♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A LOOK AT LOCAL IRISH INCLUDING A LOOK AT LOCAL IRISH CULTURE AHEAD OF ONE OF THE CULTURE AHEAD OF ONE OF THE REGION'S BIGGEST EVENTS, THE REGION'S BIGGEST EVENTS, THE HOLYOKE ST. PATRICK'S PARADE.

HOLYOKE ST. PATRICK'S PARADE.

>> SOME LITTLE GIRLS BEING A >> SOME LITTLE GIRLS BEING A COLLEEN AND THEIR DREAMS COME COLLEEN AND THEIR DREAMS COME TRUE SOMETIMES, SO IT'S EXCITING TRUE SOMETIMES, SO IT'S EXCITING FOR THEM.

FOR THEM.

>> EIGHT VISUAL ARTISTS CONVERGE >> EIGHT VISUAL ARTISTS CONVERGE TO EXAMINE BLACK HISTORY THROUGH TO EXAMINE BLACK HISTORY THROUGH A CREATIVE LENS.

A CREATIVE LENS.

>> IT'S A VERY I WON'T SAY >> IT'S A VERY I WON'T SAY TATTOO BUT IT KIND OF IS, IT'S TATTOO BUT IT KIND OF IS, IT'S HARD BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T HARD BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

UNDERSTAND.

>> IT GETS DISMISSED.

>> IT GETS DISMISSED.

>> VERY EASILY.

>> VERY EASILY.

>> AND SHARPEN YOUR SKETCHING >> AND SHARPEN YOUR SKETCHING SKILLS IN HOLYOKE.

SKILLS IN HOLYOKE.

>> THAT'S MOMENT OF LEARNING, >> THAT'S MOMENT OF LEARNING, WHERE YOU GET TO SEE EXACTLY HOW WHERE YOU GET TO SEE EXACTLY HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKING IN THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKING IN THE SAME INFORMATION AS YOU AND SAME INFORMATION AS YOU AND PROCESSING IT DIFFERENTLY.

PROCESSING IT DIFFERENTLY.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

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

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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

COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

IT'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVE AND IT'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVE AND EAR COMING -- WE'RE COMING TO EAR COMING -- WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM ONE OF THE BEST PLACES YOU FROM ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO CELEBRATE, THE IRISH CULTURAL TO CELEBRATE, THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER OF WE KNOW NEW ENGLAND.

CENTER OF WE KNOW NEW ENGLAND.

-- WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

-- WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

THE ICC FOSTERS AN APPRECIATION THE ICC FOSTERS AN APPRECIATION OF IRELAND THROUGH MUSIC, OF IRELAND THROUGH MUSIC, ELECTRIC TOURS, AND TRADITIONAL ELECTRIC TOURS, AND TRADITIONAL FOOD AND DRINK SIFD UP AT THE FOOD AND DRINK SIFD UP AT THE IRISH HOUSE RESTAURANT IN IRISH HOUSE RESTAURANT IN TRINITYI PUB.

TRINITYI PUB.

BUT OUR FIRST STORY TAKES TO US BUT OUR FIRST STORY TAKES TO US A FAVORITE GATHERING SPOT FOR A FAVORITE GATHERING SPOT FOR THOSE HOR -- THE SECOND LARGEST THOSE HOR -- THE SECOND LARGEST TRADE IN THE COUNTRY AS IS TRADE IN THE COUNTRY AS IS RENOWNED FOR ITS MARCHING BANDS, RENOWNED FOR ITS MARCHING BANDS, TRADITIONAL IRISH MUMMERS, AND TRADITIONAL IRISH MUMMERS, AND OF COURSE FLOATS.

OF COURSE FLOATS.

THE CITY OF WESTFIELD IS FAMOUS THE CITY OF WESTFIELD IS FAMOUS FOR THEIRS, WHICH ACCOMPANIED BY FOR THEIRS, WHICH ACCOMPANIED BY A MARCHING UNIT CARRIES THE A MARCHING UNIT CARRIES THE CITY'S COLLEEN AND HER COURT CITY'S COLLEEN AND HER COURT ALONG THE 2 1/2 MILE PARADE ALONG THE 2 1/2 MILE PARADE ROUTE.

ROUTE.

OUR PRODUCER DAVE FRASER SPOKE OUR PRODUCER DAVE FRASER SPOKE WITH ITS CREATORS T SON OF ERIN, WITH ITS CREATORS T SON OF ERIN, AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> USE.

>> USE.

>> USING STYROFOAM, THIS GROUP >> USING STYROFOAM, THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THE SONS OF ERIN OF PEOPLE FROM THE SONS OF ERIN ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO CREATING THIS YEAR'S FLOAT, CREATING THIS YEAR'S FLOAT, WHICH WILL CARRY THE WESTFIELD WHICH WILL CARRY THE WESTFIELD COL LEIB AND HER COURT.

COL LEIB AND HER COURT.

>> -- COLLEEN AND HER COURT.

>> -- COLLEEN AND HER COURT.

>> PART OF THE -- WITH THE >> PART OF THE -- WITH THE COLLEENS, THE LITTLE GIRLS LOVE COLLEENS, THE LITTLE GIRLS LOVE TO SEE THEM.

TO SEE THEM.

SOME OF THE LITTLE GIRLS OF SOME OF THE LITTLE GIRLS OF DREAM BECOMING A COLLEEN AND DREAM BECOMING A COLLEEN AND THEIR DREAMS SOMETIMES COME THEIR DREAMS SOMETIMES COME TRUE.

TRUE.

SO IT'S EXCITING FOR THEM.

SO IT'S EXCITING FOR THEM.

>> THE TRADITION GOES BACK 40 >> THE TRADITION GOES BACK 40 YEARS FOR THE SONS OF ERIN.

YEARS FOR THE SONS OF ERIN.

>> IT STARTED OFF SMALL AND THE >> IT STARTED OFF SMALL AND THE FLOATS QUITE LARGE AND NOW THAT FLOATS QUITE LARGE AND NOW THAT OUR COMMITTEE HAS GOTTEN A OUR COMMITTEE HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, THE EYES OF LITTLE BIT SMALLER, THE EYES OF THE FLOAT HAS -- SIZE OF THE THE FLOAT HAS -- SIZE OF THE FLOAT HAS DECREASED.

FLOAT HAS DECREASED.

>> BUT THAT HASN'T TEE CREEDS >> BUT THAT HASN'T TEE CREEDS THEIR SPIRIT.

THEIR SPIRIT.

-- DECREASED THEIR SPIRIT OF.

-- DECREASED THEIR SPIRIT OF.

>> CENTER AROUND THE SONS OF >> CENTER AROUND THE SONS OF ERIN.

ERIN.

>> IT'S A MAGICAL TIME OF ERIN >> IT'S A MAGICAL TIME OF ERIN WHOSE MEMBERS OF THE SONS TRACES WHOSE MEMBERS OF THE SONS TRACES BACK TO IERBLED.

BACK TO IERBLED.

THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THEY LOOK FORWARD TO ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERY YEAR ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERY YEAR WITH EAGER ANTICIPATION.

WITH EAGER ANTICIPATION.

>> I USED TO CELEBRATE >> I USED TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY -- ST. PATRICK'S DAY -- [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] CHRISTMAS, EASTER.

CHRISTMAS, EASTER.

I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

>> I THINK -- >> I THINK -- >> THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUSY >> THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUSY DUNHERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT DUNHERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MUCH.

MUCH.

>> WE'LL BE CELEBRATING 4 A >> WE'LL BE CELEBRATING 4 A WHOLE MONTH.

WHOLE MONTH.

>> THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU START >> THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU START TO -- PEOPLE KIND OF START TO -- PEOPLE KIND OF START COMING OUT OF THEWOODWORK, SO COMING OUT OF THEWOODWORK, SO YOU -- THE WOODWORK, SO YOU SEE YOU -- THE WOODWORK, SO YOU SEE PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN A PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN A REALLY LONG TIME.

REALLY LONG TIME.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SONS OF SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SONS OF ERIN BECOMES ALMOST LIKE A ERIN BECOMES ALMOST LIKE A GATHERING SPACE FOR THESE PEOPLE GATHERING SPACE FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO HAD CONNECTIONS AND THEY ARE WHO HAD CONNECTIONS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO RECONNECT THIS TIME OF ABLE TO RECONNECT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

YEAR.

>> THE HISTORY OF THE SONS OF >> THE HISTORY OF THE SONS OF ERIN DATES BACK TO 1978 WHEN AN ERIN DATES BACK TO 1978 WHEN AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WAS HELD.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING WAS HELD.

NOTES INCLUDED OBJECTIVES OF THE NOTES INCLUDED OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB, THE NEED TO BE CHARTERED, CLUB, THE NEED TO BE CHARTERED, HOW TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL, AND HOW TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL, AND WHAT TO CALL THEMSELVES.

WHAT TO CALL THEMSELVES.

>> TOMMY'S FATHER CAME BACK FROM >> TOMMY'S FATHER CAME BACK FROM IRELAND WITH A GIFT WITH THE IRELAND WITH A GIFT WITH THE IRISH COATS OF ARMS OF DIFFERENT IRISH COATS OF ARMS OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

FAMILIES.

AND ON IT WAS THE SONS OF ERIN.

AND ON IT WAS THE SONS OF ERIN.

SO WE WERE DISCUSSING NAMES.

SO WE WERE DISCUSSING NAMES.

I REMEMBER MAC, YOU HAD THE I REMEMBER MAC, YOU HAD THE FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PATRICK AND FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PATRICK AND JOHNNY HAD THE IRISH TURF CLUB.

JOHNNY HAD THE IRISH TURF CLUB.

AND I SAYS, GEES, HOW ABOUT THE AND I SAYS, GEES, HOW ABOUT THE SONS OF ERIN.

SONS OF ERIN.

THEY SAID, NICE AND SHORT TO THEY SAID, NICE AND SHORT TO WRITE ON CHECKS.

WRITE ON CHECKS.

>> THE SONS AS IT'S MORE >> THE SONS AS IT'S MORE COMMONLY KNOWN BEGAN TO HOLD COMMONLY KNOWN BEGAN TO HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS ABOVE WHAT WAS REGULAR MEETINGS ABOVE WHAT WAS THEN A DOUGHNUT SHOT ON ELM THEN A DOUGHNUT SHOT ON ELM STREET.

STREET.

FOUNDING MEMBER MIKE REMEMBERS FOUNDING MEMBER MIKE REMEMBERS THE EARLY YEARS.

THE EARLY YEARS.

>> RIGHT THERE.

>> RIGHT THERE.

THAT WAS OUR OPENING NIGHT.

THAT WAS OUR OPENING NIGHT.

I 24EU IT -- I THINK IT WAS JUNE I 24EU IT -- I THINK IT WAS JUNE GENT 6TH, 1979, AND THAT WAS MY GENT 6TH, 1979, AND THAT WAS MY FATHER ON ONE SIDE, MY FATHER ON ONE SIDE, MY GRANDFATHER IN THE MIDDLE, AND GRANDFATHER IN THE MIDDLE, AND ME ON THE OUTSIDE.

ME ON THE OUTSIDE.

I WAS 26 THEN.

I WAS 26 THEN.

AND I'M GOING TO BE 71 NEXT AND I'M GOING TO BE 71 NEXT MONTH.

MONTH.

SO BACK THEN, WE WERE THE YOUNG SO BACK THEN, WE WERE THE YOUNG GUYS.

GUYS.

NOW WE'RE THE OLD GUYS!

NOW WE'RE THE OLD GUYS!

>> AS THE MEMBERSHIP GREW, IT >> AS THE MEMBERSHIP GREW, IT WAS TIME TO EXPAND AND THE CLUB WAS TIME TO EXPAND AND THE CLUB WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE THIS SITE WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE THIS SITE ON WILLIAMS STREET IN 1984.

ON WILLIAMS STREET IN 1984.

>> IT HAS COME A LONG WAY.

>> IT HAS COME A LONG WAY.

I MEAN, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, I MEAN, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, WE JUST HAD A SMALL PLACE AND WE WE JUST HAD A SMALL PLACE AND WE GOT INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF GOT INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS CITYWIDE.

DIFFERENT THINGS CITYWIDE.

AND WE'VE GOT INVOLVEMENT WITH AND WE'VE GOT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY BRAID THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY BRAID WHERE WE BUILD THIS FLOAT AND WE WHERE WE BUILD THIS FLOAT AND WE HAVE COLLEENS AND EVERYTHING TO HAVE COLLEENS AND EVERYTHING TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

GO ALONG WITH IT.

>> THIS YEAR'S FLOAT IS THE >> THIS YEAR'S FLOAT IS THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

>> OVER THE YEARS, THE SONS HAVE >> OVER THE YEARS, THE SONS HAVE HAD A PROUD TRADITION OF HAD A PROUD TRADITION OF CREATING AWARD-WINNING FLOATS CREATING AWARD-WINNING FLOATS FOR THE COURT TOIDE ON.

FOR THE COURT TOIDE ON.

THIS YEAR'S FLOAT IS BASED ON THIS YEAR'S FLOAT IS BASED ON THE TOMMY SONG, FOUR GREEN THE TOMMY SONG, FOUR GREEN FIELDS.

FIELDS.

IT'S ABOUT IRELAND, AN AS OLD IT'S ABOUT IRELAND, AN AS OLD WOMAN AND IT'S FOUR PROVINCES WOMAN AND IT'S FOUR PROVINCES HELPED -- REPRESENTED BY HELPED -- REPRESENTED BY GREENFIELDS.

GREENFIELDS.

ONE WHICH REMAINS OCCUPIED BY ONE WHICH REMAINS OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH.

THE BRITISH.

AND THE FLOWERS, REPRESENTING AND THE FLOWERS, REPRESENTING THE HOPE FOR IRELAND'S THE HOPE FOR IRELAND'S REUNIFICATION.

REUNIFICATION.

>> OVER THE 40 YEARS, WE'VE HAD >> OVER THE 40 YEARS, WE'VE HAD CHILDREN COMING IN TO HELP AND CHILDREN COMING IN TO HELP AND WHEN THEY'VE GROWN UP INTO WHEN THEY'VE GROWN UP INTO ADULTS, THEY'VE COME BACK AND ADULTS, THEY'VE COME BACK AND HAD THEIR CHILDREN COME AND HAD THEIR CHILDREN COME AND HELP.

HELP.

MY SON WORKED ON THE FLOAT MANY MY SON WORKED ON THE FLOAT MANY YEARS AGO.

YEARS AGO.

SO IT'S A NICE FAMILY CLIP SO IT'S A NICE FAMILY CLIP TRADITION.

TRADITION.

>> SO WHAT STARTED WITH THE >> SO WHAT STARTED WITH THE SIMPLE IDEA DISCUSSED BY A FEW SIMPLE IDEA DISCUSSED BY A FEW GUYS OVER SOME BEERS STILL GUYS OVER SOME BEERS STILL SHINES TRUE TODAY.

SHINES TRUE TODAY.

