July 22, 2006
WaterFire
better photos of the spectacle
For the last twelve years, several times a month between May and September the center of Providence, Rhode Island is transformed into a sacred space. WaterFire , created by artist Barnaby Evans, is a series of 100 lighted braziers floating in the converging rivers of downtown Providence. Until I was immersed in the experience last weekend, I really didn't understand why it was interesting at all. It is transformative public art, and it is wonderful.
The atmosphere is medieval and romantic. Fires blaze on the water, the primordial scent of burning wood, and the sounds of mystical music permeate the air. The center of the city, though teeming with people of all ages, nationalities and classes, is sublimely quiet. WaterFire is free, accessible to anyone, at any level. Every part of it is intentional. It is a citywide sacred ritual.
The number of floating braziers has grown from eleven in 1994 to a hundred today. It takes a monumental cooperative effort to transform the municipal space. The preparations for the fete are assembled, disassembled and reassembled each time. I suspect that the intentionalityof the preparation contributes greatly to the power of the ultimate experience. Each event requires the active participation of municipal employees, permanent FireWater staff and as many as 250 volunteers.
This summer each of the seventeen presentations of Firewater are corporately sponsored. Sponsors are treated royally, given gondola rides on the water and special tents in which to their entertain guests. What an ingenious way to remind those caught up in corporate culture of the sacred. Perhaps there is even some healing taking place.
The ongoing expansion and elaboration of FireWater, it's universal appeal, in spite of the many resources it absorbs, speaks to an unmet need for authentic sacred experience outside of stifling institutions.
Photo note: The prettiest picture I took that evening - a sound stage close to the water. As usual, I took many blurry shots with my poor little handheld camera.
Addendum: more transformational art
Posted by Dakota at July 22, 2006 08:14 AM