Across Indiana

Miscarriage. Didn't need. A five. Day. Five years like me and like me like me. And like. You. And by the power of corporate sponsors. It's Indiana's past and it's brand new. See touch and feel the all new interactive in DNA experience. You are there as you literally step into historic photographs travel back through time with virtual interactive journeys and experience. Indiana's past your past in ways never before imagined. It's the Indiana experience at the Eugene in Maryland like Indiana history center on the canal and downtown Indianapolis. On this trip across Indiana we'll take a look at doing what you'd rather be doing when you're not doing what you need to be doing to pay the bill. We'll take in splendor by the thousands in the form of the graceful Sandhill Cranes. Will put pen to paper once again with our Hoosier poets in El Salvador. And we'll

check out a new kind of UFO and identified a fried object that is. Plus we'll see how an ancient craft is experienced at Hoosier Renaissance and how contemporary artisans are making beautiful everything together. And greetings winter weary and worn out fellow whose are some Michael Atwood. Welcome to train Central on East Washington Street near Irvington home of the classic hobby of model trains. It's a fitting location to talk about doing what you love to do with precious spare time you have. Our first story combines this classic art of the leisure pursuit with some getting away from it all. We're heading to goose pond for a once a year extravaganza when otherwise sensible folks get a touch of Mars madness. You know there's madness Darby and I tell you Madness afoot in what should be an

otherwise pristine wilderness and a lot of that has something to do with this. And while it's breathtaking to see our national symbol up close and personal there's something even more majestic about seeing it out in the wild. And it's clearly a pattern with really low. And they're doing very well in Indiana I mean there's lots and lots of them. And they're going right down over the tree yeah yeah yeah yeah and now quartering back it's a fish he just ate it just helped it down but a vision of nature circle of life is only a prelude to what's brought us here. Somehow I was a nice guys about four feet high. To have a wingspan like this six feet. That's the same crane that's called a sandhill crime and it carries easily a mile less than. 10 years ago this was a still farm fields completely foreign completely farm fields and none of these birds were here. This is goose pond outside of Linton and the fabric tract of land could be said to have a

destination. It's this one. You see since 1895 there'd been I believe six different corporate owners and 13 different management companies under them trying to management nobody ever made money. If it rains here two inches it can cost a million dollars to pump the water out. Davis wants to be a wetland so much that it can't be farmed. And after nearly 50 years of wrangling the Natural Resources Conservation Service finally got a hold of Guzman. Call the prairie grass was planted. We planted about four acres of trees all of the aquatic vegetation that was natural. In the seed bank so after 200 years of farming. Being turned over and hundreds upon hundreds of gallons of herbicides just sitting there waiting for the right conditions here. Well let's say the male is almost dead. So we definitely have variable weight. That's. Probably why the birds are actin so funny. No one imagined this whistling and black believed wis and

roseate spoonbills and King rails in the numbers that we have no one no one expected that stuff I've been doing this for. Twenty eight years I don't see the way we've seen this before. What no one else also didn't expect was how goose pond could change the way Litton saw itself from you know our primary funding in an area of small businesses and when the economy is down that's rough. You know what this abundance of natural resources it just makes sense to do whatever we can to buy as many people we can as we can. Yeah and tourism really let the community know what a great asset they have here. You know we have people here who were calling their friends out in Oklahoma saying you know I want information to take them because we want them to come back with us next year and should you find of this goose ponds Marsh madness something you want to hold on to. Don't worry. The festival offers workshops and creating your own backyard habitat. Insects you may not think much about insects but they are a major protein

source for birds specially young birds develop. And then back out and the parents needs to be involved. There's a lot of parents that's not involved with their kids anymore now. And they want this. Family oriented. And interestingly enough Did you know that areas like Jews ponder traditionally funded by an excise tax on the guns and shells purchased by Indiana's hunters. There was an excise tax for photography equipment and birding optics of the same scale. It would blow away the amount of money. We're not really capitalizing or taking advantage can actually come down. And now it's showtime in the form of 11000 winged actors. This is what you can. On there. Just fascinating I just love Sam soar and glide and do what they do.

Part of it is the talent. But the other part is you just want to keep the memory of this lie just a feeling of kind of being at one with them for a few minutes. We are the stewards of this of this land. Who are we to decide that this species is not worthwhile to us therefore we are going to sacrifice it for future just for birds. The nice men here and the fact that they've survived and perhaps they have a right to do so thanks to those of you who watch the skies. In Derby and I think that's not such madness after all. March madness is already over for this march but goose pond is open year round and the flora and fauna change with the seasons. As one visitor said it's a treasure hunt. You never know what you'll find next. Next up we know them as a professor an art collector a student a politician and a journalist. For these are the occupations of the Indiana poets that we followed on their adventures to El

Salvador. But poetry is their true passion. Now it's time to write the final pages of our trip. As our writers discover that while each individual verse may not be as it seems the overall story is one of universal brotherhood. My first viewing was on the airplane. DAN No. Perfect health. Plan. Will just make. The Pom was my child. I'm absolutely surprised by well-behaved children and maybe some children who need to struggle. You know sometimes I feel like that with Michael. My words will live for ever in the big. Way.