AND ALTHOUGH AT OVER 900 AND ALTHOUGH AT OVER 900 MEMBERS, MUCH LARGER THAN THE MEMBERS, MUCH LARGER THAN THE FOUNDERS ENVISIONED, THE SONS OF FOUNDERS ENVISIONED, THE SONS OF ERIN IS STILL A CLOSE-KNIT ERIN IS STILL A CLOSE-KNIT SOCIAL COMMUNITY OF SOCIAL COMMUNITY OF IRISH-AMERICAN DESCENDENTS, IRISH-AMERICAN DESCENDENTS, GATHERING TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER GATHERING TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER IRISH HERITAGE AND INTERESTS IN IRISH HERITAGE AND INTERESTS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THE NEWEST EXHIBIT AT THE >> THE NEWEST EXHIBIT AT THE GALLERY AT WESTFIELD STATE GALLERY AT WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY SOMETHING UNIVERSITY SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY OF, A VISUAL EXTRAORDINARY OF, A VISUAL REVIEW OF STORY AS TIMELESS, REVIEW OF STORY AS TIMELESS, SHOWCASES THE WORK OF EIGHT SHOWCASES THE WORK OF EIGHT BLACK ARTISTS AND IS ON DISPLAY BLACK ARTISTS AND IS ON DISPLAY THROUGH MARCH 31ST.

THROUGH MARCH 31ST.

THROUGH DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, AND THROUGH DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, AND MIXED MEDIA, THE EXHIBITION MIXED MEDIA, THE EXHIBITION DELVES KNEE THE PROCESS OF DELVES KNEE THE PROCESS OF VISUAL STORY TELLING AND VISUAL STORY TELLING AND EXAMINES BRACK HISTORY THROUGH A EXAMINES BRACK HISTORY THROUGH A CREATIVITY LENS.

CREATIVITY LENS.

I SPOKE WITH THREE OF THE I SPOKE WITH THREE OF THE ARTISTS FEATURED TO FIND OUT HOW ARTISTS FEATURED TO FIND OUT HOW THE PROJECT FOSTERS A SENSE OF THE PROJECT FOSTERS A SENSE OF UNITY AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNITY AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INSPIRATION.

THE INSPIRATION.

>> STORYTELLING JUST JOINS ALL >> STORYTELLING JUST JOINS ALL THE ARTWORK SO PERFECTLY.

THE ARTWORK SO PERFECTLY.

WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL STORIES OF REDEMPTION PERSONAL STORIES OF REDEMPTION OR TALKING ABOUT STORIES OF OR TALKING ABOUT STORIES OF CITIZENSHIP AND BELONGING, CITIZENSHIP AND BELONGING, STORYTELLING REALLY BONDS STORYTELLING REALLY BONDS EVERYONE'S ART.

EVERYONE'S ART.

SO I THINK IT WAS JUST THE SO I THINK IT WAS JUST THE PERFECT THEME TO CENTER THE PERFECT THEME TO CENTER THE ENTIRE EXHIBITION AROUND.

ENTIRE EXHIBITION AROUND.

>> AND SO THIS EXHIBITION HAS >> AND SO THIS EXHIBITION HAS EIGHT FEATURED ARTISTS AND I EIGHT FEATURED ARTISTS AND I HAVE THREE OF YOU RIGHT HERE IN HAVE THREE OF YOU RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

FRONT OF ME.

SHARE WITH ME SOME OF THE SHARE WITH ME SOME OF THE NARRATIVES THAT VIEWERS WILL BE NARRATIVES THAT VIEWERS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN THEY COME VIEW ABLE TO SEE WHEN THEY COME VIEW THE EXHIBITION AT WESTFIELD THE EXHIBITION AT WESTFIELD DATE.

DATE.

>> THERE'S WORK THAT DEALS WITH >> THERE'S WORK THAT DEALS WITH ISSUE OF FREEDOM AND BELONGING, ISSUE OF FREEDOM AND BELONGING, BEING A TRANSPLANT FROM AFRICA BEING A TRANSPLANT FROM AFRICA TO HERE IN THE STATES.

TO HERE IN THE STATES.

I REALLY LIKE THE OPENING LINE I REALLY LIKE THE OPENING LINE OF HIS ARTIST STATEMENTS.

OF HIS ARTIST STATEMENTS.

YOU CAN TELL WHAT HIS SOCIETY IS YOU CAN TELL WHAT HIS SOCIETY IS LIKE BY WHAT IT THROWS AWAY.

LIKE BY WHAT IT THROWS AWAY.

AND I THINK THAT APPLIES NOT AND I THINK THAT APPLIES NOT ONLY FOR MATERIAL THINGS BUT ONLY FOR MATERIAL THINGS BUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE AS WELL ON A ALSO FOR PEOPLE AS WELL ON A HUMAN SOCIAL LEVEL.

HUMAN SOCIAL LEVEL.

SO THERE'S ALSO KIMBERLY, WHICH SO THERE'S ALSO KIMBERLY, WHICH DEALS WITH ISSUES OF DEALS WITH ISSUES OF DISPLACEMENT.

DISPLACEMENT.

THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK.

THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK.

AND I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT AND I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT SHE KIND OF WOVE IN JUST A SHE KIND OF WOVE IN JUST A LITTLE BLUSH ABOUT ROB -- BLURB LITTLE BLUSH ABOUT ROB -- BLURB ABOUT ROBERT MOSES WHO REALLY ABOUT ROBERT MOSES WHO REALLY SHAPED NEW YORK AND IN MANY WAYS SHAPED NEW YORK AND IN MANY WAYS NOT NECESSARILY POSITIVE FOR NOT NECESSARILY POSITIVE FOR PEOPLE OF YOUR.

PEOPLE OF YOUR.

BUT THOSE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES BUT THOSE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES OF HOW TELLING A STORY, WHICH IS OF HOW TELLING A STORY, WHICH IS BOTH PERSONAL BUT ALSO OTHER BOTH PERSONAL BUT ALSO OTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES THAT ARE PEOPLE'S STORIES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO YOURS, THE CONNECTED TO YOURS, THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SHARE.

COMMUNITY THAT YOU SHARE.

I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> AND I THINK WHEN I LOOK AT >> AND I THINK WHEN I LOOK AT KEYANA'S WORK, TOO, WITH THE KEYANA'S WORK, TOO, WITH THE WOMEN OF THE ANTEBELLUM, WOMEN OF THE ANTEBELLUM, LEARNING THE STORIES BEYOND WHAT LEARNING THE STORIES BEYOND WHAT YOU'RE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

YOU'RE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE THAT CAME YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US.

BEFORE US.

AND HER USE OF PATTERN IN THE AND HER USE OF PATTERN IN THE PORTRAITS AS WELL, IT'S -- YEAH, PORTRAITS AS WELL, IT'S -- YEAH, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

>> WOW, THEY'RE AWESOME.

>> WOW, THEY'RE AWESOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I LIKE OMAR'S PORTRAIT AND I LIKE OMAR'S PORTRAIT TRAITS AND WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT TRAITS AND WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE SHAFTS OF LIGHT COME THE SHAFTS OF LIGHT COME THROUGH, HOW WE SEE THINGS AND THROUGH, HOW WE SEE THINGS AND HOW OUR EXPERIENCE IS.

HOW OUR EXPERIENCE IS.

AND YOU COULD FALL INTO THEM.

AND YOU COULD FALL INTO THEM.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> THEY'RE JUST -- AND EACH ONE >> THEY'RE JUST -- AND EACH ONE OF THESE COMES FROM A DIFFERENT OF THESE COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

PERSPECTIVE.

IT JUST REALLY DRIVES I THINK IT JUST REALLY DRIVES I THINK HOME THE FACT THAT YOU CAN TELL HOME THE FACT THAT YOU CAN TELL A STORY IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT A STORY IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS.

WAYS.

