C is for Cure: A WaterFire Lighting for RI Defeats Hep C Supported by: Gilead
At Gilead, we are inspired by the opportunity to address unmet medical needs for people living with life-threatening diseases. We are proud to sponsor WaterFire Providence’s 20th anniversary and light a fire in recognition of the more than 3 million Americans living with hepatitis C.
July 26th, 2014 Event Schedule:
Sunset time: 8:11pm
All Full Lighting WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the event continues until just past midnight. Please check this page frequently for updated information. Updated 7/25/14.
Special thanks to Providence Roller Derby for joining us as Special Operation Volunteers at this lighting.
The soundtrack listing for this event is now available.
11:00am – Benefit Street: A Mile of History walking tour with the Rhode Island Historical Society
Created in the mid-18th century “for the benefit of all,” this colonial thoroughfare shows off an enviable collection of 18th and 19th century wood-frame houses. Although the street gives the appearance of being a museum mile, it is actually a vital urban neighborhood enhanced by on-going preservation efforts since the 1950s.
Begin: John Brown House Museum, 52 Power Street
Adults: $15, Seniors: $12, RIHS Members & Students: $10, Children 8 and under: Free
For more information or to make reservations, please contact Barbara Barnes at 401-273-7507 x362 or [email protected].
5:30pm – 11:30pm The WaterFire Store on Canal Street
WaterFire Providence lapel pins, photo by Jennifer Bonin. The WaterFire Store on Canal Street is open for business. Stop in and buy a t-shirt, hoodie, poster, magnet, pendants and much more to help support WaterFire and keep the fires burning. Also make sure to check out the Photos of WaterFire tent on Washington Street. This tent will have matted photo prints, featuring the work of our Volunteer Photographers; WaterFire Providence postcards; large format photo posters; and silk screen prints by local artists.
6:00pm – 10:30pm The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza on Washington Street
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza, photo by John A. Simonetti.
Located on Washington Street in the heart of the WaterFire installation, the Arts Festival Plaza is a showcase for local artists and crafts-people. From photography and sculpture, paintings and hand-crafted ceramics, to jewelry and specialty textiles, the WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza features a wide range of locally crafted artisan wares to exhibit for sale to WaterFire’s visitors.
On Julu 26th the WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza will feature the works of: SepiaLepus Illustrations, Lotus Life Designs, Wrist Candy Creations, Just Be Designs by: 52 weeks of gratitude, Liquor Wicks, Dak Photography, M Pearl LLC, Debs Designs, K&T Jewelery and Accessories, Fraggles and Friggles, Recycled Silverwear, Anne Made Designs, Periodically Inspired, Strawberry Lane Designs, Back Roads Clothing, William Riker Art Glass, and Bryce Studios.
Grab a Bite To Eat
You can find food vendors on Washington Street adjacent to the Arts Festival Plaza including: Cilantro Mexican Grill, Dudley’s, Expo Productions, Kettle Corn Express, Rhode Illin’ Ice Cream, Umelt. As well as on College Street near Memorial Park including: Blue Grotto Restaurant, Parkside Rotisserie & Bar, Ron’s Pastry Gourmet, and Taste of India. Also check out the Nutty Bavarian, Frenchy’s Popcorn, and Del’s Lemonade push carts located along the river walk.
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Artist Boris Bally is donating one of his iconic large bowls hand made from street signs to be given by lottery to someone who chooses to get screened for hep C that night. Artist Mike Bryce is donating a 48” WaterFire painting to be given by lottery to a second person who chooses to get screened for hep C that night. Both Boris Bally’s bowl and a similar painting by Mike Bryce will be on display at the first art tent on Washington Street by the crosswalk at the entrance to WaterFire’s Art Festival Plaza.
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6:30pm – 10:30pm Hep C Resource Fair and Screenings on College Street
Beginning at 6:00 PM and running throughout the night until 11:30 PM, there will be a Hep C Information and Resource Fair on the College Street Bridge. The resource fair will provide hepatitis C information and free hepatitis C screenings for adults. There will also be information tents for the Rhode Island Blood Center, the Rhode Island Organ Donor Awareness Coalition and the Brown Medical School.
Free screening for hep C is available for everyone 18 and older at the College Street Bridge Information Tent.
8:07pm – 9:00pm – The C Project by Festival Ballet Providence on the Waterplace Basin Stage
The C Project is a collaboration between Festival Ballet Providence, RI Defeats Hepatitis C and WaterFire Providence, the program aims to bring awareness to the Hepatitis C virus, which affects 1 in 30 baby-boomers, many of whom don’t even know they are infected.
Festival Ballet will be performing five pieces choreographed by Shura Baryshnikov and Andrea Dawn Shelley. Shura Baryshnikov is a Rhode Island-based educator, improviser, dancer, and movement designer. Shura has choreographed @ Last. Andrea Dawn Shelley received her classical ballet training from Magda G. Auñon and holds a BA in Dance Education from Florida International University. Andrea has choreographed a contemporary piece. Guests can expect to see both contemporary and modern pieces.
Gendo Taiko of Brown University and RISD is performing five Taiko drumming pieces as part of the opening ceremony. Taiko is a traditional Japanese form of drum performance that has early origins in the driving away of evil spirits. This evening’s performances are given in the spirit of healing.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Photos by Erin Cuddigan & Thomas Payne.”]
Sunset – 10:30pm Fire Dancers Performing Along the River
WaterFire Providence is pleased to welcome back long-time performer and friend Spogga. Spogga will be joined by Aeyo and the pair will be performing on the river starting with the lighting of the braziers on the wall in Memorial Park. They will be performing several times in various locations throughout the evening.
Bike Taxi Tours at WaterFire Providence from Eco Pedicab on Washington Street
Eco Pedicab provides safe, fast, and fun pedicab rides. Their Pedicabs are 100% human powered, for the most environmentally friendly option of public transportation.
They will have a pedicab pickup station on the Washington street bridge and canal walk, though never hesitate to just yell “Pedicab!!” if you see us on the streets
How it works:
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Option #1
Open fair rides and short tours during WaterFire. That means you pay what you think it’s worth nothing more. If you need a point of reference people usually pay $25-$150 for any given ride. They would rather have you in the pedicab than the cab be empty so hop in and pay what you think it’s worth. During WaterFire a surcharge will be added if you’re going to Federal Hill after sunset since it will take us so much of our time going there and back in traffic.
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Option #2:
Eco Pedicab’s signature Taste of Providence Tour takes 3 hours (call for start times). Enjoy exquisite cuisine and take an adventure for your taste buds. They make up to 3 stops and appetizers or dessert are offered at each. Pets are always welcome!
$40 per person call 401-400-2380
Option #3
Historical tours: Find exquisite cuisine, historical monuments, and learn more about the historic city from those who live and play there.
$65 per hour call for start times 401-400-2380
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[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Waterplace Basin photo by John Nickerson”]
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.
