As a belated birthday present, my parents took me out to Waterfire. This is a public installation in Providence, Rhode Island. Bonfires are built in the middle of the three rivers that run through downtown Providence, music plays and people hang out and talk and watch the fires. I've heard it described as "like First Night, only not cold". There's street performers and venders, although not as many as you might see at a First Night event.
I have to give the artist who thought up the idea of Waterfire a lot of credit. The idea is a simple one, but it turns downtown Providence into a special, beautiful place. It's very like the way newly fallen snow makes everything so fresh and enticing, and you look at your daily haunts with new eyes.
It was very crowded. The site was packed with people, but there was none of the stress that usually accompanies crowded public events.
And, the variety of people was amazing. I saw clubbing gay couples, families with loads of little kids, old people walking their dogs, packs of college students, too many types of people to note, and everyone was getting along fantastically. Some people were clearly drinking, but no one was out of control or sloppy. People were climbing all over the banks of the river, some in very precarious positions but no one was doing anything foolish or dangerous. The spousal unit's theory is that fire is inherently calming. As far as I could tell, there was very little police presence and no need for any.
Special mention must be given to the street performer mime dressed as a bride. Her performance consisted of depicting a mechanical doll. She'd "come to life" and go through a serious of graceful, eerily mechanical movements (blowing kisses, beckoning, adjusting her veil) and then gradually stop. She stood on a pedestal, and her dress completely disguised her lower body and feet, so it looked as if she was part of the pedestal. I'm describing this badly, but her performance was very strange and beautiful to watch.
If you get a chance, do take a trip out to Waterfire. There's a couple of more installations before the end of the season, and of course, there's always next year.
Waterfire links
Official Waterfire Site
Some pictures
A WaterFire Performer
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