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TALK >> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES BUT I'M GOING ABOUT THEMSELVES BUT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> ZSA ZSA'S WORK ACTUALLY >> ZSA ZSA'S WORK ACTUALLY SPEAKS A LOT ABOUT MEN'S SPEAKS A LOT ABOUT MEN'S EXPERIENCES WITH COURT AND EXPERIENCES WITH COURT AND DEALING WITH THE SYSTEM.

DEALING WITH THE SYSTEM.

AND HOW IT ADD VIRTUALLY AFFECTS AND HOW IT ADD VIRTUALLY AFFECTS THEM AND THAT'S -- ADVERSTY THEM AND THAT'S -- ADVERSTY FAICTS THEM AND THAT'S SOMETHING FAICTS THEM AND THAT'S SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE OR A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE OR KNOW BECAUSE BECAUSE THEY KNOW BECAUSE BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T -- KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE HAVEN'T -- KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT.

THEY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT, IT'S WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT, IT'S ALMOST -- IT'S HARD BECAUSE ALMOST -- IT'S HARD BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> I THINK IT'S DISMISSED.

>> I THINK IT'S DISMISSED.

>> VERY EASILY.

>> VERY EASILY.

AND IT'S HARD FOR SOME -- BEING AND IT'S HARD FOR SOME -- BEING A MAN TRYING TO EXPRESS A MAN TRYING TO EXPRESS YOURSELF, YOU KNOW.

YOURSELF, YOU KNOW.

>> POSITIVELY.

>> POSITIVELY.

YOU HEARD THAT SIGH!

YOU HEARD THAT SIGH!

LIKE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT GRIEF LIKE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT GRIEF AND HOW HE PROJECTS IT THROUGH AND HOW HE PROJECTS IT THROUGH HIS WORK.

HIS WORK.

AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING EASY TO AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING EASY TO TALK ABOUT.

TALK ABOUT.

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> NOT AT ALL.

AND I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF, AND I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE WHEN I WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST SAW YOUR SERIES, BEAUTY FIRST SAW YOUR SERIES, BEAUTY FOR ASHES, I WAS REALLY MOVED BY FOR ASHES, I WAS REALLY MOVED BY HOW PERSONAL THE STORY WAS.

HOW PERSONAL THE STORY WAS.

SO HOW CHALLENGING IS IT FOR YOU SO HOW CHALLENGING IS IT FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING SO TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING SO PERSONAL IN SUCH A PUBLIC PERSONAL IN SUCH A PUBLIC DISPLAY?

DISPLAY?

>> TO BE HONEST, I WAS REALLY >> TO BE HONEST, I WAS REALLY LIKE NERVOUS.

LIKE NERVOUS.

OPENING NIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS OPENING NIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE SHARED THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE SHARED ANY OF THIS, LIKE, PUBLICLY.

ANY OF THIS, LIKE, PUBLICLY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE, LIKE -- YOU WORKING ON SINCE, LIKE -- YOU COULD SAY ROUGHLY 2017, 2008.

COULD SAY ROUGHLY 2017, 2008.

IT'S -- 2018.

IT'S -- 2018.

IT'S TAKEN SO LONG BECAUSE IT'S IT'S TAKEN SO LONG BECAUSE IT'S PAINFUL.

PAINFUL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE I WENT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE I WENT THROUGH IT.

THROUGH IT.

I CAME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND I CAME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND TIME I'M TALKING ABOUT IT.

TIME I'M TALKING ABOUT IT.

I'M MAKING THIS WORK AS I'M I'M MAKING THIS WORK AS I'M GOING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE.

GOING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES -- THERE WERE WEEKS, TIMES -- THERE WERE WEEKS, SOMETIMES MONTHS, THAT I SOMETIMES MONTHS, THAT I COULDN'T WORK ON IT.

COULDN'T WORK ON IT.

IT WAS THERE.

IT WAS THERE.

I WOULD LOOK AT IT.

I WOULD LOOK AT IT.

I WOULD ATTEMPT IT BUT I WOULD ATTEMPT IT BUT EMOTIONALLY ON AN EMOTIONAL EMOTIONALLY ON AN EMOTIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL, IT WAS TOO MUCH.

PSYCHOLOGICAL, IT WAS TOO MUCH.

LIKE I CAN'T -- I JUST CAN'T, LIKE I CAN'T -- I JUST CAN'T, BECAUSE TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY WORK BECAUSE TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY WORK ON IT I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE ON IT I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M NOT -- I'M NOT FACT THAT I'M NOT -- I'M NOT ABLE TO BE THAT PRESENCE.

ABLE TO BE THAT PRESENCE.

AND IT'S CRUSHING.

AND IT'S CRUSHING.

YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW.

IT REALLY IS.

IT REALLY IS.

>> AND I WANT TO GO TO YOU, >> AND I WANT TO GO TO YOU, BECAUSE YOU SAID THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE YOU SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES AND YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO AND YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF.

TALK ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> BUT YOU'RE ALSO KNOWN AS THE >> BUT YOU'RE ALSO KNOWN AS THE ART UNEIST AND YOU HAVE COLORFUL ART UNEIST AND YOU HAVE COLORFUL AND VIBRANT WORK.

AND VIBRANT WORK.

HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO YOUR HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO YOUR PENALTY AND TELL YOUR STORY -- PENALTY AND TELL YOUR STORY -- PERSONALITY AND TELL YOUR STORY?

PERSONALITY AND TELL YOUR STORY?

>> I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M >> I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SAYING SOMETHING THAT HAS VALUE, SAYING SOMETHING THAT HAS VALUE, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO BE AN BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO BE AN ARTIST AND NOT THINK YOU'RE ARTIST AND NOT THINK YOU'RE VALUABLE AND MAKE SOMETHING VALUABLE AND MAKE SOMETHING VALUABLE.

VALUABLE.

SO LIKE, I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK SO LIKE, I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK WHEN THEY LOOK AT MY WORK, NOT WHEN THEY LOOK AT MY WORK, NOT JUST GLAZE OVER IT.

JUST GLAZE OVER IT.

IT'S JUST SO PEOPLE CAN IT'S JUST SO PEOPLE CAN EXPERIENCE A LITTLE PIECE OF ME.

EXPERIENCE A LITTLE PIECE OF ME.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

>> AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

AND ALSO ENJOY, YOU KNOW, ALL AND ALSO ENJOY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE COLORS AND THE LITTLE MEANS, THE COLORS AND THE LITTLE MEANS, LITTLE NUGGETS OF INFORMATION LITTLE NUGGETS OF INFORMATION THAT I HAVE.

THAT I HAVE.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S THE >> AND I THINK THAT'S THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT, IS THE UNIQUE EXHIBIT, IS THE UNIQUE TECHNIQUES AND STYLES AND TARA, TECHNIQUES AND STYLES AND TARA, I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOURS I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOURS BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT TO LOOK BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT TO LOOK AT FIGURINES IN THE WAY THAT YOU AT FIGURINES IN THE WAY THAT YOU DO.

DO.

SO TELL ME ABOUT THE MATERIALS SO TELL ME ABOUT THE MATERIALS YOU USE AND THE STORIES THAT YOU USE AND THE STORIES THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO TELL THROUGH YOU'RE ABLE TO TELL THROUGH THEM.

THEM.

>> SURE.

>> SURE.

SO I USE A LOT OF RAILROAD SO I USE A LOT OF RAILROAD MINIATURES, SO LITTLE TINY MINIATURES, SO LITTLE TINY FIGURINES LIKE THIS BIG, BUT FIGURINES LIKE THIS BIG, BUT WHATEVER I LIKE A -- TOY ANIMALS WHATEVER I LIKE A -- TOY ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND I THINK AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND I THINK IT STEPS FROM BEING A LITTLE IT STEPS FROM BEING A LITTLE KID.

KID.

