WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City
WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City
Special | 46m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
WaterFire is a unique sensory experience where two rivers converge in Providence, RI.
WaterFire is a unique sensory experience and living art installation with fragrant, crackling logs burning in braziers afloat in the center of the canal in Providence, RI, and set ablaze after sunset. Featuring preparations by dozens of volunteers, the film also shares the artist’s vision for the spectacle that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the state, country, and world.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City is a local public television program presented by Rhode Island PBS
WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City
WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City
Special | 46m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
WaterFire is a unique sensory experience and living art installation with fragrant, crackling logs burning in braziers afloat in the center of the canal in Providence, RI, and set ablaze after sunset. Featuring preparations by dozens of volunteers, the film also shares the artist’s vision for the spectacle that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the state, country, and world.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City
WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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>>> WATER FIRE.
ART AND SOUL OF THE CITY IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THESE GENEROUS SPONSORS.
♪[ MUSIC ] ♪ ♪ .
>>> WATER FIRE.
THE VERY WORD SURPRISES.
IT'S AN UNLIKELY MARRIAGE OF OPPOSITES.
ONE THAT PULL PULLSATES WITH ENERGY AND FLICKERS INTO IMAGINATION.
EVANS SOON CAME TO REALIZE THAT HIS ADOPTED CITY NEEDED SOMETHING TO RENEW THE CITY SPIRITS.
IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE COULD BE NO MORE PERFECT PLACE FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY ART INSTALLATION CALLED WATER FIRE IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.
>> I THINK ONE COULD ARGUE THAT PROVIDENCE HAD LOST ITS SOUL.
IT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AS A SMUDGE ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN NEW YORK AND CAPE COD.
I THINK MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT RHODE ISLAND VIEWED THE CITY THAT WAY.
I THINK WATER FIRE PUT AN END TO THAT WAY OF THINKING.
>> WATER FIRE IS A CHAIN OF BONFIRES THAT BURN JUST ABOVE THE WATERS OF THREE RIVERS THAT FLOW THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO WALK THE RIVER ON A DOZEN OR MORE NIGHTS.
>> I LOVE THE CROWD AND THE SMELL AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE MERE.
>> REPORTER: HAUNTING MUSIC FILLS THE AIR MINGLING WITH A CRACKLING OF FIREWOOD.
THE WATER IS SO INTIMATE.
>> AMONG THE THINGS I HAD WANTED TO CAPTURE WAS THE SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AND PLACE AND BELONGING IN THE UNIVERSE THAT HAPPENED TO ME AS A CHILD.
WE WOULD MAKE A VERY SMALL CAMPFIRE AT NIGHT AND WE WOULD TALK AND TELL STORIES.
YOU JUST HAD THE SENSE OF BELONGING IN THE WORLD IN A SPECIAL PLACE.
I HAD WANTED TO BRING THAT FEELING BACK AND SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE ENGAGES ALL FIVE SENSES AND CONNECTS VIEWERS WITH ANCIENT ELEMENTS.
SPECTATORS STROLL ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE INSTALLATION.
THE RIVERS RISE AND FALL.
THE WATER HAS SLEEK GONDOLAS ROLLING BY.
THESE ARE THE CONSTANTS.
THIS CITY SCAPE IS THEATER, AND NO TWO NIGHTS ARE EVER THE SAME.
>> THIS IS NOT A BRUSH STROKE ON A CANVAS.
IT'S NOT BEHIND A RED VELVET ROPE IN A MUSEUM.
THIS IS ABOUT BEAUTY AND ASTHETICS AND ART THAT COMES ALIVE AND HAS ITS OWN LIFE.
>> REPORTER: AS MANY AS 100,000 PEOPLE WILL VISIT ON A SINGLE NIGHT.
MORE THAN 15 MILLION HAVE COME TO PROVIDENCE SINCE THE FIRST LIGHTING.
IT ASTOUNDS PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE AT THE START.
