THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP FOR THE THRILL OF COMPETITION.

THE WINTER OLYMPICS ARE OVER.

BUT FOR MOST ATHLETES, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF GOING FOR GOLD.

NEVER FATES.

IT IS A FLOURISHING OF THE ARTS AS WE REVEAL THEIR PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS THAT YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS.

AND WE DIVE INTO THE EFFORT NEEDED TO COMPILE THOUSANDS OF TITLES FOR UNIQUE MOSAIC RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AMERICA WAS LOCKED INTO THE 2026.

MILAN-CORTINA WINTER OLYMPICS.

MORE THAN 23 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING THE GAMES DAILY MAKING IT THE HIGHEST RATED WINTER GAMES SINCE 2014 THAT INTEREST LIVES RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS WELL.

WGCU DAYNA HARPSTER SHARES THE STORY OF AN OLYMPIC HOPEFUL COACHING YOUNG SKATERS IN FORT MYERS.

>> NIGHT BEFORE WE MET ICE DANCER, ANTON SCARED ON A U.S.

TEAMMATES, MADISON CHOCK AND EVAN BATES HAD JUST EARNED A SILVER MEDAL AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN MILAN.

IT WAS SOMETHING OF AN UPSET AS CHOCK AND BATES HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO WIN THE GOLD IN ICE DANCING IN OUR PREVIOUS 3 TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS.

IT DIDN'T DAMPEN SPIRITS ON OF SPIRITS.

IN FACT, HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SPORT AND HIS FELLOW ICE DANCERS WITH ME TRAINS IN MONTREAL SEEMED BOUNDLESS THIS DAY.

HE WAS HELPING OUT AS COACH AND TEACHER FOR THE STUDENTS OF HIS PARENTS.

LARRY SPEARED ON OF THE FORMER PAIR SKATER AND ELENA GUARANTEEING A FORMER ICE DANCER, BOTH WERE CHAMPION RUSSIAN SKATERS WHO NOW LIVE IN FORT MYERS.

>> MY PARENTS ARE WONDERFUL COACHES AND THEY'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES AND COACHES AND I'M VISITING THEM WHILE I'M HERE.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO WORK WITH THE KIDS UP.

MY PARENTS HAVE CAUSE WE LOVE HAVING LESSONS WITH ME AND I LOVE FOR HIM WITHOUT.

>> IT APPEARED ON AUGUST.

27.

HE WAS BORN IN KISSIMMEE AND HE'S SKATED FOR THE UNITED STATES SINCE 2020.

HE PREVIOUSLY SKATED FOR RUSSIAN GREAT BRITAIN, BUT IT'S HIS AMERICAN TEAM STATUS THAT MAKES HIM THE MOST PROUD.

>> IT JUST.

>> WEARING LIKE ONE OF THESE JACKETS WITH THE >> AMERICAN FLAG ON IT.

IT MEANS SO MUCH TO GO INTO COMPETITION KNOWING THAT YOU REPRESENT THIS HUGE NATION WITH SUCH A LONG HISTORY OF FIGURE SKATING.

IT'S DEFINITELY AN HONOR.

>> SPEAR DONOVAN MEDALS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION WITH FORMER PARTNER LORRAINE MCNAMARA.

AND THEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SPEARED ON OF HOW THIS FIRST TRYOUT WITH HIS MOST RECENT PARTNER, VANESSA PHAM RIGHT HERE AT THE FORT MYERS STADIUM.

FLORIDA ALSO FIGURES INTO HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> COACHING IS ALSO A BIG PART OF ME, SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE INDEFINITELY.

AFTER MY SKATING CAREER, I DO WANT TO MOVE TO FLORIDA AND BUILD AN ACADEMY.

THAT'S A THAT'S A DREAM.

>> HE ALSO DREAMS OF OLYMPIC GOLD TO GET THERE.

HE PRACTICES ALL TYPES OF DANCE AND ALSO RUNS BEFORE EVERY PRACTICE.

>> MY STANCE.

WE DO BALLET.

WE DO HIP-HOP.

