Sunday, September 6, 2009

Rick's Roadshow: Providence Waterfires

Welcome back to another scintillating edition of Rick's Roadshow: Providence Waterfires. If you have never heard of, or been to the Providence Waterfires, it is an amazing sight to see. The Providence Waterfires are truly an artform- a type of sculpture created by world reknowned artist Barnaby Evans. It features over 100 wood-burning bonfires situated along three rivers in downtown Providence.
The bonfires have a fragrant scent and flicker firelight on the surface of the waters that illuminate the arched bridges. Gondolas and torch-lit vessels travel gently down the river, set against enchanting music that appeals to and engages all the senses of passersby. It evokes wonderful emotions from those who stroll the cobblestone paths of Waterplace Park. Run from private funds and donations, the Waterfires are truly magnificent and distriguish Providence as a jewel of the Northeast United States. (The first two photos are from the Waterfires website, but I took the ones below. I hope you enjoy these photos:
above: the volunteers pass the fire from torch to torch along the Providence River, starting after dusk. Note: Blogger is giving me a hard time formatting the photos and text, so the next few photos won't have any explanation, I'm sorry. I hate this new udate to the blogger software...Grrrrr!
above: looking west, toward the Providence Plance Mall in the distance. You can see the basin of the water place, with the waterfires glowing in the early hour of dusk.
above: three "original" buildings of the Providence financial building skyline.
above: looking due west, along the Providence River. As we stopped here, there was an opera singer giving an improptu performance to the music along the rivers. It was so moving, and gave credence to the fact that Providence is a modern renaissance city.

above: A view East, toward the Citizens Bank building.
above: the waterfires have individual braziers, filled with chopped wood, and are light by special teams on gondolas, coordinated to music that is piped along Water Place Park. Thanks for stopping by Rick's Roadshow: Providence Waterfires.
-Rick Rockhill

9 comments:

kenju said...

When you mentioned it yesterday, I had no idea what you meant - but now that I see it - I am fascinated. I've never been to Providence, but it seems a must see now. I love cities with rivers running through them!

Anonymous said...

how beautiful, it reminds me of a european city, so charming!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Very cool. I've been through Providence many times, but always on the way to some other Northeastern city. Next time I'm up that way, I'll check their schedule.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i had no idea! that is amazing, i have never been there, it looks wonderful. thanks for all the prayers from the desert too my friend!

smiles, bee
xxoxoxoxoxooxxo

grace said...

Those pictures are brilliant!

A Lewis said...

Providence! We stayed overnight there for the first time ever in July on our way to Provincetown. Had drinks at The Eagle..... I loved the downtown area.

KathyA said...

I'd never heard of this! What a wonderful sight to see!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

AMAZING, Rick! I've never heard about this nor ever seen it! It is as if you are in a Foreign City...Like Prague, or somewhere....Really BEAUTIFUL!

Have you changed the size of your font? It seems much much smaller than I remember...Unless my eyes have really taken a turn for the worse....OY! (lol)

Cathy, Let's Dance! said...

thanks for sharing, this is lovely.
Good to see you visiting home!

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