I WAS AN ONLY CHILD SO WHEN IT I WAS AN ONLY CHILD SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO COME INSIDE I HAD MY WAS TIME TO COME INSIDE I HAD MY TOYS TO PLAY WITH.

TOYS TO PLAY WITH.

MY LITTLE DOLLHOUSE AND MY MY LITTLE DOLLHOUSE AND MY AUNT'S HAND-ME-DOWNS, WHO CAN AUNT'S HAND-ME-DOWNS, WHO CAN LIVE HERE, WHAT DO THEY DO.

LIVE HERE, WHAT DO THEY DO.

I THINK THAT SENSE OF MAY KIND I THINK THAT SENSE OF MAY KIND OF JUST CARRIED OVER WITH ME.

OF JUST CARRIED OVER WITH ME.

AND WHEN I AMA INVITED ME TO AND WHEN I AMA INVITED ME TO PARTICIPATE, LIKE YOU, COLLIE, I PARTICIPATE, LIKE YOU, COLLIE, I THOUGHT I DON'T BELONG HERE.

THOUGHT I DON'T BELONG HERE.

BUT WORKING TOWARDS TELLING A BUT WORKING TOWARDS TELLING A STORY VERSUS JUST A SINGLE STORY VERSUS JUST A SINGLE IMAGE, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT LOOKS IMAGE, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT LOOKS GOOD -- COOL, BUT WHERE'S THE GOOD -- COOL, BUT WHERE'S THE WHY BEHIND IT.

WHY BEHIND IT.

SO I'M TRYING TO GET MORE INTO SO I'M TRYING TO GET MORE INTO IF I MAKE UP A DIE RAMA -- IF I MAKE UP A DIE RAMA -- DIARAMA, WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS, DIARAMA, WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS, WHAT DO THEY DO, WHAT DO THEY WHAT DO THEY DO, WHAT DO THEY LIKE.

LIKE.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD EXERCISE FOR ME IT'S BEEN A GOOD EXERCISE FOR ME AND MY WORK.

AND MY WORK.

IT'S PUSHING ME TO TRY DIFFERENT IT'S PUSHING ME TO TRY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND FIGURE OUT TECHNIQUES AND FIGURE OUT DIFFERENT STORIES TO TELL.

DIFFERENT STORIES TO TELL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR THE >>> JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR THE SECOND PART OF MY DISCUSSION SECOND PART OF MY DISCUSSION WITH THE ARTIST BEHIND SOMETHING WITH THE ARTIST BEHIND SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

EXTRAORDINARY.

EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

>>> IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL >>> IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, VISUAL ARTIST AND EXCLUSIVE, VISUAL ARTIST AND COCURATOR OF "SOMETHING COCURATOR OF "SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY" IMO IMEH SHARES EXTRAORDINARY" IMO IMEH SHARES WITH US THE VISION BEHIND THE WITH US THE VISION BEHIND THE COLLECTION AND HOW THE PROJECT COLLECTION AND HOW THE PROJECT EMBODIES COMMUNITY IN THE ART EMBODIES COMMUNITY IN THE ART WORLD.

WORLD.

>> AND I DON'T LIKE HOW FAST THE >> AND I DON'T LIKE HOW FAST THE WORLD IS OPENING UP GETS, WORLD IS OPENING UP GETS, BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING THAT SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING THAT SENSE OF REFLECTION.

OF REFLECTION.

SO MY HOPE IS THAT WITH THIS SO MY HOPE IS THAT WITH THIS EXHIBIT, WHICH IS NOT A BLACK EXHIBIT, WHICH IS NOT A BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT, RIGHT -- HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT, RIGHT -- THIS IS AN EXHIBIT ABOUT EIGHT THIS IS AN EXHIBIT ABOUT EIGHT ARTISTS WHO HAPPEN TO BE ARTISTS ARTISTS WHO HAPPEN TO BE ARTISTS OF THE AFRICAN DI ASPRO, WHO ARE OF THE AFRICAN DI ASPRO, WHO ARE BEING VERY VULNERABLE.

BEING VERY VULNERABLE.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT AT >> YOU CAN FIND THAT AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> FOR MANY ARTISTS, FIGURE >>> FOR MANY ARTISTS, FIGURE DRAWING CAN BE THE MOST DRAWING CAN BE THE MOST CHALLENGING ENDEAVOR TO CHALLENGING ENDEAVOR TO UNDERTAKE.

UNDERTAKE.

KEEPING THE SKILL SHARP REQUIRES KEEPING THE SKILL SHARP REQUIRES REGULAR PRACTICE AND, THERE'S A REGULAR PRACTICE AND, THERE'S A LOCAL STUDIO THAT PROVIDES AN LOCAL STUDIO THAT PROVIDES AN INCLUSIVE SPACE FOR ARTISTS TO INCLUSIVE SPACE FOR ARTISTS TO HONE THEIR LIFE DRAWING SKILLS.

HONE THEIR LIFE DRAWING SKILLS.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN VISITED THE WOMEN-LED SULLIVAN VISITED THE WOMEN-LED GO TIG DRAWING STAYEDY ON -- GO GO TIG DRAWING STAYEDY ON -- GO FIGURE DRAWING STUDIO TO BRING FIGURE DRAWING STUDIO TO BRING US THE STORY.

US THE STORY.

>> IT'S TUESDAY EVENING AND >> IT'S TUESDAY EVENING AND SEVERAL ARTISTS WHO TRAVEL HERE SEVERAL ARTISTS WHO TRAVEL HERE ARE FIND -- ARE FINDING JUST THE ARE FIND -- ARE FINDING JUST THE RIGHT SPOT TO SET UP THEIR RIGHT SPOT TO SET UP THEIR EASYLES OR -- EASELS.

EASYLES OR -- EASELS.

IT'S A CLASS THAT'S DECADES NOLD IT'S A CLASS THAT'S DECADES NOLD A STUDIO THAT'S -- OLD IN A A STUDIO THAT'S -- OLD IN A STUDIO THAT'S ONE OF SEVERAL STUDIO THAT'S ONE OF SEVERAL VENUES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN A VENUES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN A ONE-BLOCK STRETCH IN DOWNTOWN ONE-BLOCK STRETCH IN DOWNTOWN HOLYOKE.

HOLYOKE.

OFTENTIMES FIGURE DRAWING OFTENTIMES FIGURE DRAWING INVOLVES MODELS WITH NOTHING ON.

INVOLVES MODELS WITH NOTHING ON.

AS WAS THE CASE IN THIS CLASS.

AS WAS THE CASE IN THIS CLASS.

ALTHOUGH NO ONE ELSE SEEMED TO ALTHOUGH NO ONE ELSE SEEMED TO NOTICE BESIDES THE GUY THE NOTICE BESIDES THE GUY THE CAMERA.

CAMERA.

EVERYONE ELSE WAS JUST FOCUSED EVERYONE ELSE WAS JUST FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND, BECAUSE ON THE TASK AT HAND, BECAUSE EVEN THE BEST ARTISTS CAN STILL EVEN THE BEST ARTISTS CAN STILL GET RUSTY WHEN IT COMES TO GET RUSTY WHEN IT COMES TO FIGURE DRAWING.

FIGURE DRAWING.

>> FIGURE DRAWING IS LIKE ANY >> FIGURE DRAWING IS LIKE ANY OTHER MUSCLE THAT YOU HAVE TO OTHER MUSCLE THAT YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE, WHETHER YOU'RE EXERCISE, WHETHER YOU'RE TRAINING FOR A MARATHON, WHETHER TRAINING FOR A MARATHON, WHETHER YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK ON YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK ON LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE, YOU'RE LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE, YOU'RE PRACTICING EVERY SINGLE DAY PRACTICING EVERY SINGLE DAY HOPEFULLY, IF NOT EVERY SINGLE HOPEFULLY, IF NOT EVERY SINGLE WEEK AND MONTH TO ADVANCE YOUR WEEK AND MONTH TO ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS LITTLE BY LITTLE, SETTING SKILLS LITTLE BY LITTLE, SETTING GOALS FOR YOURSELF.