WE HAVE A RHYTHM DANCE AND IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF STYLE AND THEME EVERY YEAR.

SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY PROFICIENT IN WHATEVER IS REQUIRED OF US.

SO WE DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT DANCE, BUT ALSO THERE IS STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING.

A LOT OF COLLEAGUES AND TEAMMATES THAT THEY'RE LIKE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I WILL RUN A 10 K BEFORE GOING TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY.

IT'S LIKE SOMETHING THAT I LOVE TO DO.

IT'S NOT.

STRICTLY PART OF MY TRAINING REGIMEN.

BUT AND BELIEVE IT HELPS ME.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, THIS IS DAYNA HARPSTER WITH AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE >> THE RECENT WINTER OLYMPICS HIGHLIGHTS THE LIFELONG ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.

BUT IT ALSO RAISES AWARENESS OF THE INVISIBLE BATTLES.

OLYMPIC ATHLETES FACE WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRUGGLES THAT COME ALONG WITH IMMENSE PRESSURE.

WE ARE JOINED BY DOCTOR JOSEPH MCNAMARA.

HE IS THE BROOK PROFESSOR AND DIVISION CHIEF OF PSYCHOLOGY WITH THE UF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR MCNAMARA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> AT THE MILAN WINTER GAMES, U.S.

ALPINE SKIER, MIKAELA SHIFFRIN WON ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL.

AT THE SAME TIME SHE OPENED UP ABOUT SUFFERING WITH PTSD AFTER A CRASH 2 YEARS AGO.

WHY DO YOU THINK MORE ATHLETES ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES IN PUBLIC?

>> I I THINK THERE'S WIDE CONFESS, IDOL EFFORT TO REDUCE THE STIGMA THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

AND SO I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY ATHLETES COMING FORWARD AND REALLY SETTING A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN OTHER PROFESSIONS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD AND TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE FACE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 20 AND 30% OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.

MEET DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR A PSYCHIATRIC BUT DISORDER.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY VERY COMMON THAT PEOPLE STRUGGLE.

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

BOTH ARE CERTAINLY THINGS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH.

PARTICULARLY THERE CAN BE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD OR SOCIAL ANXIETY PERFORMANCE.

ANXIETY CAN MANIFEST ITSELF IN SO MANY WAYS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE THIS EVENT AND HOW THEY'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS THOSE EXPERIENCES AS WELL.

>> AS SEVERAL OF THE ATHLETES, THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL INVISIBLE BATTLES WHERE THEY HIDE ISSUES BEHIND THE PUBLIC PURSE ON OF THEIR SPORT.

WHAT CAN THESE EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESS HAVE ON A PERSON'S PSYCHE?

>> SO IT CAN CREATE ENORMOUS PRESSURE.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS, I THINK IS THAT THE PEOPLE PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK DOWN THERE.

FAMILY, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR FANS.

AND SO THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE PRESSURE THAT CAN BE THERE AS WELL AS KIND OF MEETING THEIR OWN EXPECTATIONS TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY'VE PRACTICED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES TO ACHIEVE.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND HOW WE FRAME THAT PRESSURE AND HOW WE WE TRAINED USE THAT TO OUR ADVANTAGE RATHER THAN BEING SOMETHING THAT IS CRIPPLING AND SO FOCUSING ON HOW WE CAN USE PRESSURE TO BUILD RESILIENCE AND BUILD STRENGTH AND HOW TO TRY AND WORK WITH THAT PRESSURE TO HELP US PERFORM OUR BEST RATHER THAN BEING SOMETHING THAT BECOMES A SIGNIFICANT HENDREN SUMMER.

WHEN WE FOCUS ON THE FAILURE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THINGS NOT GOING WELL AT WHICH YOU REALLY KIND OF SNOWBALL AND THEN HAVE IT VERY SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT.

>> WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDERGOING THESE KINDS OF PRESSURES TO TAKE IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR GOALS RATHER THAN JUST GIVE UP ON SOMETHING.