>> YOU HAD TO LOOK A LITTLE STRANGE BEING OUT THERE IN THAT BASIN LIGHTING A FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER.
IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE WITH NOTHING GOING ON.
>> REPORTER: TODAY WATER FIRE IS CONSIDERED THE CROWNED JEWEL OF THE PROVIDENCE RENAISSANCE.
NO ONE IS RED AN ETO P -- READY TO PUT OUT THIS FIRE.
THE ARTIST IN BLACK CONTINUES TO PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY DETAIL.
.
>> REPORTER: RHODE ISLAND HAS LONG BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR ARTISTS.
THE STATE'S FOUNDER ROGER WILLIAMS SOUGHT REFUGE HERE.
HE WAS SHELTERED BY THE NATIVE POPULATION AND NAMED THE FUTURE CITY IN HONOR OF GOD'S MERCIFUL PROVIDENCE.
IN TIME, WILLIAMS WOULD CREATE A LIVELY EXPERIMENT THAT ENCOURAGED RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY.
WATER WAS ALWAYS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE AREA.
ITS LOCATION ESTABLISHED PROVIDENCE EARLY ON AS A CENTER FOR FISHING AND TRADING.
IT WOULD BECOME A MAJOR WORLD PORT LATER.
IT SHIFTED THE ECONOMY FROM MARITIME TO MANUFACTURING.
IT WAS KNOWN AS THE BEHIVE OF THE STRAE -- INDUSTRY.
AS RAILROADS BECAME MORE IMPORTANT THAN SHAPES, IT TURNED ITS BACK ON THE RIVER S. >> ANYONE WHO SPENDS TIME IN PROVIDENCE WILL APPRECIATE THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO RENEW THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
>> REPORTER: THE PROVIDENCE RIVER WAS LARGELY DECKED OVER.
THERE REMAINED ONLY GLIMPSES OF THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE CITY.
>> OUR CITY HAD DIED.
THE CORE HAD DIED.
IT REALLY NEEDED A TRANSFUSION.
>> REPORTER: LIKE MANY OTHER URBAN AREAS IN AMERICA, PROVIDENCE FELL INTO DECLINE AS INDUSTRIES SHUT DOWN.
>> BACK IN THE 1970s, YOU COULD TAKE A BOWLING BALL AND THROW IT DOWN THE STREET AND YOU WOULDN'T HIT A SOUL.
>> MY GRANDFATHER USED TO CALL DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE A GRAVE YARD WITH LIGHTS, AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS BEING UNFAIR TO GRAVE YARDS.
>> REPORTER: THE COMMUNITY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RESUSITATE IT.
IT WAS EXPENSIVE AND RADICAL ENOUGH TO MAKE ROGER WILLIAMS PROUD.
TEAR UP THE FAMOUS BRIDGE AND MOVE THE RIVERS.
IT TOOK UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY, STATE, INDUSTRY, AND COMMUNITY.
IN THE END IT CREATED A STUNNING URBAN CENTER PIECE.
>> IT WAS AN EPIC PROJECT.
WE MOVED THE RAILROAD TRACK S AND THREE RIVERS.
>> REPORTER: THREE ARCHITECTS HAD A VISIONARY IDEA OVER DINNER.
TRYING TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT, THEY JOTTED IT DOWN ON A NAPKIN.
UNDER THE WINE STAINS, YOU CAN SEE THE CONCEPT OF A STRADAGY FOR -- STRATEGY FOR A NEW DOWNTOWN.
>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLE THING, TO RECLAIM YOUR RIVER.
>> REPORTER: THEY BUILT IT, BUT FEW PEOPLE CAME.
>> IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFULLY PLANNED RIVERFRONT, BUT IT WAS LIKE A STEAK SET WITH NO PLAY.
>> IT WAS A WONDERFUL PLACE BUT THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY.
THEN EVANS CAME INTO MY OFFICE AND SAID HE WANTED TO LIGHT THE RIVERS ON FIRE.
