The fires will be lit shortly after sunset (6:34pm) and remain lit until MIDNIGHT.
Tonight’s sponsors are: Roger Williams University & Roger Williams University School of Law Celebrating 20 Years
Roger Williams University and the Roger Williams University School of Law have teamed up with WaterFire to celebrate! Roger Williams University and the School of Law are continuously working to maintain the vitality of the Ocean State and its communities. Through nationally recognized volunteer efforts, the Community Partnerships Center, the School of Continuing Studies and more, Roger Williams University and the School of Law work every day to help create sustainable, real-world solutions to the challenges facing our communities. Join these two amazing institutions as they help light WaterFire with a special 100-torch Ring of Fire ceremony at lighting.
Roger Williams University School of Law celebrates 20 years! Join us in helping RWU School of Law celebrate 20 years as a unique source of independent legal expertise. As the only law school in Rhode Island, RWU Law focuses on providing future leaders with practical, real world experience while elevating debate and dialogue across the state’s legal community.
The popular Clear Currents Arts Event will enliven the river with illuminated koi fish 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Roger Williams University’s Marine Biology program is activating WaterFire’s hallmark, clean water initiatives: Clear Currents. Celebrating its 40th year, the RWU Marine Biology program takes an active role in the health and sustainability of one Rhode Island’s greatest resources – its waterways. On September 28th, RWU students, professors and community members will take to the water with glowing koi mounted to their canoes and kayaks. These illuminated fish will swim throughout the installation in schools as a reminder from WaterFire and Roger Williams University of the importance of Rhode Island’s waterways and marine habitats. The Marine Biology program will also be featured on Steeple Street with a display including their popular marine touch tank.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZCAdglU7O8[/youtube]
Dance Recital 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Join the Roger Williams University Dance Theatre as they perform on the Waterplace Basin Stage before lighting in a free dance program featuring a piece titled This Way Through, choreographed by RWU alumna Angie Conte and performed by Dance Theatre students; Mandorla, choreographed by alumna Jenny Rocha and performed by Dance Theatre students with a solo by 2011 graduate Leanne Smith; and a Prelude and an Interlude choreographed and performed by RWU alumna Christina Robson with music played and composed by Michael DeQuattro, the University’s resident accompanist and composer.
Exhibition 6:00 PM- 10:00 PM: Learn all about the award-winning programs at Roger Williams University in a Showcase on Steeple Street! Join RWU throughout the evening to learn about many of the amazing programs at the school through family-friendly fun displays and interactive exhibits. Activities include a Marine Biology program touch tank and robotics demonstrations by the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management. You can also pose with the RWU mascot, Swoop the big blue hawk, courtesy of Student Programs & Leadership. Other great programs will be shared by the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation; the University Library; RWU Law; the School of Continuing Studies; the Community Partnerships Center; the Latino Policy Institute and HousingWorksRI; RWU Athletics and the Roger Williams University/Samsung partnership, highlighting the latest in cloud-based creative computing.
Live Music World Premier 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM Community Music Works will be providing live music performances in accompaniment to WaterFire along the river. Starting at 8:30 PM WaterFire will feature Community Music Works with a 16-member string ensemble playing Arvo Part’s Fratres and his Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten (on the occasion of the centennial of Britten’s birth). This will be followed by the world premier of the 3rd movement of an original work composed by Kareem Roustom called A Voice Exclaiming. The world premier of the entire piece will be performed by Kronos Quartet and Community Music Works on November 8 at the RISD Auditorium presented by FirstWorks and Community Music Works.
Roger Williams University Musicians Featured Live 9:30 – 10:30 PM The Grey Beards, a Baroque trio, comprised of Roger Williams University professors Mike Shand, Will Ayton and Glenn Guittari, will perform the music of Handel and Bach on baroque flute, harpsichord and viola da gamba. The live concert will be featured all along the river. A full listing of all the music throughout the night is always available online, in a mobile version, or you can get the titles live in real time on the WaterFire Music Twitter feed @WaterFireMusic.
Other Special Events:
- WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza: From 6:00 PM -11:00 PM Washington Street will be lined with more than a dozen Rhode Island artists exhibiting works in handmade jewelry, sculptures, glass, paintings, prints, photography, and ceramics.
- Experience Rhode Island solves your parking and traffic problems: Forego the hassle of parking downtown on busy Saturday nights. Experience RI have introduced a “hop on, hop off” shuttle that travels throughout Providence from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM every Saturday night.
- Recycle-A-Bike now offers bicyclist a safe and free place for their bikes: Help reduce traffic in Providence, enjoy a great ride to WaterFire and valet your bike for free!
Be sure to check out our event schedule page for details on all of these events and more.
[sc name=photo-caption caption=”Ring of Fire in Waterplace Basin photo by Jeffrey Stolzberg, Clear Currents photo by Erin X. Smithers, Arts Festival Plaza photo by John Simonetti.”]
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.