>> AND SO IMPORTANT TO NOT GIVE UP.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THE IMPORTANT THINGS IS REALLY FOCUSING ON THOSE GOALS AND PRIORITIES AND FOCUSING ON WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE AND THEN REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CERTAINLY SPECIALIZE IN SPORTS, PSYCHOLOGY.

BUT THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SPECIALIZE IN WHETHER IT'S INSIDE YOUR DEPRESSION TO GENERAL IN THE AREAS THAT WE AND IN MY EXPERIENCE AND SO I DO WE BREAK THOSE THINGS DOWN.

HOW DO WE SYSTEMATICALLY WORK TOWARD THEM AND WORKED TO OVERCOME?

AND SO THERE ARE VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES THAT CERTAINLY CAN BE USED.

THERE ARE EXPOSED ARE BASIC NEEDS THAT CAN BE USED AS WELL AS OR I HAVE OTHER THINGS SCHOOL PROVIDER WOULD BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT ONE.

SO ON.

SO I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO REACH OUT FOR HELP AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE LIKE TO KIND OF LIKE, OH, I CAN DO THIS MYSELF AND I REALLY RESPECT THE SAME TIME, THE SAME WAY THAT ANYBODY NEEDS A COACH.

IT'S KIND OF DIFFERENT WHEN THE SYMPTOMS ARE GETTING SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE REALLY INTERFERE WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE.

IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE TO GET HELP, TO HELP YOU BE ABLE TO DISPLAY YOUR YOUR ABILITIES IN A WAY THAT'S REALLY IN LINE WITH HOW HARD THE ATHLETES OR REALLY ANYONE IN ANY WALK OF LIFE.

IT'S IT'S DEDICATED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME TO ANY TO ANY SKILL TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE LEVEL THAT REALLY FITS WITH WHAT THEIR THEIR ABILITIES ACTUALLY HAS BECOME.

>> WELL, FOR THE MIND FRAME, HOW IMPORTANT WOULD IT BE TO SET REALISTIC GOALS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS?

>> I THINK WE'LL STICK.

GOALS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO AIM HIGH.

AND SO YOU CAN HAVE REALISTIC GOALS AND VERY PRACTICAL GOALS AT THE SAME TIME.

HAVE YOUR ASPIRATIONAL GOALS.

I I LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

WE'RE YOUNG CAN REMEMBER THINKING PLAYING IN THE BACKYARDS LIKE.

ALL RIGHT, JOE, IT'S 3 STRAIGHT.

3, 2 STRIKES.

THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH INNING IN THE WORLD SERIES.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU THROW THE PITCH 2 YEARS OFF AND YOU HOPE THAT IF YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

SO REALLY, THAT'S IN MANY WAYS KIND OF THEM BUILDING BLOCKS OF STARTING THAT RESILIENCE PROCESS.

LIKE SOMETIMES YOU'LL SUCCEED.

SOMETIMES YOU'LL FAIL AND IT'S OK TO FAIL.

IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO TRY AND SUCCEED AND TRY AND WORK THROUGH THAT.

TRY AND LEARN FROM THE FAILURES BILL FROM THE FOUNDERS AND GROW.

AND SO REALLY THINKING OF RESILIENCE THAT SOMETHING OF IT REALLY IS STRIKING THAT BALANCE OF.

HOW DO I PUT MYSELF IN CHALLENGING OF SITUATIONS THAT IT'S AN IRON VERSUS IRON SITUATION SO THAT I'M GETTING BETTER GETTING STRONGER AND GETTING PERFORMING BETTER.

I'M DOING BETTER AND BETTER UNDER PRESSURE.

AND AS THESE I MEAN, THESE PRESSURE SITUATIONS.

HOW CAN I GET TO A PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL MAYBE POTENTIALLY CALM WOULD BE AS A PRACTICE THE SO MUCH AND I FEEL SO PREPARED.

THIS IS WHAT I'M READY FOR.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.

AND SO THIS IS A SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT, IN FACT, LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, I'M SO EXCITED TO SHOW WHAT I CAN DO EVEN IN THIS HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION.

DOCTOR MCNAMARA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING.