I THOUGHT HE WAS SOME KIND OF NUT.
>> THE IDEA PROBABLY HAD NOT COME ACROSS HIS LANDSCAPE BEFORE THAT.
>> REPORTER: HE WAS KNOWN IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS AN ARTIST.
HE CAME FROM THE WEST COAST AND STAYED IN RHODE ISLAND TO PURSUE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS.
HE FELL IN LOVE WITH PROVIDENCE.
>> HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE HIM?
HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SMARTEST MEN I'VE EVER KNOWN.
HE'S THOUGHTFUL.
HE'S A REAL RENAISSANCE MAN.
>> HE'S AN INSPIRING GUY.
HE INSPIRES ME EVERY DAY .
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE BEGAN WITH EVANS CONTEMPLATING WATER AND FIRE AS SYMBOLS OF BOTH LIFE AND DEATH.
HIS THOUGHTS TURNED HOMEWARD TO THE PROVIDENCE RIVER AND THE NEED FOR THE CITY TO BE REBORN.
HE BEGAN TO IMAGINE FIRES POISED JUST ABOVE THE DARK WATER THAT COULD EXTINGUISH THEM.
IT WOULD DRAW PEOPLE BACK TO WITNESS A CITY TRANSFORMED.
>> HE UNDERSTANDS ART AND CITY MAKING.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF ARTS IN CULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN THE SOUL OF THE CITY.
>> PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF NEW ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THE RIVERS BEING OPENED.
BUT WATER FIRE GAVE A SYMBOLISM AND IMAGE OF WHAT PROVIDENCE COULD BE.
>> WHEN I CREATED THE ELEMENTARY EVENT MORE DELIBERATELY LOOKING AT STATEMENTS OF REBIRTH, RENAISSANCE, OF THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES.
IT WAS POSSIBILITY AND ENGAGEMENT.
>> I DON'T THINK HE WAS CRAZY ENOUGH TO SHARE THE VISION WITH ANYBODY.
I THINK IT WAS A, HEY, LET'S TRY THIS.
I THINK THAT WAS REALLY SMART OF HIS APPROACH TO IT.
>> REPORTER: HIS VISION WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HE DEALT WITH THE COMPLEXITIES OF SUCH A PUBLIC WORK OF ART AND PLENTY OF RED TAPE.
>> HE HAD TO GET SO MANY PERMITS.
CAN YOU BURN OVER A RIVER?
IT'S NOT NAVICABLE.
ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
HE PATIENTLY TOOK THAT ON AS AN INTERESTING PROJECT.
>> REPORTER: IT COULD TAKE ALL OF HIS TALENTS TO PULL THIS OFF.
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE NUMBER OF THINGS WE NED TO DEAL -- NEED TO DEAL WITH.
YOU HAVE MARITIME RIGHTS OF WAY.
YOU HAVE INTERNATIONAL LAW.
YOU HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION.
YOU HAVE THE WIND, THE TIDE, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
>> REPORTER: ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WAS BUILDING THE PROTOTYPE TO HOLD THE FIREWOOD.
HE WANTED IT TO BE OPEN TO VISIBILITY AND ABLE TO RIDE THE TIDES OF THE RIVER.
THINGS DID NOT ALSO GO AS PLANNED.
.
>> REPORTER: IN 1994, EVANS WAS READY TO LAUNCH A ONE-TIME EVENT TO MARK THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION.
A GROUP OF FRIENDS VOLUNTEERED TO HELP.
THE NIGHT BEFORE, LATE ON A 5 DEGREE NIGHT, THE CAPTAIN TOOK A WRONG TURN AS HE LEANED TO PLACE AN ABRAZIER.
HE TUMBLED THROUGH THE ICE INTO THE FREEZING WATERS.