GOALS FOR YOURSELF.

USING DISCIPLINED TIME THAT YOU USING DISCIPLINED TIME THAT YOU SET ASIDE TO PRIORITIZE YOUR SET ASIDE TO PRIORITIZE YOUR ARTWORK.

ARTWORK.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I -- I THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I -- I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT.

FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT.

GETTING PEOPLE IN THE HABIT OF GETTING PEOPLE IN THE HABIT OF PRACTICING.

PRACTICING.

>> AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING >> AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING STYLE OF PRACTICING, AS THE STYLE OF PRACTICING, AS THE EVENING BEGAN WITH WHAT APPEARED EVENING BEGAN WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE SPEED ROUNDS TO GET THE TO BE SPEED ROUNDS TO GET THE ARTISTS LOOSE.

ARTISTS LOOSE.

IT LOOKED PRETTY CHALLENGING BUT IT LOOKED PRETTY CHALLENGING BUT APPARENTLY IT'S AN EFFECTIVE APPARENTLY IT'S AN EFFECTIVE METHOD.

METHOD.

>> OUR USUAL STRUCTURE IS WE >> OUR USUAL STRUCTURE IS WE START UP WITH ONE-MINUTE POSES, START UP WITH ONE-MINUTE POSES, TWO-MINUTE POSES, AND GET LONGER TWO-MINUTE POSES, AND GET LONGER AND LONGER.

AND LONGER.

UP TO 20-MINUTE POSES.

UP TO 20-MINUTE POSES.

IT ALLOWS THE ARTIST TO WARM UP IT ALLOWS THE ARTIST TO WARM UP LIKE DOING STRETCHES.

LIKE DOING STRETCHES.

YOU'RE KIND OF LOOSENING UP YOUR YOU'RE KIND OF LOOSENING UP YOUR ARM AND YOUR EYE.

ARM AND YOUR EYE.

AND TRYING TO GRASP THE MOST AND TRYING TO GRASP THE MOST BASIC FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE OF BASIC FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE POSE, BEFORE YOU'RE GETTING THE POSE, BEFORE YOU'RE GETTING INTO FINE DETAIL THAT YOU CAN INTO FINE DETAIL THAT YOU CAN GET LOST IN TOO.

GET LOST IN TOO.

>> THE CLASS IS ONE ITERATION OF >> THE CLASS IS ONE ITERATION OF THE HOLYOKE ARTS LEAGUE.

THE HOLYOKE ARTS LEAGUE.

AND THE YEAR 2023 MARKS THE AND THE YEAR 2023 MARKS THE ORGANIZATION'S 100TH YEAR IN ORGANIZATION'S 100TH YEAR IN EXISTENCE.

EXISTENCE.

LIZ MAY BE THE LEAGUE'S CURRENT LIZ MAY BE THE LEAGUE'S CURRENT PRESIDENT, BUT THE TWO WOMEN, PRESIDENT, BUT THE TWO WOMEN, DEBBIE AND ESSTELLA, WHO NOT DEBBIE AND ESSTELLA, WHO NOT ONLY HELD THAT TITLE BEFORE HER, ONLY HELD THAT TITLE BEFORE HER, BUT ALSO LED THIS CLASS, BUT ALSO LED THIS CLASS, CONTINUE TO ATTEND THESE FIGURE CONTINUE TO ATTEND THESE FIGURE DRAWING SESSIONS.

DRAWING SESSIONS.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S STILL CHALLENGING EVEN FOR THEM.

STILL CHALLENGING EVEN FOR THEM.

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT DRAWING TWO >> IT WAS DIFFICULT DRAWING TWO MODELS AT ONCE.

MODELS AT ONCE.

IN THE SHORT TIME.

IN THE SHORT TIME.

BUT IT WAS -- IT WAS GREAT BUT IT WAS -- IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE THE OPPOSEDS THAT THEY BECAUSE THE OPPOSEDS THAT THEY HAD -- POSES THAT THEY HAD AND HAD -- POSES THAT THEY HAD AND THE TWO MODELS WERE EXCELLENT.

THE TWO MODELS WERE EXCELLENT.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD MODELS.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD MODELS.

>> WHO WE EVERY -- WHAT WE DID >> WHO WE EVERY -- WHAT WE DID GET TO SEE WAS THE PROGRESS EACH GET TO SEE WAS THE PROGRESS EACH ARTIST WAS MAKING THROUGHOUT THE ARTIST WAS MAKING THROUGHOUT THE TWO-HOUR SESSION.

TWO-HOUR SESSION.

IT FELT LIKE A GIANT CARD GAME IT FELT LIKE A GIANT CARD GAME WHERE NO ONE COULD SEE EACH WHERE NO ONE COULD SEE EACH OTHER'S HANDS AND IT COMES TO OTHER'S HANDS AND IT COMES TO TBRIEW WIGGS AT THE END -- TBRIEW WIGGS AT THE END -- FRUITION AT THE END WHEN THEY FRUITION AT THE END WHEN THEY PUT THEIR CARDS DOWN, ONLY TO PUT THEIR CARDS DOWN, ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY WERE ALL HOLDING FIND OUT THEY WERE ALL HOLDING POCKET ACES.

POCKET ACES.

>> I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE MOMENT >> I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE MOMENT OF LEARNING WHERE YOU GET TO SEE OF LEARNING WHERE YOU GET TO SEE EXACTLY HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXACTLY HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKING IN THE SAME INFORMATION TAKING IN THE SAME INFORMATION AS YOU AND PROCESSING IT AS YOU AND PROCESSING IT DIFFERENTLY.

DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK THERE'S A MOMENT WHERE I THINK THERE'S A MOMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMPARING WHAT PEOPLE ARE COMPARING WHAT MATERIALS THEY'VE USED OR WHAT MATERIALS THEY'VE USED OR WHAT ANGLE THEY WERE LOOKING AT AND ANGLE THEY WERE LOOKING AT AND IT'S A CHANCE TO LET PEOPLE SEE IT'S A CHANCE TO LET PEOPLE SEE THE TALENT THAT THEY ARE SITTING THE TALENT THAT THEY ARE SITTING AMONG AND SOCIALLY NETWORK WITH AMONG AND SOCIALLY NETWORK WITH EACH OTHER AND FOLLOW EACH EACH OTHER AND FOLLOW EACH OTHER'S INSTAGRAM PAGES AND OTHER'S INSTAGRAM PAGES AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S ARTWORK.

SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S ARTWORK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, BE SURE TO VISIT STORY, BE SURE TO VISIT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT WHERE NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT WHERE YOU'LL FIND MORE STORIES YOU'LL FIND MORE STORIES CELEBRATING THE INFLUENCE AND CELEBRATING THE INFLUENCE AND IMPACT OF WOMEN ON CREATIVITY, IMPACT OF WOMEN ON CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY IN CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND ALL MONTH WESTERN NEW ENGLAND ALL MONTH LONG.

LONG.

>>> HARLENE SIMMONS ALWAYS >>> HARLENE SIMMONS ALWAYS DREAMED OF WRITING A CHILDREN'S DREAMED OF WRITING A CHILDREN'S BOOK AND THAT DREAM CAME THROUGH BOOK AND THAT DREAM CAME THROUGH WHEN FRANKIE THE CATERPILLAR WAS WHEN FRANKIE THE CATERPILLAR WAS PUBLISHED IN 2020.

PUBLISHED IN 2020.