>> COMING UP FROM REMARKABLE THEATER SHOWS TO OUTDOOR EXHIBITS FOR TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ART EXPERIENCES YOU CAN ENJOY THIS WEEKEND AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> SINCE ITS DEBUT IN 2011, THE MUSICAL NEWSIES HAS BECOME A FAN FAVORITE WITH THOUSANDS OF PERFORMANCES ON BROADWAY AND EVEN MORE IN THEATERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT A SPECIAL PERFORMANCES TAKING CENTER STAGE RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.

WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL HAS THE STORY.

>> WHEN JOSEPH PULITZER AND WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST GRAZED THE DISTRIBUTION PRICE OF THE NEWSPAPERS, $0.10 PER 100 IN 18.

99, THE NEWS VOICE ENOUGH ALREADY.

WE'RE OUTRAGED.

INSPIRED BY THE STRIKE PUT ON BY THE TROLLEY WORKERS, JACK COWBOY KELLY ORGANIZED THE NEWSBOYS STRIKE.

WITH DAVID JACOBS.

IS THE BRAINS BEHIND THE NEW UNION.

JACK IS ITS VOICE AND HELP FROM A DETERMINED FEMALE REPORTER.

THE WEAK AND OPPRESSED.

FIND THE STRENGTH TO BAND TOGETHER AND CHALLENGE THE POWER.

DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY ROB AND ON RYAN WITH ASSISTANCE FROM MADISON COLOR, THIS PRODUCTION OF NEWSIES IS DISTINGUISHED BY EXCEPTIONAL VOCALS.

GYMNASTIC DANCE NUMBERS AND A TERRIFIC, MOSTLY MALE CAST 4 SONGS IN THE ALLEN MAKING.

AND JACK FELDMAN SCORE, PARTICULARLY NOTEWORTHY, BEGINNING WITH THE NEWS IS HAUNTING ANTHEM WORLD WILL KNOW IT'S FULL OF YOUTHFUL BRAVADO AND THE CHOREOGRAPHY SUPPLIES ATTITUDE WITH THE CAPITAL AG.

THE NUMBERS WERE PRICED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE TWO-HOUR SHOW AND WILL STAY WITH AUDIENCES LONG AFTER THE FINAL CURTAIN.

GIANNA RANDALL TURNS ON THE HEARTFELT PERFORMANCE IN THE ROLE OF REPORTER KATHRYN PLUMMER.

THE VULNERABILITY SHE CONJURES IN WATCH.

WHAT HAPPENS.

JUST NOT JUST EXPRESS YOURSELF DOWN IN THE PRESSURE.

SHE FEELS TO WRITE A SERIOUS NEWS STORY THAT PORTRAYS THE GRAVITY OF THE NEWSY STRIKES IN TEARS.

HER TO THE AUDIENCE.

THE SHOW IS NOT ALL GRAB A TOPS.

IT DOES HAVE SOME LIGHTER MOMENTS SUCH AS THAT'S RICH OF ALL BILL STYLE NUMBER SUNG BY MEADOWLARK IN HER CHORUS, GIRLS NEWSIES IS ON STAGE AT FORT MYERS THEATER THROUGH MARCH AND THE THEATER IS LOCATED ON SAN CARLOS BOULEVARD IN FORT MYERS.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU, JEFF.

FOR THAT PERFORMANCE LOOKS AMAZING.

I WOULD LOVE TO ATTEND IT.

YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE NEWSIES IT.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT IT?

>> I REALLY LIKE ASKED TO DANCE NUMBERS.

THIS IS A MOSTLY MALE CAST, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO FIND MALE ACTORS TO FILL THOSE ROLES.

BUT THIS IS A VERY MALE CENTRIC CAST AND THEY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH ALL KINDS OF JUMPS AND OTHER GYMNASTIC MOVES.

SO IF IF YOU'RE REALLY INTO PERFORMANCE ART, THIS IS A THIS IS A SHOW YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS AND LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY.

IT COMBINES MUSIC AND HISTORY TO MAKE A SHOW.

THE ENTIRE FAMILY CAN ALSO ENJOY.

