WaterFire is a fire sculpture installation created by Barnaby Evans in 1994 that is presented for free on many Saturdays in the series of waterfront parks in Providence along the Woonasquatucket, Moshassuck and Providence rivers. The parks were a major effort of the city to recapture its water-based heritage and they created a new system of pedestrian paths, urban green spaces and river views in an area where the rivers were once entirely covered over and the paved surface area was devoted to the automobile or train sideyards. Evans created WaterFire as a work of art that might convince citizens to reimagine the power of a river in the midst of the city and to reclaim the new riverfront as a ceremonial civic site. While the parks were award-winning works of architecture and planning, they preceded the necessary infrastructure that would make them successful urban spaces. Without restaurants or nearby buildings, too often the parks were empty. At night the parks were deserted and thus appeared dangerous.
Evans designed WaterFire to entice citizens to leave their cars, to walk along the rivers at night filling the parks with many thousands of people. WaterFire plays off the symbolism of fire as a source of rebirth and triumph and water as a symbol of renewal and hope and creates an urban celebration that welcomes the entire community. WaterFire is a powerful, unique and exceptionally moving experience composed of 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers as they pass through downtown Providence. The string of fires, accompanied by an eclectic collection of music from all over the world, illuminates nearly two-thirds of a mile of waterfront and urban public spaces and parks, reflecting light off the granite walls and historic brick architecture. WaterFire celebrates both Water and Fire, two elements that evoke the living, moving ephemeral quality of dynamic motion that is at the heart of our ancient fascination with water. This symbolic association with life and renewal and with the magic of water and fire being mutually self-destructive makes the artwork a powerful metaphor for renewal and revitalization and engages visitors in a broader celebration of the river and the city and the intersection between the two. With a flourishing maritime trade from the mid-1760s, Providence is a city marked by its relationship to the surrounding waters. Therefore, in addition to celebrating the elements of nature, essential human interaction and the joy of art, sight and sound, WaterFire comes to life on the rivers of downtown Providence to acknowledge the city and state's proud history.
Since its introduction over ten years ago, WaterFire has been a crucial element in the transformation of Providence's urban landscape. WaterFire has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm; local, national and international praise; letters of gratitude and personal accounts and memories of WaterFire; and a visitor turnout of over 1.4 million people over the course of a single season. WaterFire is regarded as a fundamental contributor in the revival of downtown Providence and has been called "the crown jewel of the Providence Renaissance." WaterFire is simultaneously an art installation, a performance work, an urban festival, a civic ritual and a spiritual communal ceremony. Its symbolism and interpretation is inclusive and expansive and reflects the recognition that individuals must act together to strengthen, preserve and enrich their community. As an entirely free event, WaterFire is accessible and welcoming to those who may feel uncomfortable in a more formal "art" setting. WaterFire also has a tremendous economic impact. The 2004 WaterFire season's direct economic impact was over $33 million. WaterFire's impact on the city's economy and businesses, the streetscape, public behavior, and the image of Rhode Island's capital city is undeniable. WaterFire bums reclai~ed and recycled wood that is already being burned and created the first recycling program in the Providence parks system while staff and volunteers clean up the rivers to remove litter, debris, branches and garbage.
WaterFire is an extraordinary and unparalleled art installation as well as a critical component of the renewal of the city's waterfront, urban public spaces and community. With the completion of the Providence's river relocation project in 1994, the city gained a stunning length of waterfront running through the heart of downtown Providence. WaterFire transformed that waterfront into a source of spiritual strength for the entire community and made downtown Providence's public spaces and newly created waterfront a celebrated site that became symbolic of the renewal of the entire city. WaterFire has brought millions of visitors to Providence to walk downtown and along the water, leave their cars to fully and directly experience the waterfront and public spaces, the sights and sounds of the artwork, and each other in a transformed and vital urban landscape seen in motion. The phenomenal interaction of people, art, music, and physical space, creates an event that effectively is a tremendous source of community pride and celebration.
WaterFire is a large-scale public art installation using the water and fire first created by Barnaby Evans in 1994, and presented as a public event that celebrates the heritage of water in communities. WaterFire was originally conceived as a temporary installation but in 1997 became an on-going series of events in downtown Providence riverfront. The events encourage people to reimagine the power of a river in the midst of their city, and invites them to think of their riverfront as a ceremonial and civic site.
WaterFire plays off the symbolism of fire as a source of rebirth and triumph, and of water as a symbol of renewal and hope. When these two natural elements are brought together, they result in an urban event that is powerful and exceptionally moving. Bonfires blaze just above the surface of a waterway as it passes through downtown. The string of fires accompanied by music illuminates miles of waterfront making the spectacle accessible to everyone and as one juror noted "what it's done for Providence, Rhode Island, is marvelous."