'Tis the Season...for WaterFire

[liz_marcs]

I have mentioned how much I adore WaterFire Providence and the fact I miss living in Rhode Island, right?

'Tis the season, the season to be reminded, thanks to this picture right here of of the river torches in front of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence.



Photo by Barnaby Evans on the WaterFire Providence Web site

For several nights a year, WaterFire provides a place in both the mind and in the city for the people of Providence to renew both their connection to the city they love and their connections to each other. Here everyone experiences something slightly different, of course, which is one of the great unscripted beauties of public art. Some come away remembering primarily the smell of wood-smoke, while others will recall the magical spectacle of fires reflecting on both water and the windows of high-rise office buildings nearby. For some, the kinesthetic aura of music wafting with smoke and light makes them see WaterFire even with their eyes closed. For others, it is the carnivalesque atmosphere itself that comes to mind afterwards. For me, one of the most amazing effects of WaterFire is its after-image in the mind’s eye the next day, the way its sights and sound reverberate within us and upon the rivers even as its last ember drops steaming into the water. — James E. Young, author of At Memory’s Edge

If anyone is interested in the WaterFire Providence Schedule for the 2007 Season, visit the WaterFire Providence Web site.

Comments

[firefly-124.livejournal.com]

I love WaterFire. Haven't been to it in years, though. That's a lovely pic, and it makes me want to go this year.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

I haven't been in a long time myself. I do love it though. Driving through it when I lived in the area, no, not so much. But attending is always such a zen thing to do.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I have to get to that this year. The last time I went was right after 9/11, and it's been far too long. It's really not that far, even from here. Thanks for the reminder!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

When I lived in Rhode Island, it was just starting up, so it's pretty amazing to me to see how much it's grown in recent years. From what I understand, they just started something similar in Ohio somewhere (don't know if they have the gondolas tho...)

Yeeeaaaah, I haven't been in ages and ages. I definitely need to put in a road trip.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's lovely! I'm applying to grad school in RI, so maybe I'll get to see it some day.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

I loved living in Rhode Island when I was there.

Providence is a lovely city to hang out in. It's one of those places that are hip enough that no one cares about being hip. If that makes any sense.

Plus, the whole state is small enough that nothing is too far away, even Block Island (which you have to take a ferry to get to) is easily reached within an hour. Also? Awesome beaches with real sand (unlike the rest of the beaches which have rocks liek woah).

Also, you're fairly close to Boston (about an hour-and-a-half away) if you ever feel like day-tripping. New York City is also fairly close (and just a matter of a short train ride via Amtrack).

Really, I can't say enough good about it. The only problem is Rhode Island is somewhat job-poor if you don't work in academia or health-care.

Oh, and one other thing...the entire state is owned by the mob. No joke. It's where the mobsters go when they retire. Plus, the natives are the most cheerful little Ferrengis you've ever met.

Seriously, though. Rhode Island as a whole is a piece of awesome.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

I don't think the mob is likely to give me any grief. I'm planning on studying library sciences. :)

The school I'm looking at is in Kingston, which looks like it's near Newport - which is the only part of RI I've ever seen. I was there in high school and we walked around one of the old mansions (Beach Mansion? Peach Mansion?) and then we went and had seafood. It was lovely.

I'm from NY originally and I went to college in MA, so I'm sort of familiar with the region - and I love it. I can't wait to get back there. Plus, I have family in southern CT. Close enough to visit on the holidays, not so close that I feel suffocated.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

I lived in Cambridge for seven years and never made it to WaterFire. We meant to go every year and something always came up.

btw, I friended you during the recent lj brouhaha and I feel a little like a stalker posting random comments.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

No worries. Everyone's welcome to comment. I don't FLock too much anyway (and most of that is my eyes only for things like, to-do lists or memos to myself), so at least 95% of this LJ is public.

I'm, unh, avoiding the administrative stuff right now, due to the fact that I have a looming fic-a-thon deadline and a busy RL thing going on. Plus, I'm pretty sure that a lot of people who friended me during the Strikeout will probably drift away anyway. So there's also another reason why I'm holding off.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't care if you don't friend back. :D I rather like your posts so I'll probably stick around and burble periodically.

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

Damn, that's amazing. I wish I could see it.

[iyalode.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's lovely. Reminds of Spring and guh, we're freezing our arses off over here. Well, *cough* it's cold for us anyways.

Sydneysiders sort of go into denial for 3 months of the year and for some unknown reason are completely stunned when winter arrives.

[iko.livejournal.com]

That is absolutely lovely. I really like public artwork, especially ephemeral stuff. Thanks for sharing! I think this gives me a good excuse to do a day-trip to Providence.