THE BOOK FOLLOWS THE TITLE THE BOOK FOLLOWS THE TITLE CHARACTER AS HE OVERCOME HAS CHARACTER AS HE OVERCOME HAS FIRE -- OVERCOMES HIS FEAR OF FIRE -- OVERCOMES HIS FEAR OF CHANGE AND FINDS BOTH SOLACE AND CHANGE AND FINDS BOTH SOLACE AND A NEW FRIEND NAME BONNIE ON HIS A NEW FRIEND NAME BONNIE ON HIS JOURNEY.

JOURNEY.

SIMMONS JOINED ME TO SHARE HOW SIMMONS JOINED ME TO SHARE HOW HER FORMER CAREER AS A HER FORMER CAREER AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER SHAPED HEALTHCARE WORKER SHAPED FRANKIE'S STORY.

FRANKIE'S STORY.

>> I THINK MY WHOLE LIFE, I'VE >> I THINK MY WHOLE LIFE, I'VE BEEN LIKE A STORYTELLER.

BEEN LIKE A STORYTELLER.

IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY DIDN'T REALIZE IT YEARS AGO, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT YEARS AGO, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT IT NOW AND PEOPLE WHEN I LOOK AT IT NOW AND PEOPLE SEEM TO BE DRAWING TO -- DRAWN SEEM TO BE DRAWING TO -- DRAWN TO ME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST TO ME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST MY ENERGY, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M MY ENERGY, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS TELLING THE STORY OF SOME ALWAYS TELLING THE STORY OF SOME POINT.

POINT.

BUT I DID SOME ACTIVITIES WITH BUT I DID SOME ACTIVITIES WITH THE RESIDENTS AT AN ASSISTED -- THE RESIDENTS AT AN ASSISTED -- WELL, IT WAS A COMBINATION WELL, IT WAS A COMBINATION NURSING HOME, ASSISTED LIVING.

NURSING HOME, ASSISTED LIVING.

SO WE USED TO WRITE POEMS AND SO WE USED TO WRITE POEMS AND THEY WOULD HELP ME COME UP WITH THEY WOULD HELP ME COME UP WITH AN IDEA.

AN IDEA.

LIKE FIND AN IDEA AND WE WOULD LIKE FIND AN IDEA AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT THESE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THESE, YOU KNOW, POEMS.

POEMS.

AND THEY WOULD GET -- I'D GIVE AND THEY WOULD GET -- I'D GIVE THEM TO MY BOSS AND SHE WOULD THEM TO MY BOSS AND SHE WOULD SUBMIT THEM AND THEY WOULD WIND SUBMIT THEM AND THEY WOULD WIND UP IN THE NEWSLETTERS ALL THE UP IN THE NEWSLETTERS ALL THE TIME.

TIME.

AND OF COURSE, WHEN THE AND OF COURSE, WHEN THE RESIDENTS SEE THEIR NAME AND RESIDENTS SEE THEIR NAME AND THE -- IN THE NEWSLETTERS, THE -- IN THE NEWSLETTERS, THEY'RE LIKE, THEY SO COOL.

THEY'RE LIKE, THEY SO COOL.

IT MAKES THEM FEEL WORTHY.

IT MAKES THEM FEEL WORTHY.

LIKE THEY'RE NOT JUST FORGOTTEN, LIKE THEY'RE NOT JUST FORGOTTEN, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW.

SO ONE DAY I SAID, I REALLY SO ONE DAY I SAID, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S WOULD LIKE TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK.

BOOK.

AND GUYS FEEL LIKE HELPING MEET AND GUYS FEEL LIKE HELPING MEET WITH IT?

WITH IT?

OH, MY GOD, YOU WANT TO WRITE A OH, MY GOD, YOU WANT TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK.

CHILDREN'S BOOK.

SO I HAD TO COME UP WITH AN SO I HAD TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA.

IDEA.

SO DOING THE FRANKIE, I ALWAYS SO DOING THE FRANKIE, I ALWAYS WOULD PUT BUTTERFLIES.

WOULD PUT BUTTERFLIES.

LIKE I HAD THEM ON MY LABELS FOR LIKE I HAD THEM ON MY LABELS FOR PRODUCTS.

PRODUCTS.

THAT WAS LIKE MY INSIGNIA, THE THAT WAS LIKE MY INSIGNIA, THE BUTTER NICE.

BUTTER NICE.

SO I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SO I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT.

SOMETHING WITH THAT.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT IT SO MUCH OF BUT I DIDN'T WANT IT SO MUCH OF THE EVOLUTION, THE SCIENCE OF A THE EVOLUTION, THE SCIENCE OF A BUTTERFLY, BUT MORE LIKE A BUTTERFLY, BUT MORE LIKE A FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE BECAUSE FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I FELT FROM THE THAT'S WHAT I FELT FROM THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY USED TO RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY USED TO HUG ME AND KISS ME ALL THE TIME.

HUG ME AND KISS ME ALL THE TIME.

SO I ASKED FOR THEIR INPUT.

SO I ASKED FOR THEIR INPUT.

AND I SAID TO THEM, WELL, LOOK, AND I SAID TO THEM, WELL, LOOK, HERE, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

HERE, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE THE HOW CAN WE INCORPORATE THE BUTTERFLY, YOU KNOW, INTO A BUTTERFLY, YOU KNOW, INTO A FRIENDSHIP STORY.

FRIENDSHIP STORY.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW FROM YOU KNOW, I KNOW FROM CATERPILLARS FIRST AND THEY TURN CATERPILLARS FIRST AND THEY TURN INTO BUTTER NICE.

INTO BUTTER NICE.

-- BUTTERFLIES.

-- BUTTERFLIES.

MAYBE THEY CAN WORK AROUND THAT.

MAYBE THEY CAN WORK AROUND THAT.

THEY WERE ALL OVER IT!

THEY WERE ALL OVER IT!

SO WE STARTED FROM THERE.

SO WE STARTED FROM THERE.

AND IT STARTED LIKE LET'S GO ON AND IT STARTED LIKE LET'S GO ON A JOURNEY.

A JOURNEY.

AND LET THEM BE FRIENDS.

AND LET THEM BE FRIENDS.

AND IT JUST KIND OF MORPHED INTO AND IT JUST KIND OF MORPHED INTO THIS STORY.

THIS STORY.

AND AS -- YOU KNOW, WE EDITED AND AS -- YOU KNOW, WE EDITED IT, WE KEPT GOING BACK AND IT, WE KEPT GOING BACK AND FORTH.

FORTH.

AND I SAID, OH, MY GOD, CAN YOU AND I SAID, OH, MY GOD, CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS IN A BRIGHT FALL IMAGINE THIS IN A BRIGHT FALL COLOR BOOK.

COLOR BOOK.

SO I SAID, OKAY, IT'S GOT TO BE SO I SAID, OKAY, IT'S GOT TO BE BRIGHT BRIGHT COLORS.

BRIGHT BRIGHT COLORS.

AND WE PUT THE COLOSSIANS OF THE AND WE PUT THE COLOSSIANS OF THE STORYLINE AND IT TURNED INTO, STORYLINE AND IT TURNED INTO, IT'S ALL ABOUT FRIENDSHIP AND IT'S ALL ABOUT FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE AND SHARING AND HELPING ONE LOVE AND SHARING AND HELPING ONE ANOTHER.

ANOTHER.

AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, THIS IS AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

IMPORTANT.

TO BE KIND AND HAVE FRIENDS AND TO BE KIND AND HAVE FRIENDS AND HELP THEM.

HELP THEM.

AND I MUST HAVE HAD THAT INSIGHT AND I MUST HAVE HAD THAT INSIGHT THEN THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THEN THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE RIGHT NOW AND THEN I -- KIND OF RIGHT NOW AND THEN I -- KIND OF REBOOTED IT AGAIN.