And when you know the wall that we're paging our poetry on Hooper to later and Lou felons apprehension of the unknown seems far away. And farther still as our Indian a poet safer to sell to pick is generous but sometimes quirky hospitality. Along came walking down the street. Is that unusual. And they said a little bit. There we went to a science fair. And what do you think was at the science fair. How. Did SF work and with their. Their hair trying to make it. Me having a little product in that they seem to have a sense of caring genuinely caring about. Which animal we always exhibit here and in America. Yet as our poets walk streets their sense of the benign shifts in a new side of El Salvador begins to show itself.

This is Ruth Allen's unknown. Once we got them. Talking about the sounds that they heard when they were playing soccer one of which was a policeman. I had. Described to me. How people work in the sweat factories all day. For three to six hours a day at that. And I I'm thinking Is this what the children of cats will typically have to look forward to. There was even one day on the square. I noticed that there were a lot of. Police officers around. And. It's like. Where are all these police officers doing down here. And John they tell me that all to protect you think oh my god I'm really. Afraid. I felt that I felt so well taken care of. And I think after I got a little bit more information I realized just how well we worked.

It has been a journey of dangers that could have happened but didn't. And of breakthroughs that might not have been possible but were. If one girl shines it is Saundra the sister of MARTIN One of our translators. Unlike her brother speaks no English but she has become the darling of our poets. Winning them over with her laughter and her willingness to plunge in and be daring with this new thing called poetry. I wish I could climb into your fist and it will open. I believe it will. Be a flower. Its journey to bear fruit. To unclench a girl becoming amongst heritage of ardor and strife. Permission to sing. As we head to the airport our driver Jose tells us that he is also an

actor. His talent has taken him on his own journey. The culture shock of another way of life entirely and the let's say challenging cold of Scandinavia and the land of the midnight sun. As we wind through the capital city's stifling exhaust choked street we wonder. Without. A heart. Would any of his own mind opening exploits or would any of our own adventures and newfound Brotherhood have happened at all. And I continue to think about El Salvador. You know every day they are forever at least in my heart for their passion and their courage. I think there is a nuff in the human spirit to say. Ah the golden years. Our next tale is one of putting your retirement time to good

use. That is by turning yourself into a local legend of sorts. And it all begins with the find Cullen airy arc of saline hash with the emphasis on slain as a producer for across Indiana meals are often away from home. Have you ever served a chicken limo and over the years some small towns begin to be defined by their eateries within. However in Columbus and. One dining experience may be overlooked by those who drive by. Or maybe it's even sometimes mistaken for a bait shop. The rest assured inside this restaurant high quality food is prepared by an even higher quality man despite how the food is served. Thanks. It's morning time in Columbus today. Bill is ready for his big wave breakfast

crowd but Bill will throw a cheeseburger at your face. In the time here today I think it just came in to see if I was still alive. When did you decide you're going to throw your food at people. They got to like you to walk Yeah through. We go have a look. Yeah they pick up the baseball. Yeah. Bill isn't any any of you who served his country as a Marine in the Korean War. And when he returned he began serving up drinks. So 1959. I was in the film business for 21 years and I got out of it and I had the I could not go anywhere in the United States and I ended up down there and now Bill and ministers items from his extensive menu. He was loyal customers in Columbus from cheeseburgers and chili to microwaveable off. You don't see places like this. That's correct today it's not uncommon for Bill to catch a little flack from the regulars yet until July

some customers have had for the last 25 years. In fact it almost seems like some folks show up for the entertainment more than the food. It was good today. He can't he can't lie every day. If I was to come back on don't think I do the norm. And you can always bring your own food to eat here at the flying cheeseburger. Bill doesn't care what little city guys bring in. Him as well. We've got your football. Oh what you're going to do to coop what's most important about this modest cafeteria is that it puts a roof over the heads of the Columbus residents who need a place to congregate in the morning to tell lies and harass a 77 year old war veteran who happily cooks up their finger to throw at them as they feel. Come on now no truth to it and if you ask Bill there's no place he'd rather be.

But Bill what are yours. Six times over out. Well what do you know except those who love you so much. Oh for sure. Hugh not sure how to tell you this but we're not quite prepared for our next story. You see we don't have a time machine to take you thousands of years into the past in the corporate biplane is still locked in the hangar because we can't find the key so we can't take you to the mysterious Far East so we'll do the next best thing. We're off to Martin's availed to rediscover an ancient art that you might have enjoyed in another time and another place but here in Indiana it's undergoing a modern day reawakening. From ancient China to the tureen England. The fine art of painting on closeness has changed little.

