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Tim Blankenship

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.

Light boat procession lining up at WaterFire in 2019. Photograph by Luis Andrade.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Kat Entwistle

Hi all, I’m Kat and I am the Volunteer Coordinator here at WaterFire! I started here in May 2018 as the Volunteer Management and Engagement intern as my last requirement before receiving my bachelor’s degree in Program and Event Management from the University of New Hampshire. In May 2019 I started my full-time position in the Volunteer Department creating relationships and coordinating volunteers, leading many, many ‘Woodpile Workouts’, preparing materials and communications for our downtown lightings and so much more.

RIDE Teacher of the Year awardees at the 2019 Celebration of the Education Excellence. Photograph by Erin Cuddigan.

#TeachersLeadRI – Celebrating the 2020/2021 Rhode Island Teachers & Educators of the Year!

Each year, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), award-winning educators from across Rhode Island take part in WaterFire. The annual fall event ‘Celebrating Educational Excellence in Rhode Island’ is part of our #Art4Impact Community Heroes event series.

This year we are unable to gather together at WaterFire so we are using our online channels to give all of our RI Teachers and Educators of the Year the recognition they so richly deserve.

Lighting Ceremony at the Gloria Gemma's Flames of Hope WaterFire. Photograph by Matthew Huang.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Jenn Kobza

I am the Events and Operations Associate at WaterFire. I started as a Special Events Intern three years ago and then worked my way up to a full-time position in the Operations Department. For me, no two days are ever the same but I mainly work on all the details of the logistics to help put an event together alongside my team.

Photograph by Laura Paton

2020 WaterFire Salute to Veterans Video Program Premieres on November 14, 2020

TUNE IN: FACEBOOK LIVE | YOUTUBE The 2020 WaterFire Salute to Veterans Online Video Premiere Screening is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. on WaterFire Providence’s Facebook Live and Youtube channels. The program will also be broadcast on Rhode Island PBS. Presented in partnership with the State… Read More »2020 WaterFire Salute to Veterans Video Program Premieres on November 14, 2020

Braziers and rose petals at WaterFire. Photograph by Armin Kososki.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Ed Cabral

Hi there, my name is Ed Cabral and I’m the manager of sponsorships and corporate relations at WaterFire Providence. I’ve been with WaterFire for just under two years.

One of the things that people don’t know about WaterFire is that we’re a small organization with a small team that works behind the scenes. And the reason why people don’t understand that or know that is because we put such an amazing elaborate large production on downtown Providence with our WaterFire lightings.

WaterFire fire tenders. Photograph by Tom Backman.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Jean Giorgio

Hi, my name is Jean Giorgio and I am a retail associate at the store at the WaterFire Arts Center. My WaterFire story started in 2010 when my husband and I moved to Providence from New York. We were wandering around one evening exploring and we stumbled upon a WaterFire in progress. We were immediately fascinated and I thought this would be a great thing to get involved with to meet people.

Dream Orbs in the Waterplace Park Basin at WaterFire. Photograph by Armin Kososki.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Kim Zoppo

Hi:) My name is Kim Zoppo and I have been working at WaterFire since May of 2019. I currently work on the Development Team and manage the WaterFire Arts Center. I transitioned into this role when COVID hit, and when our beloved WaterFires downtown were not going to be possible. We had to pivot our responsibilities and focus our energy on our Art Center and try to keep our organization going. I’m very proud to be working at WaterFire and I’m very excited to be part of this team and take on this new venture!! Prior to this role, I was the Volunteer Coordinator.

The Starry, Starry Night installation at WaterFire. Photograph by John Nickerson.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Jerry Suggs

I am Jerry Suggs and I am the Manager of Education Programming and Partnerships here at WaterFire. That includes working to create programs and partnerships between WaterFire and colleges, high schools and community programs. It also includes managing our internship program that has had as many as 26 interns working with WaterFire to produce our lightings and other events.

Fire Flowers and a Time Machine background photo. Depicts prayer candles and plastic flowers.

Fire Flowers and a Time Machine – Flores de Fuego y una Máquina del Tiempo

Presented October 1-17 outdoors at the WaterFire Arts Center and the nearby American Locomotive Works campus, ‘Fire Flowers’ is a bilingual performance event directed by Shey Rivera Ríos and featuring work from fifteen performance artists on topics from immigration, ancestral inheritance, and our current moment.

Aerial view of the Waterplace Park basin during a Clear Currents WaterFire lighting. Photograph by John Nickerson.

WaterFire Staff Stories: Peter Mello

I have been working at WaterFire for nearly a decade and what really excites me is how we create and present #Art4Impact that is accessible and approachable for people who might not otherwise experience it because they might not feel comfortable in a traditional arts venue like a museum, gallery or concert hall or might not be able to afford a ticket to the opera, ballet or philharmonic.