REBOOTED IT AGAIN.

>> LET'S SPEAK TO THAT, BECAUSE >> LET'S SPEAK TO THAT, BECAUSE YOUR BOOK FRANKIE THE YOUR BOOK FRANKIE THE CATERPILLAR, IT FOOL S -- -- CATERPILLAR, IT FOOL S -- -- FOLLOWS THE JOURNEY AS HE FINDS FOLLOWS THE JOURNEY AS HE FINDS ANSWERS AND COMFORT AS HE ANSWERS AND COMFORT AS HE PREPARED TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION PREPARED TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION AS YOU SAID, FROM CATERPILLAR TO AS YOU SAID, FROM CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY.

BUTTERFLY.

CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUNG READERS WILL DISCOVER IN YOUNG READERS WILL DISCOVER IN THIS BOOK?

THIS BOOK?

>> ONE OF IT IS CHANGE.

>> ONE OF IT IS CHANGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF CHANGE.

CHANGE.

AND EVEN KIDS.

AND EVEN KIDS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE FRIENDS -- YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE FRIENDS -- BUT NOW -- I DIDN'T NOTICE IT SO BUT NOW -- I DIDN'T NOTICE IT SO MUCH WHEN MY SON WAS YOUNG, BUT MUCH WHEN MY SON WAS YOUNG, BUT NOW I SEE IT IN THESE KIDS.

NOW I SEE IT IN THESE KIDS.

LIKE WITH MY 10-YEAR-OLD LIKE WITH MY 10-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON, AND I SEE HOW IT'S A GRANDSON, AND I SEE HOW IT'S A STRUGGLE.

STRUGGLE.

BECAUSE IF EVERYBODY'S IDENTITY BECAUSE IF EVERYBODY'S IDENTITY CHANGING BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGING BECAUSE OF THIS WHOLE -- NOTHING TO DO DURING WHOLE -- NOTHING TO DO DURING COVID MADE THEM THINK OTHER COVID MADE THEM THINK OTHER THINGS, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY THINGS, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO CHANGE TO GET FRIENDS.

HAVE TO CHANGE TO GET FRIENDS.

AND THEY DON'T.

AND THEY DON'T.

THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES.

AND IF THEY'RE AFRAID OF CHANGE, AND IF THEY'RE AFRAID OF CHANGE, FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S LIKE MINDED FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S LIKE MINDED LIKE YOU AND IS THERE TO HELP LIKE YOU AND IS THERE TO HELP YOU.

YOU.

SO YOU CAN BOTH GROW AND -- WE SO YOU CAN BOTH GROW AND -- WE HAVE THE GROWTH AND CHANGE -- WE HAVE THE GROWTH AND CHANGE -- WE HAVE THE GROWTH AND CHANGE HAVE THE GROWTH AND CHANGE YOURSELF.

YOURSELF.

AND CHANGE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE AND CHANGE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO JUST CHANGE A PERSONALITY OR TO JUST CHANGE A PERSONALITY OR ANYTHING.

ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST CHANGE YOUR THOUGHT IT'S JUST CHANGE YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS.

PROCESS.

LOOK AT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.

LOOK AT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.

>> AS I WAS GETTING TO KNOW YOU, >> AS I WAS GETTING TO KNOW YOU, YOU SHARED WITH ME THAT YOU'VE YOU SHARED WITH ME THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD LIKE THIS CREATIVE ALWAYS HAD LIKE THIS CREATIVE SPARK GENE WITHIN YOURSELF.

SPARK GENE WITHIN YOURSELF.

AND ALTHOUGH YOU TOOK A AND ALTHOUGH YOU TOOK A DIFFERENT CAREER PATH ALONG THE DIFFERENT CAREER PATH ALONG THE WAY YOU FOUND YOUR WAY BACK TO WAY YOU FOUND YOUR WAY BACK TO SOME OF YOUR PASSIONS IN SOME OF YOUR PASSIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SO WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO OTHERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO DISCOVER AND NEIGHBOR NURTURE DISCOVER AND NEIGHBOR NURTURE PASSION -- AND MAYBE NURTURE PASSION -- AND MAYBE NURTURE PASSION THAT IS THEY MAY HAVE PASSION THAT IS THEY MAY HAVE HAD FOR SO LONG?

HAD FOR SO LONG?

>> A LOT OF IT IS GENERATIONAL.

>> A LOT OF IT IS GENERATIONAL.

I GREW UP IN A DIFFERENT TIME I GREW UP IN A DIFFERENT TIME THAN YOU OR SOMEBODY YOUNGER.

THAN YOU OR SOMEBODY YOUNGER.

PARENTS WERE DIFFERENT THEN.

PARENTS WERE DIFFERENT THEN.

AND THEN WHEN I HAD MY SON, I AND THEN WHEN I HAD MY SON, I SAID, YOU CHOOSE WHATEVER MAKES SAID, YOU CHOOSE WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY.

YOU HAPPY.

BUT WHEN OTHER PEOPLE TRY TO BUT WHEN OTHER PEOPLE TRY TO CONTROL WHAT THEY THINK YOU CONTROL WHAT THEY THINK YOU SHOULD DO, FOR A MULTITUDE OF SHOULD DO, FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS, WHETHER IT'S MONEY -- REASONS, WHETHER IT'S MONEY -- WHATEVER, CLOUT, WHATEVER IT WHATEVER, CLOUT, WHATEVER IT IS -- BUT IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY IS -- BUT IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR JOB, YOU WILL NEVER BE WITH YOUR JOB, YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY.

HAPPY.

AND EVEN THOUGH I TOOK THAT AND EVEN THOUGH I TOOK THAT MEDICAL PATH AND I WAS GREAT AT MEDICAL PATH AND I WAS GREAT AT IT, IT WASN'T MY PASSION -- WAS IT, IT WASN'T MY PASSION -- WAS IT MY PASSION?

IT MY PASSION?

NO.

NO.

BUT THE ONE PASSION THAT WAS BUT THE ONE PASSION THAT WAS ALWAYS CONSISTENT WAS I LOVED ALWAYS CONSISTENT WAS I LOVED HELPING PEOPLE.

HELPING PEOPLE.

I LOVED TO BE CREATIVE WITH I LOVED TO BE CREATIVE WITH PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

THAT WAS THE WHOLE FOUNDATION, THAT WAS THE WHOLE FOUNDATION, WAS MY PASSION FOR OTHERS.

WAS MY PASSION FOR OTHERS.

AND ALWAYS THERE TO HELP THEM, AND ALWAYS THERE TO HELP THEM, NO BHEART HAD A -- NO MATTER NO BHEART HAD A -- NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS.

WHAT IT WAS.

SO TRY TO GET PAST THE FEAR, SO TRY TO GET PAST THE FEAR, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TRY, YOU BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TRY, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW.

WILL NEVER KNOW.

AND IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, IT'S AND IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, IT'S OKAY!

OKAY!

YOU MADE A MISTAKE.

YOU MADE A MISTAKE.

YOU TRIED IT, IT DIDN'T WORK YOU TRIED IT, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

OUT.

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING THAT MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE.

YOU MIGHT LIKE.

AND LISTEN, YOU CAN DREAM BIG!

AND LISTEN, YOU CAN DREAM BIG!

AND IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT, AND IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.

YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.

BUT AT LEAST DON'T BE AFRAID TO BUT AT LEAST DON'T BE AFRAID TO TRY.

TRY.

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

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE IRISH CULTURAL OUR THANKS TO THE IRISH CULTURAL CENTER OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND CENTER OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND AND THE TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD AND THE TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

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

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE.

CARE.

SLATEE.

SLATEE.

>>> -- SLAINTE.

>>> -- SLAINTE.

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

OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