THAT'S TRUE.

>> IT'S REALLY IT'S BASED OFF OF AN ACTUAL STRIKE THAT OCCURRED IN 18.

99 IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN JOSEPH PULITZER AND WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST RAISED THE PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS AT THAT TIME, THE NEWS BOYS HAD TO PURCHASE THE PAPERS AND RESELL THEM.

SO WHEN THEY RAISE THE PRICE THAT REALLY PUT A PINCH, THE KIDS AND AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE POOR ENOUGH ALREADY.

>> AND I NOTICE YOU, YOU HAVE A PROP.

YOU'RE WEARING A SOMETHING FROM THE ACTUAL A THEATER.

TELL ME WHAT'S ON YOUR HEAD.

ONE OF THE ACTORS DOWNS MADE THIS A BEANIE AND THAT WAS LEAH.

THAT WAS THE ATTIRE THE DAY ALONG WITH THE PLAID SHIRTS.

>> SO YES, I'M I'M I'M I'M IN CHARACTER.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

AND YOU HAVE A.

>> HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES RECENTLY.

>> WE HAVE A RATHER VIBRANT PERFORMING ARTS SEASON GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE WATCH OUT FOR?

I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT I'M SURE YOU HAVE A FEW.

>> THAT ARE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS DIFFICULT.

>> PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE FROM 29 DIFFERENT SHOWS.

A STAGE THIS WEEK FROM MARKETA SARASOTA.

SO THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERY TASTE.

BUT 3 THAT I THINK ARE REALLY NOT A CAN'T MISS UP IN SARASOTA AT FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE IS A CABARET SHOW CALLED ONE HIT WONDERS.

AND SO IF YOU'RE EVER WONDERING WHAT, WHAT WHAT ARE THE ONE HITS?

AND I DID MY FAVORITE ONE HIT WONDER, MAKE THE LIST.

THAT'S A SHOW THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

TREMENDOUS VOCALS.

BUT I THINK WAS REALLY INTERESTING IS TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHICH SHOW, YOU KNOW, WHICH WHICH NUMBERS MADE THE LIST.

>> AND THEN YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE'S OTHERS THAT I MEAN, WE'VE GOT 27 OTHERS.

29 OTHERS TO CHOOSE FROM.

SO THERE'S NO SHORTAGE ON THE CALENDAR.

>> WHAT 1, 1, SHOW THAT I THINK IS IS GOING TO REALLY TOUCH PEOPLE IS A SHOW THAT'S OPENING AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THEATER AT THE MUSIC AND ARTS COMMUNITY CENTER OFF OF DANIELS.

IT'S THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY.

THAT WAS THE FILM WITH CLINT EASTWOOD AND MERYL STREEP.

IT'S BEEN MADE INTO A MUSICAL AND THEY HAVE 2 TREMENDOUS ACTORS CENTER PLAYING THE LEADS IN THAT IN THAT PARTICULAR PRODUCTION.

SOUNDS SO THAT'S ON STAGE THERE.

AND THEN I THINK ANOTHER SHOW THAT IS GOD'S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IS 2 TRAINS RUNNING.

THIS IS THE 7TH OF THE CENTURY CYCLE PLAYS THAT WERE WRITTEN BY AUGUST.

WILSON AND IT'S PLAYING AT THE LAB THEATER.

SO FOR ANYBODY WHO'S A FAN OF OF AUGUST WILSON'S AND THIS REALLY LOOKING FOR STRONG BLACK PERFORMANCES.

2 TRAINS RUNNING IS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR MUST-SEE LIST.

SOUNDS AWESOME.

WE ALSO HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AT THIS TIME.

>> THERE ARE SOME OUTDOOR SHOWS AS WELL FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS.

CAN YOU TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT?

SURE.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT OVER THE COURSE OF OUR SEASON.

OUR TOUR SEASON, WE HAVE 40 OUTDOOR ART FAIRS AND FESTIVALS TO CHOOSE FROM DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THIS WEEKEND.

THERE ARE 4.

THERE'S ONE IN SARASOTA, ONE IN DOWNTOWN VENICE.

