WTIU

Stepping is a dance form that can be found across the country at virtually every college with a substantial African American enrollment. Stepping is performed informally during parties as well as more formally during organized step shows. This film explores this tradition, its historical roots as well as its contemporary forms, styles and uses, to understand how students construct various levels of identity through this dance form…African American identity, fraternity or sorority identity, gendered identity and personal identity. The film goes behind the scenes with the Alpha Phi Alphas as they prepare for a step show that is only a few hours away. Cutting between this show and interviews with current and past steppers as well as footage from previous shows, the film provides a broad picture of this vibrant and dynamic dance form.

Discover the story of a legendary jazz guitarist and composer from Indiana. Wes Montgomery was born in Indianapolis on March 6, 1923, and rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time. This first full-length documentary of Wes Montgomery is told through the eyes of his youngest child, Robert Montgomery.

He earned nicknames that often equated to the most powerful forces in heaven and earth: The Cyclone. The Whirlwind. The Comet. He earned the respect of civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington. And he shook the hand of President Theodore Roosevelt, who sought out the great champion to congratulate him. Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor was the world’s first Black sports superstar. Reporters simply called him “The Fastest Man in the World.”

More than ever before, kids across the U.S. are learning about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) inside the classrooms: both public and private. What has been overlooked is Green STEM--the study of natural resource conservation that is found right outside everyone’s doorstep. Mother Nature and her landscapes are part of this story but conservation plus kids is unrealized.

A special produced by WTIU Public Television introduces viewers to ten Indiana artists from across the state and celebrates the best in Indiana craftsmanship. The featured artists' media include fiber and fabric, basket weaving, woodworking, welding, glass blowing, bronze sculpting, origami, reclaimed plastic, instrument bows, and limestone carving.

The Four Seasons of Goose Pond takes viewers on an amazing wildlife adventure through what is quickly becoming one of the most famous restored wetlands for migratory birds in America.

Discover the remarkable story of the revival of the First Baptist (Colored) Church in West Baden Springs, Indiana. Built in the early 1900s, the church was a thriving center of the African American community until its decline. The film chronicles the multi-year restoration and community effort to save one of the last historic Black landmarks in Orange County.

Recorded before a live audience in the WTIU studio, the concert features the IU Jacobs School of Music Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Associate Professor Brent Wallarab, and a performance by the celebrated jazz trio of guitarist Dave Stryker, organist Bobby Floyd, and drummer Sean Dobbins. Discover the genius of Wes Montgomery through his music and interviews with the concert performers.

Built in 1835 close to the "Indiana College" building in Bloomington, Wylie House was the home of Indiana University's first president, Andrew Wylie, and his family. Today Wylie House is owned and operated by Indiana University as an historic house-museum. The program reveals how the museum has pursued its mission to preserve and study the house, and its place in local history.

WTIU's Spirit of Brown County explores the art, history, and culture that developed out of the rugged and beautiful landscape of Brown County, Indiana! It is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful vistas and colorful autumn foliage. The site of an arts movement started by painter T.C. Steele, Brown County is now home to many artists, musicians and scholars.

Southern Indiana is home to some of nature’s most amazing treasures – over 4,000 caves, stretching for hundreds of miles beneath the surface of the Hoosier state. From show caves to state parks, Journey Indiana: Underground transports viewers to a world that few will experience in person.

During his lifetime (1849–1916), James Whitcomb Riley was one of the most popular poets in America. Now more than 100 years after his death, Riley remains one of the most famous literary figures from Indiana. James Whitcomb Riley: Hoosier Poet explores his lasting legacy and the personal and professional challenges and successes he experienced as he became a beloved literary icon.

Indiana Legends: Madam C.J. Walker - Two Dollars and a Dream is a story of the first woman in history to start with nothing and earn her own million-dollar fortune. This pioneering businesswoman is an inspiring illustration of a rags-to-riches existence.

Horsepower: Indiana’s Equine Industry reveals Indiana’s rich history with horses and horse racing. A stalwart in Indiana, Standardbred racing dates back to the mid-1800s, with events occurring at many county fairs across the state. In exploring this tradition, the program looks into the Hoosier experiences which have produced some of the most famous and celebrated horses in history.

Set in southwestern Indiana, Goose Pond: The Story Of A Wetland & Its Neighbors chronicles the struggle that resulted in the largest and one of the most successful wetland restorations of its kind in US history, the 8,000-acre Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area.

Explore the history, stories, and secrets behind one of the most iconic venues at Indiana University. Assembly Hall: Pride of Indiana reveals the compromises and behind-the scenes politics that resulted in the design of “the Carnegie Hall of college basketball.”

Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, Greene County brings together the Hoosier state’s natural beauty, small-town hospitality, and beloved traditions in a way few places can. Explore the heart of this vibrant, tightly-knit community in The Spirit of Greene County. Discover the wealth of outdoor activities available in the county at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, Greene-Sullivan State Forest, Redbird State Recreation Area, and Shakamak State Park. Take a journey through the Sculpture Trail Outdoor Museum—one of America’s largest—and meet the artists who reside there. Meet the new generation of farmers, food growers, and craft brewers that champion the region’s locally-grown produce.

Explore the rich traditions, historical significance, and meaning of Black church music in a new concert film, Amen! Music of the Black Church. Recorded before a live audience at the Second Baptist Church in Bloomington, Indiana, Dr. Raymond Wise leads the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble in a performance of African traditional music to contemporary praise and worship music.

The Beaux Arts Trio and Menahem Pressler represent a rare combination of longevity, consistency and quality. In honor of the group’s 50th anniversary in 2005, producer Susanne Schwibs interviews each member of the trio individually and as a group. Their comments are woven in with the music of their anniversary concert.

Clessie Cummins: Hoosier Inventor details the life of a Hoosier farm boy with a knack for innovation. The father of the American diesel truck engine, Cummins combined elbow grease, a keen mind, and rural pragmatism to co-found what became Cummins, Inc., a Fortune 500 international diesel and alternative fuel engines company headquartered in Columbus, Indiana.