Thousands of years. What has changed is a rediscovered enthusiasm for the once dying art that is fired up a new generation of artists. I'm trying to painting is the art of taking mineral paints and applying them to a place and when they're fired in the kiln the glaze opens up in the minerals penetrate the clay sole The colors are totally permanent we have to do multiple firings and multiple layers of colors and actually it makes it a much nicer finished piece because you layer one color on top of the other practiced around the weld to china painting is flourishing in Indiana there are a number of active guilds belonging to the World Association of China painted by the sea we have for not only several visitors but artists from all over there is very very true.

There is even a permanent museum in Oklahoma City. Every year at our convention. There are a certain number of pieces that are chosen from Indiana thank go to be displayed in that museum for a year on China because it is. Relaxing. I'm 40 hours and something I wanted a long time. Long as it doesn't hit the floor. I want to. So instead of suffering do suffer in the community because they look at us

as a craft and we were shut out of a lot of our shows. Last year I approached representative to see about getting this nation by the state of Indiana and we were fortunate. The House Resolution 24 was passed so that hopefully now we can work towards integrating China painting. And Benjamin Harrison's wife Carolyn was a fine Chinese painter today examples of china painting can be seen in the governor's mansion. When we took on the project of change the china for the governor's mansion in 2001 and again a disservice have marched on and presented

to Mrs. O'Bannon next 10 you go to the governor's mansion to mashed potatoes you get. Maybe beading up the plate and I think you know that. Finally we're going to stretch ourselves a little both figuratively and literally. We're dropping in on a gathering where dance yoga and other arts are on display all of the same time. The idea is to get high caliber artists together to push their limits to create works which they've been share with the community through workshops. It's really not as complicated as it all sounds as you'll see when we take in the gentle practice of convergence. Go ahead and you're going to lean on terror elbow. And Caitlin if you can do it just a little bit of a run and that down. You to fall. And then end.

Whoever said you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Never look at life from the point of view that matter from the point of view of the highly trained professional artist trying to be an orthodox rules might find the harder you go in the work world and you're expected to hear Mark if you do your thing and go home because it's not about you. You can say the wrong thing to the wrong person or have a really horrible rehearsal or. Decide to try something that is really outlandish and then you'll be that guy that tried that thing. That's your livelihood that you're you're playing with your I have a little more reluctance to just throw it all out there. Throw the pain on the wall and see what sticks. You know and here we have 10 days of just go unplayed Miley loves her some half decaf white chocolate rave I wonder like Carmel does a light chocolate powder.

But one learns nothing if one does not expand. And in March in Indianapolis artistic risk taking and rule breaking are not only allowed they're encouraged. How do you find being people think you're not quite religious Okay. You're watching indie convergence and if a sign could be posted over all these festivities it would contain three simple words. Artists play the whole of your questions. Julian please I'm trying to create some art. I think the advantage of coming here is it's an environment that has been created that is safe so you can let go of all of your inhibitions and just try them on mine out. Why waste our time getting together to do stuff that doesn't mean a thing. We have to pay the bills and then we have to we have to pay our bills. You know freed our creative Bank as well. Here we try to make everyone cross the bridge sort of in and take a walk in other people's shoes so we ask dancers to sing we ask musicians to dance and I think being an actor I've always sort of been pigeonholed into just acting and it was really fun to have. Some.

Body movement some like what can my body do and how can my body bend. It's just something that you don't get to try on. Out in the real world to see if you can like a sister down beautiful. So it just has a connection. But having done those workshops I can pull on. Maybe an acting exercise that I did hear about how an actor would approach a role in the same way and then. Use those sorts of techniques and then translate that into dance. It's not like it's more of that same kind of 45 degree and then this can be. From either coast. Tell us that indeed vergence is unique. Not like anything they've experienced anywhere else. Oh my goodness. Awesome. Well. That yes. Now. Both of you are going to take a little beautiful leg on excellent. Organizers hope that you're in Indianapolis into a hub for convergences. In other cities and down the road they hope to use this performance potpourri to create workshops that will be taken to schools to help a struggling arts program and we live in hope that what we do matters effects people.

We're making a difference. You're able to come here and have people listen to your hopes and your dreams and your ideas and try and make them come to fruition in some way. That's the point is to take the pressure away so you don't have your boss next to you. Saying I need. Five minutes of play out of here by tomorrow and it needs to be done. I think I just love that this is a place where I can go to the limits of my creative being my creative self as a whole and. I don't know how that's not appealing. Oh none of us are hanging out at Jen's at Go is rather. With Louis. Well that's it for this trip. No my own hobby is that of playing the drums. So until we double our way to parrot it all again I'm Michael I would be sure to stay on the beat. I will see you next time we go across India. Go ahead and walk your legs under and switch. So that you're just going to lift her slightly across her body that way to change the other side.

And. What happens if you do that I was thinking touch the floor but I like that because it's a body thing. She said Little Mister in. The wrong. Didn't do yeah my. Good. That's something. Five years like me and like me like me. And like. You.