ANOTHER AT THE PROMENADE AT BONITA BAY AND THEN THE NAPLES ARE CRAFTERS ARE IN CAMBIER PARK.

SO IF THE WEATHER IS BEAUTIFUL AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO SEE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ARTISTS DOING RIGHT OR MAYBE YOU WANT TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION OR START A COLLECTION.

THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO FIND YOUR TASTE.

THERE IS REALLY TRULY SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHO ARE CITY ARTS IT.

BUT DON'T FORGET.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE A REALLY SHOULD VARIED SHOW IN AN INTIMATE ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S NEWS DISEASE AND THE WORLD WILL NOW.

>> THANK YOU, TOM HALL.

IT LOOKS AWESOME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH TOM HALL AND ALL OF THE ART HAPPENING THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY HEADING TO WGCU DOT ORG.

IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

WE BRING YOU A MOMENT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HISTORY.

WGCUS BRYANT.

MONTEILH LOOKS AT WHAT WAS THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE THAT DREW BIG NAMES AND HUGE TALENT INTO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

>> IN THE 1940'S AND 50'S MUSIC LOVING MULTI-RACIAL CROWDS.

WHAT'S BILL OUTSIDE OF MCCOLLUM HALL INTO BUCKS BACKYARD.

THAT'S THE MAIN SAKE OF CLIFFORD BUCK MCCOLLUM, WHO BUILT THE HISTORIC ART DECO BUILDING TODAY, BRIGHTLY COLORED MURAL STRETCH ALONG THAT SECTION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD IN DUNBAR, THE SPIRIT IT OUR HIGHLIGHTS.

THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE OF THE RENOWNED MUSICIANS WHO PERFORM THEIR PART OF A CHIPMAN CIRCUIT.

YOU CAN SEE IMAGES OF DUKE ELLINGTON COUNT BASIE ANN LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

THE MURAL ALSO FEATURES FAMILIAR IMAGES.

PAUL LAURENCE, DUNBAR, DOCTOR ELLA MAE PIPER BUCK MCCULLUM'S LIQUOR STORE JUST TO NAME A FEW.

THE 23 YARD CATCHING PANELS WERE PAINTED BY JP AL MANA SAID ERIK SLATE AND ROLAND ROAD CO 2 INTO WGCU EVERY DAY THIS MONTH FOR MORE MOMENTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

BLACK HISTORY.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT INSPIRED AN ARTIST WHO SPENT 2 YEARS TO CREATE A 100 FOOT WHITE MURAL ON THE SIDE OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN FORT MYERS.

THAT STORY IS COMING UP NEXT.

A MASSIVE MURALS ADORNING.

THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN FORT MYERS BRING SOME OF THE AREAS EARLY HISTORY TO LIFE.

THE MURAL WAS CREATED MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO.

HAS WGCUS BRYANT MONTEILH REPORTS.

THE ARTIST WANTED TO BRING TO LIGHT A PART OF HISTORY.

MANY WOULD PREFER TO KEEP HIDDEN.

BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS.

>> I WAS INTERESTED IN DOING NOT THE INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.

I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN.

WHAT WERE THE UNTOLD STORIES ARE THE STORIES OF THE AND ARE REPRESENTING AND PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE STORIES WHO ARE REPRESSED A SUPPRESSED RENOWNED PUBLIC ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHER AND PROFESSOR BARBARA JO REEVELL COMPLETED THIS EMPOWERING WORK OF ART.

>> COMPOSED OF SMALL CERAMIC TILE IN 1999, THE MURAL TITLED FORT MYERS, AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN FACE OF THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

RAVEL EXPLAINS THE PROCESS BEFORE THE ARTWORK WAS MADE AT THE TIME FOR MYERS WAS >> REGARDED AS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY RACIST, BUT A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS A SO THANKS, SEPARATION BETWEEN.

AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE LIVE DOWN, WHY PEOPLE LIVED IT WAS VERY DIVIDED.

