Summer of Science Series || TechFire
August 17, 2019 – Full Lighting
The #TechFire Job Fair opens at 6:00 pm. The fires will remain lit until midnight.
Music Program
Sponsored in part by Virgin Pulse, Tufts Health Plan, and Bryant University.
All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on the below scheduled evenings. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the event continues until half past midnight.
TechFire High Tech Job Fair and Technology Showcase
Starting at 6:00 pm on Steeple Street
HIGH TECH JOB SEEKERS WANTED
CONNECT WITH COMPANIES WHO ARE DRIVING THE FUTURE
TechFire High Tech Job Fair and Technology Showcase will feature our partners from Virgin Pulse, Bryant University, e-Money, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), Eagle Picher Technologies, Software Quality Associates (SQA), Dassault Systèmes, Bridge Technical Talent, HCH Enterprises, Ximedica, Rhode Island College, Back Pocket Resources, and nonprofit partners Tech Collective, Providence Public Library, Institute of Entrepreneurship & Leadership (IEL), Apprenticeship RI, Year Up RI, and Skills for Rhode Island’s Future.
“Virgin Pulse is proud to once again be the lead sponsor of #TechFire at WaterFire, a celebration of Rhode Island’s burgeoning technology community and the significant impact it has on the economic growth and vibrancy of our state. This 2nd annual event will include prominent guest speakers from across the technology industry, a job fair featuring both established tech companies and startups that are actively hiring in Rhode Island, and a chance to network with executives, entrepreneurs, community leaders, local university officials, and other influencers who are driving the future of our state’s technology ecosystem.”
– Rajiv Kumar, M.D.Chief Medical Officer & President, Virgin Pulse Institute.
The #TechFire VIP reception will be a world-class networking opportunity where industry and higher-education thought leaders will meet to discuss the future of Rhode Island’s high tech ecosystem. Featured speakers will include:
- Dr. Rajiv Kumar, President, Virgin Pulse
- Barnaby Evans, Executive Artistic Director, WaterFire Providence
- Mayor Jorge Elorza, City of Providence
- Lara Salamano, Design and Innovation Center Lead, Infosys
- Ben Armstrong, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brown University
- Joe Devine, Executive Director, Tech Collective
- Hope Hopkins, Program Director, MassChallenge Rhode Island
- Arnell Millhouse, Co-Founder & CEO, CareerDevs
- Rebecca Webber, General Manager, CIC Providence
- Kevin Wiant, Executive Director, Venture Café
We’d like to thank Revival Brewing Company, Foolproof Brewing Company, Whalers Brewing Company, Willie’s Superbrew, and Trattoria Zooma for their generous donations of tasty food and beverages for the VIP reception at #TechFire.
Before the lighting – Grupo Ondas Capoeira on the Waterplace Park Basin Stage from 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Grupo Ondas (Pangaea Arts Center) will culminate a week of cultural events by hosting a spectacular graduation at the Waterplace Basin Stage before the WaterFire lighting on Saturday, August 17th from 5:00 to 7:30 pm with a roda performance by the instructors and students of this stunning martial arts. The Grupo Ondas Capoeira team out of Warwick RI is led by Mestre Tigri of Providence who is the first capoeira Mestre of Cape Verdean descent.
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines self-defense, dance, acrobatics, and music into a “game” that is as breath-taking to watch as it is to play. A graduation ceremony is a traditional capoeira event in which new students are inducted into the world of capoeira, while senior students and instructors have the opportunity to demonstrate their immense skills. Such events draw capoeiristas of all ages from across the nation and abroad – this year, with capoeiristas coming from as far as California.
This presentation is particularly special as the group will be dedicating “the game of Iuna”, a ceremonial performance, in memory of Sifu Keith Allan, who passed recently, leaving years of contributions to his community through the martial arts. A GoFundMe account in the name of Keith Allan Memorial Fund has been established by his children.
Sidewalk Astronomy on the River Walk
Sidewalk Astronomy will offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the stars and planets in the sky. Stop by their learning lab on the riverwalk near College Street.
WaterFire Walking Tour – Before the Fires are Lit!
