Art

To the Moon and Beyond: Celebrating the 50th-Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing with Art, Science, and Exploration

by Tim Blankenship
June 18, 2019February 5, 2020
4 min read

Providence and WaterFire celebrated the 50th-Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission and man’s first steps on the Moon which was co-sponsored by the NASA RI Space Consortium with support from Brown University. The celebration included a series of exhibitions, lectures and other activities throughout July 2019 and there was a… Read More »To the Moon and Beyond: Celebrating the 50th-Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing with Art, Science, and Exploration

The Rosa Parks House Project at the WaterFire Arts Center

by Tim Blankenship
August 14, 2018September 8, 2020
4 min read

Ryan Mendoza’s The Rosa Parks House Project is an art installation that honors Rosa Parks and the struggles she faced due to her courageous leadership in the civil rights movement. The house speaks to issues of the centrality of family connection in the African American experience, of the Great Migration, of segregation, of redlining of faulty mortgages and… Read More »The Rosa Parks House Project at the WaterFire Arts Center

Using light of WaterFire to symbolize wisdom, justice

by Barnaby Evans
September 27, 2017
4 min read

On Sept. 3, in response to the tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia, WaterFire invited the community to assemble at the Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of equality, tolerance and justice. Let us remember that Roger Williams founded Providence in 1636 explicitly as a “shelter… Read More »Using light of WaterFire to symbolize wisdom, justice

The Ribbon Burning at the WaterFire Arts Center was huge a success!

by Tim Blankenship
June 23, 2017September 13, 2021
3 min read

Thank you to all who attended the official grand opening and Ribbon Burning ceremony at the WaterFire Arts Center. We were honored to kick things off with a wonderful rendition of Summertime by the inimitable Rose Weaver. A big thank as well to all of the community leaders that joined us to… Read More »The Ribbon Burning at the WaterFire Arts Center was huge a success!

The Ribbon Burning at the WaterFire Arts Center was a huge success!

by Tim Blankenship
June 23, 2017
3 min read

Braziers burning, photograph by Jen Bonin.

Q&A with The Green Beast of Rhode Island

by C.J. Opperthauser
April 17, 2017
4 min read

During the summer, Green Beast can be spotted at various WaterFire Lightings interacting with humans and prowling the riverfront. You’d recognize him instantly: tall fellow, white mask, covered in moss and swamp and greenery. Since it’s his down-time, I was able to get in touch with the mysterious and elusive… Read More »Q&A with The Green Beast of Rhode Island

Introducing the new NetWorks Rhode Island Website

by Tim Blankenship
October 1, 2016July 27, 2018
2 min read

WaterFire is pleased to be partnered with Dr. Joseph Chazan in continuing his original project with Bert Crenca of AS220, in creating a new, permanent online resource for NetWorks Rhode Island. For the first time, the 113 NetWorks Rhode Island video portraits, most directed by Richard Goulis, are aggregated and presented… Read More »Introducing the new NetWorks Rhode Island Website

Celebrating 20 Years of Creative Placemaking in Providence

by Danielle Mongeau
July 1, 2015
6 min read

WaterFire Providence was created by Barnaby Evans in 1994 with his “First Fire.” This first fire became a hit and in years since, WaterFire Providence has expanded to include over 80 Braziers that are lit throughout their events every season. The Providence Journal spoke of Waterfire Providence in 1997 describing… Read More »Celebrating 20 Years of Creative Placemaking in Providence

Fire spinner on the Waterplace Basin piers. Photo by Jeffrey Stolzberg.

June 13th, 2015 – Full Lighting

by Tim Blankenship
May 18, 2015February 13, 2019
8 min read

The event is being sponsored by: National Grid National Grid delivers the energy to the places where Rhode Islanders live, work and play. This year, we are once again proud to be a sponsor of WaterFire Providence to help shine a light on the rich cultural heritage of our community.… Read More »June 13th, 2015 – Full Lighting

Megan and Murray McMillan’s “The Coal Bin Project”

by Peter Mello
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013
2 min read

Please join us for a special evening with WaterFire Providence’s first Artists in Residence, Megan and Murray McMillan, for a Processional and Launch Performance of “The Coal Bin Project.” In November 2012, WaterFire Providence purchased a historic, industrial property at 475 Valley Street which we are transforming into the organization’s headquarters,… Read More »Megan and Murray McMillan’s “The Coal Bin Project”