[LAUGHTER] ARLENE: I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT.

[LAUGHTER] >> OUR THANKS TO DAVID WRIGHT THAT REPORT.

AND NOW, CONTRIBUTE IN REPORTER BILL BARTHOLOMEW INTRODUCES US TO A MAN WHO HAS BEEN ENTERTAINING THE EYES AND EARS OF NEW ENGLAND FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS -- VISUAL ARTIST AND MUSICIAN DAN BLAKESLEE.

DAN: I DON'T CUT CORNERS, NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL.

JUST HOPING THAT ONE DAY LONG AFTER I'M DONE THAT MY ARTWORK AND MUSIC WILL STILL CONTINUE.

♪ ♪ YOU WAS AT THE CANADIAN BORDER ♪ BILL: FOR NEW ENGLAND ARTIST AND MUSICIAN DAN BLAKESLEE, A PASSIONATE WORK ETHIC AND SELF STARTING MENTALITY HAS BEEN THE KEY TO HIS CREATIVE VITALITY, BLAZING HIS OWN MULTIPLATFORM TRAIL TO VISUAL ART AND SONGWRITING.

LIKE SLEEP -- DAN BLAKESLEE HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A DISTINCT CHARACTER IN NEW ENGLAND AND BEYOND, SOMETHING HE SAYS CAN BE CHASED TO HIS CHILDHOOD ROOTS.

DAN: SOUTHBOROUGH IS WHERE I'M FROM.

THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE LIFE, I GREW UP IN A HOUSE THAT WAS VERY ARTFUL.

MUSICAL FAMILY.

I WAS KIND OF DABBLING WITH BOTH ART AND MUSIC GROWING UP.

BILL: HIS PASSION AND SKILL LANDED BLAKESLEE AT THE MARYLAND COLLEGE OF ART IN BALTIMORE, WHERE HE REALIZED THAT BY DEVELOPING A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS, HE COULD PRODUCE A VARIETY OF CONTENT TO HELP BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A SUCCESSFUL ARTISTIC CAREER.

DAN: THIS WAY, WHEN I GET OUT OF ART SCHOOL, IF I NEED TO BUILD A LIGHT BOX, I CAN BUILD IT.

I TOOK CARPENTRY, WOODWORKING.

IF I NEED TO PHOTOGRAPH MY WORK, I TOOK PHOTOGRAPHY.

BUT THE THING THAT I GRAVITATED MOST TOWARD IS DRAWING.

AND THAT HAS BEEN WITH ME MY ENTIRE LIFE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT IS ALSO SOMETHING I CAN HAVE ON ME AT ALL TIMES.

BILL: BLAKESLEE SAYS ART SCHOOL WAS SO INTENSE HE NEEDED ESCAPE FROM THE PRESSURE.

HE FOUND IT IN SONGWRITING.

DAN: MY PARENTS GOT ME A GUITAR WHEN I WAS 18, AND IT WAS SITTING IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM AT ART SCHOOL.

ONE NIGHT, I WAS DOING AN OVERNIGHT PROJECT.

I'M LIKE LOSING MY MIND.

SO I STARTED PLAYING GUITAR.

AND THEN THAT SORT OF SPARKED THIS BIG INTEREST IN PLAYING MUSIC.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WOULD BE DOING BOTH AS A DUAL CAREER THE REST OF MY LIFE.

BILL: ULTIMATELY, HE RECORDED HIS FIRST ALBUM IN A BASEMENT IN BALTIMORE BEFORE RETURNING BACK GRADUATION.

DAN: IT IS GIVING ME CHILLS THINKING ABOUT IT.

I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED BACK HOME.

BILL: AUTHENTIC.

DAN: I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED BACK HOME, I WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I DID ALL THIS ARTWORK AT ART SCHOOL.

NOW, BUT I MY GOING TO DO?

BILL: THAT'S WHEN HE DECIDED TO MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION WHICH CHANGED HIS LIFE.

DAN: I DECIDED I'M GOING TO DO NO ARTWORK FOR A YEAR.

I'M GOING TO DO MUSIC ONLY.

I WAS WORKING IN A RESTAURANT.

I WAS WORKING THERE FOR A FEW SUMMERS.

I STARTED PLAYING MY GIGS.

THE THING IS, WHEN YOU PLAY GIGS, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SHOW POSTERS.

SO I WAS STILL DRAWING.

I WAS DRAWING SHOW POSTERS.