Take a walking tour with our knowledgeable interns and volunteers to get an inside look into the history, theory of design and management of WaterFire. Tours begin at 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 pm; book now for August 17. For a donation of $15 registrants will walk the length of the canal with a tour guide and land at the basin just in time for lighting.
Exhibitions at the RISD Illustration Studies Building Gallery
The exhibition at ISB is free!
The Creative Marriage of Words and Images
The ISB Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of work by alumni SooJin Buzelli 96 IL and Chris Buzelli 95 IL, including finished paintings and published pieces, along with sketches and preliminary designs that reveal the collaborative process behind the Buzellis’ extraordinary creative output. SooJin is a world-renowned art director who commissions hundreds of illustrations each year, and Chris is an award-winning illustrator known for his distinctive work.
The gallery is open every WaterFire night from 12:00 to 10:00 pm.
Dates: August 17 through October 18
Hours: Tuesday through Friday 12:00 – 5:00 pm.
Address: 55 Canal Walk, Providence, RI 02903
WaterFire Signature Performers & Attractions will include:
- At the World War I monument in Memorial Park, Ten31 Productions will return with their interactive living statues and gargoyles in Memorial Park shortly after lighting.
- On Washington Street, the living statue Lily the Lady White from A Silent Soapbox will be interacting with the crowd.
- Origami Master Andrew Anselmo will delight the crowd in Market Square (near the RISD auditorium).
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza, in partnership with Bryce Studio, is happening again on Washington Street from 6:00 – 11:30 pm., this outdoor artisan fair will showcase some of the great artwork created in Rhode Island in mediums such as glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more. The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza will offer visitors the opportunity to support the local arts economy by purchasing work by Rhode Island-based artists.
Visit the WaterFire Marketplace on Canal Street and help light up Providence. Support WaterFire with a donation or a purchase of locally designed apparel, glassware, books, and gifts. Pin where you are from on Map Center’s maps and watch glass blowing by Gather Glass.
Grab a bite to eat! Visit one of our great food vendors:
Washington Street
- Hummingbird Syndicate
- Kettle Korn Express
- Saugy’s Hot Dogs
- Sweet Smokin’ Pits
- Umelt
- Hometown Poké
- Mad Good Cookie
- Red’s Street Kitchen
On the River Walk between College and Washington Streets
Waterplace Park Basin & Memorial Park
Visit Starry, Starry Night
The Starry, Starry Night Installation will shine brightly in Memorial Park. Join thousands of WaterFire visitors in Memorial Park where the public is encouraged to add their own light to the night. For a small donation to WaterFire, make a wish upon a star or make a dedication with a luminaria candle lantern in the park. The park will be aglow with hanging blue stars and a constellation of twinkling luminaria candle lanterns below.
Step back through history at the Governor Stephen Hopkins House
Make time to see The Governor Stephen Hopkins House located at 15 Hopkins Street (off Benefit Street). They are open for tours: Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m. and April through November on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & until 10:00 p.m., when they fall on a full WaterFire lighting (the last tour begins at 9:30 p.m.).
Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
The museum is also open by appointment, for which there may be a modest admission charge. Please email [email protected] to make an appointment.
About the author
I've worked at WaterFire Providence since 2003. For the first 9 years of my career, I worked in the Production Shop learning all of the details that go into the physical production of the event. In 2012 transitioned to the role of managing WaterFire's social media and web presence. I now head up WaterFire Providence's digital projects including, web, social, databases, and our physical IT infrastructure.
Hello,
is there an online resourse that has the gallery of pictures from the last Waterfire on 08/03/19? I was a guest lighter and was looking to show my coworkers a pic or 2 but cant find them.
Joe
Hi Joe, the photos will be posted on our Flickr page soon. We should have them up by the end of the week. Thanks for supporting WaterFire Providence.
Hi! I’m looking for the pictures taken at the brazier society booth on Aug 17 2019, do you know where I can find them?
Hi Mila, they haven’t been posted yet. Please stay tuned for updates. Thanks!
Hello-
I’m looking for pictures from the TechFire specifically from the Job Fair. Any idea when those might be available?