>> BASED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN STUDY AND ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN 1997 MAIN, THE GREATER FORT MYERS AREA AS ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED IN THE SOUTH.

THE MURAL WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE REPORT TO HELP QUELL THE DIVIDE.

THE MURAL HIGHLIGHTS A SMALL CONTINGENCY OF SOLDIERS WHO DEFENDED AND SAVE THE FORT AGAINST CONFEDERATES DURING THE BATTLE OF FORT MYERS ON FEBRUARY.

20TH A TEAM 65 REVELLE SAYS THAT HER MISSION PORTIS MIRO WAS THE SHOW A PART OF FORT MYERS HISTORY THAT MANY MAY NOT HAVE SEEN OR HEARD BEFORE.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF ART AND HOW IT CAN CAPTURE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE.

ALSO, COMMISSIONER, THE SAME TIME THE STATUTE KNOWN AS CLAYTON, A CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL THAT FEATURES A LIFE-SIZE BRONZE STATUE OF A SERGEANT IN THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS.

SECOND REGIMENT, FORMER COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST DOVER KIMBALL SPEARHEADED THE MAKING OF THE MONUMENT.

THE MURAL SHOWS THE DIVERSITY OF THE CULTURE HERE.

WE BUILT THIS MONUMENT AS A SENSE OF PRIDE, PRIMARILY FROM THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT WAS KNOW SOME WILL HEAR.

THE MURAL ALSO RECOGNIZES SEMINOLE CHIEF BILLY BOWLEGS WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM HIS TRIBE AND THE STEAMBOAT THAT SHIP THEM FROM THIS AREA OF FLORIDA TO STATES LIKE ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA.

FORT MYERS WAS ONCE A BOOMING PLACE FOR CATTLE AND TO THE RAILROAD WAS A STAB US IN THE TOWN IN 19.

0, 4, AS DOCUMENTED IN THE OUR WORK.

A CONTROVERSIAL PART OF THE MURAL IS THE IMAGE THAT REPRESENTS THE STAR.

CADE WERE SLAVES WORKERS WHO BUILT THE FORT WERE PUNISHED.

>> IT WAS NOT CONTROVERSIAL THAT THEY USE THE STOCKADE.

DEFINITELY.

AND A TIME WHEN THEY BUILT A FORT AND IT WAS TO GET THE SEMINOLES OUT OF THE STATE.

SO HAVING A STACK CAIN.

WITH PEOPLE IN IT THAN SCENE.

>> AN OUTRAGEOUS IMAGE TO PUT THEIR IF YOU ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> THE UNDERBELLY ARE THE REALITIES OF THAT KIND OF A HISTORY BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY.

THE MURAL WAS AND CELEBRATED.

OUR DEDICATED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS REVELLE LOOKS ON THE YARD THAT STILL STANDS TODAY.

SHE'S PROUD OF THE WORK SHE'S DONE TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO SEE AND EXPERIENCE ITS TOWER.

>> WHEN PRESIDENTS I MEAN, I DEFINITELY AND TEARS AND LAST ONE OF US, THEN IT'S BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE.

>> THEN WHEN TURNOUT, IT'S THIS.

WELL, IT WASN'T A DEDICATION ON ON THAT.

THAT.

>> I KNOW WHAT I'D DONE.

YOU KNOW, I'LL PUT STANDS FOR A LOT.

ANOTHER LEAST 30, 40 YEARS IS SOMETHING IN PEOPLE KIND OF KEEP PRESERVING IT.

AND LOOKING AT REMEMBERING.

>> WHAT I HOPE TO WIN MAINE AND >> A WORK OF ART OFTEN SYMBOLIZES WHAT WAS AN WHO CAME BEFORE IT CAN AFFECT CHANGE, IGNITE A SENSE OF PRIDE AND HAS THE POWER TO MOVE AND UNITE US ALL FOR WGCU NEWS IM BRYANT MONTEILH >> THE CRACK OF THE BAT MEAN SPRING TRAINING IS BACK IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

COMING UP TOMORROW, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PAST PRESENT AND POSSIBLE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF PALMS PARK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS THOSE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN TOMORROW RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.