I STARTED PLAYING SOME ART SPACES AND BREWERIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WAS PLAYING AT THE PORTSMOUTH BREWERY IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

I WOULD PLAY THERE THE WHOLE SUMMER.

THEY WERE LIKE, WE LIKE YOUR POSTERS.

WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO MAKE SOME BEER LABELS?

BILL: BY WORKING AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER, HE WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY EXPANDING HIS OPPORTUNITIES AND REACH AS A VISUAL ARTIST.

EVENTUALLY, HIS BOSS AT THE LOBSTER RESTAURANT GAVE HIM AN ULTIMATUM.

DAN: HE SAID, I CAN'T HIRE YOU BACK.

I'M LIKE, WHAT?

I'M ONE OF YOUR BEST EMPLOYEES.

AND HE KNEW THAT.

AND I HAD HANDED HIM MY TAPE AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

HE SAID, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT THERE, PLAYING MUSIC.

HE SAID TO ME, HERE IS THE DEAL.

TOOK AS MANY SHOWS AS YOU CAN THIS SUMMER.

CAN WORK IN BETWEEN GIGS.

THEN THE NEXT YEAR, YOU CANNOT WORK ANYMORE.

YOU HAVE TO BE OUT THERE.

BILL: HE TOOK HIS BOSS'S ORDERS TO HEART, BOOKING AND PERFORMING SHOWS AS OFTEN AS HE COULD, WHILE CREATING A NEW POSTER FOR EVERY GIG.

♪ DAN: ♪ MY NAME IS THE SPOOK YOUNG MAN OF 33 THE SHOOK CAPTAIN ♪ BILL: LATER, HE MOVED TO BOSTON, WHERE HE SET OUT TO PERFORM EACH AND EVERY DAY.

BLAKESLEE DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE LOCATION.

FOR HIM, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF CREATING LIVE MUSIC.

DAN: IF I DID NOT HAVE A GIG ABOVE GROUND, I WOULD BE PLAYING UNDERGROUND.

I FEEL LIKE THAT REALLY HELPED BROADEN MY REACH, BECAUSE ANY RANDOM PERSON WALKING DOWN THE SUBWAY THAT DAY, IF THEY COME ACROSS THE MUSIC AND THEY LIKE IT, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE.

BILL: HOW MANY YEARS DID THAT GO ON FOR, THAT PROCESS?

DAN: I DID THAT OFF AND ON FOR 20 YEARS.

♪ UPON YOUR TRAIN ♪ BILL: THE FOLLOWING DECADES, BLAKESLEE BEGAN TO TOUR NATIONALLY, EXPANDING HIS FAN BASE ON A NIGHTLY BASIS AT EVENTS LIKE THE SXSW FESTIVAL IN AUSTIN.

IN 2017, HE MOVED TO PROVIDENCE, JOINING A GROWING INDIE FOLK COMMUNITY THAT WAS LARGELY BASED AROUND THE COLUMBUS THEATER, AS ELL AS THE NEWPORT K FESTIVAL.

DAN: IT HAPPENED PRETTY NATURALLY AND ORGANIC.

I WENT TO MY FIRST EVER NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL.

THIS IS LIKE 11, 12 YEARS AGO.

I WAS SO ENAMORED AT HOW DOWN TO EARTH EVERYBODY WAS.

BILL: HE BECAME A POPULAR MEMBER OF THE FOLK FESTIVAL'S UNDERCURRENT OF BUSKERS AND UNOFFICIAL PERFORMERS, EVENTUALLY BEING DELIGHTED TO DELIVER A SANCTIONED PERFORMANCE IN 2019.

IN 2021, AFTER A HIATUS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, NEWPORT FOLK RETURNED, WITH BLAKESLEE NAMED THE OFFICIAL BUSKER, WHICH INCLUDED THE FIRST PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC -- SOMETHING HE SAYS FESTIVAL PRODUCER J SUITE -- JAY SWEET CONCEIVED WHILE SLEEPING.

DAN: IT WAS THREE DAYS BEFORE THE FESTIVAL AND HE SAID, I WOKE UP FROM A DREAM AND YOU WERE THE OFFICIAL BUSKER FOR NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

YES!

FOR YEARS, I BUST AT THE END OF THE FESTIVAL WHILE PEOPLE WERE WAITING TO GET IN THE FAIR, PLAYING UNTIL EVERYONE IS GONE.

IT WAS SO NICE TO BE ASKED TO BE OFFICIALLY PART OF THE FESTIVAL.

♪ ♪ HE DOESN'T HEAT ♪ BILL: BLAKESLEE HAS RELEASED 10 ALBUMS, INCLUDING CHRISTMAS RECORDS AND ONE UNDER HIS ANNUAL HALLOWEEN ALTER EGO, DR. GASP.

HE HAS SOLD COUNTLESS PIECES OF ART, INCLUDING DESIGNING THE ICONIC BOSTON HEART IN THE WAKE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS.

PERHAPS HIS MOST FAMOUS CREATION IS A BEER LABEL.

HIS DRAWING OF HEADY TOPPER WAS RANKED THE TOP BEER LABEL IN THE COUNTRY USA TODAY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS HARD TO DEFINE BLAKESLEE'S CAREER.

NO SURPRISE AT THE ANSWER WE GOT WHEN WE ASKED HIM WHICH HAT HE PREFERS WEARING -- VISUAL ARTIST OR MUSICIAN.

DAN: THAT IS A BIG QUESTION BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WITH ME, FROM MY EXPERIENCES, THAT I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT BOTH THAT I CAN'T.

I COULD DO OTHER OCCUPATIONS.

I DO OTHER SKILLS.

I FIND THAT WHEN I TAKE A DAY OFF, WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?

I WANT TO MAKE ART.

I WANT TO SEE MUSIC.

I WANT TO PLAY MUSIC.

>> OUR THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW.

DAN BLAKESLEE WILL BE GIVING A LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE LATER THIS WEEK, FRIDAY, MARCH 25, AT THE GALACTIC THEATER IN MORAN.

TONIGHT, WE BRING YOU A SHORT CLIP OF A DOCUMENTARY BY RHODE ISLAND PBS PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR BRION MEDINA.

-- BRIA MEDINA.

"BLACK JOY" EXPOSE THE HISTORY OF JOY IN RHODE ISLAND'S BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> I WENT TO NOTRE DAME, AND I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THEY HAD A FOOTBALL TEAM.

I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A GOLDEN DOME.

>> TO BE HONEST, EVEN MY RELATIONSHIP TO BLACKNESS AND TO UNDERSTANDING THE STRUGGLES OF OUR PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY -- THAT REALLY BECAME MORE CRYSTALLIZED FOR ME DURING COLLEGE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH BLACK STUDENT RETENTION.

THERE WAS NO CENTER, NO HUB, NO DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION, NOTHING.

IT WAS NO PLACE TO GO.

IT ALL LED TO WE STAGED A SIT IN.

IT WAS THE END OF MY JUNIOR YEAR IN COLLEGE, AND WE ALL MET AROUND CAMPUS, CAMPUS AREAS, AND WE WALKED TOWARD THE GOLDEN DOME.

WE SHUT DOWN THE GOLDEN DOME.

WE HAD SLEEPING BAGS, FOOD, MUSIC, BLACK FOLK, WHITE FOLK, FOOTBALL PLAYERS, EVERYBODY PILING IN.

THE COLLEGE HAD TO SHUT THE BUILDING DOWN FOR A DAY.

AFTER HANDING THEM MY DEMANDS, THAT BEGAN A DISCUSSION THAT I AM PROUD TO THIS DAY TO SAY I BROTHER WENT BACK TO LEARNING 10 YEARS AFTER, AND THERE WAS AN OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

AND THERE WERE MORE BLACK FACULTY.

THE CLIMATE WAS LESS HOSTILE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I WAS SO TIRED AFTER ALL OF THAT.

I FELT A LITTLE BIT DEFEATED BECAUSE THERE WAS REALLY NO OUTCOME AT THAT TIME.

IT'S LIKE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS MESS UP MY GTA -- GPA.

I TOOK MY FIRST ACTING CLASS IS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT PROVIDENCE AND ABOUT THE ACADEMIC LIFE HERE.

I MADE A DECISION PURELY ON MY GUT, AND MY GUT WAS THAT I WANTED TO BE PART OF A COMMUNITY.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE FULL DOCUMENTARY "BLACK JOY" RIGHT HERE ON RHODE ISLAND PBS ON MARCH 27 AT 7:00 P.M. THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

PAMELA: I AM PAMELA WATTS.

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

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES, AT RIPBS /RG/WEEKLY -- ALL RIGHT PBS.ORG -- RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY.

MICHELLE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