>> I'M PLEASED TO SAY I WAS THE VERY FIRST TO FALL -- THE FIRST OF MANY TO FALL INTO THE RIVER, LOST MY GLASSES, AND WE CARRIED ON WITHOUT GLASSES AND FROZEN CLOTHES AND GOT IT ALL DONE.
>> REPORTER: FIRST FIRE WENT OFF WITH ANY FURTHER HITCHES.
THE NIGHT WAS MEMORABLE.
>> IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE AND IT WAS SNOWING.
TO THIS DAY, THE PICTURE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
>> I WAS BY MYSELF AT THE BAR PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON MY INAUGURATION SPEECH.
I LIT THE FIRST WATER FIRE.
>> IT WAS SMALLER AND IT WAS FIRES ON THE WATER.
IT SEEMED LIKE A COMPLETELY UNIQUE INSTALLATION AND A BRILLIANT ONE.
>> REPORTER: BUT EVANS SAW ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE USE OF MUSIC AND THE NUMBER OF FIRES ON THE RIVER WAS NOT ENOUGH.
>> ART IS VERY MUCH ABOUT DIMENSION AND SCALE AND ENGAGEMENT.
I FELT THE PIECE HAD UTTERLY FAILED IN ALL COUNTS.
BUT CONCEPTUALLY, I REALIZED IT WAS GOING TO BE INTRIGUING.
>> REPORTER: HE WENT ON TO CREATE A SECOND INSTALLATION IN 1996.
>> IT WAS CONVINCING HIM THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN AND BEING SUCCESSFUL.
♪ ♪ .
>> IT WAS A REVELATION THAT PEOPLE CAME TO REFLECT AND SIT QUIETLY AND OBSERVE AND GO AWAY HAVING MADE THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENTS ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S CAPITAL CITY.
AND THEN SPREAD THE WORD.
WHAT I FIND MOST IMPRESSIVE IS THE WAY IT TURNS THE CITY INTO A WALKING, MEDITATING PLACE FOR THE POPULATION.
IT BRINGS THEM INTO THE CORE OF THE CITY AND MAKES THEM FEEL A PART OF THEIR PLACE.
IT GIVES THEM PRIDE AND CONNECTION.
>> REPORTER: IT BECAME AN ONGOING INSTALLATION, AND EVANS CALLED IT WATER FIRE.
BY 2001, AS MANY AS 100 BONFIRES BLAZED ON THE THREE RIVERS MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF THE GROWING CROWDS.
>> WE ALL GET THIS FEELING BY THE FLOW OF THE RIVER AND THE FIRE, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU CAME FROM THE FURTHEST REGIONS.
YOU WOULD SIT ON THE RIVER AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
>> THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE DIVERSE.
PEOPLE RUBBING SHOULDERS WALKING BY EACH OTHER THAT WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE WALKING BY EACH OTHER.
EVEN THE DOGS ARE CALM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYONE IS IN THIS PLACE TOGETHER.
>> THE REALLY COOL THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT 100,000 AMERICANS ARE OUT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE SUMMER TO EXPERIENCE ART.
>> IT'S QUITE FASCINATING HOW A SIMPLE RECIPE LEADS TO SOMETHING SO AMAZING.
>> REPORTER: HE COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED THIS ON THAT FRIGID NIGHT IN 1994.
IT'S BECOME A WORLD STAGE THAT DRAWS NATIONAL ATTENTION.
MUCH OF THE CREDIT GOES TO THE CREATOR OF WATER FIRE, BUT HE WOULD TELL YOU THE SECRET IS THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DRESSED IN BLACK ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
>> IT'S GOT TO APPEAR OUT OF NO WHERE AND DISAPPEAR LIKE IT WAS NEVER THERE.
THAT'S WATER FIRE.
♪ .
>> REPORTER: IT TAKES WEEKS.
IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
>> IF THERE WAS A RECIPE, IT LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
20 BOATS, 18 TRUCKS, 20 CORDS OF RECLAIMED WOOD, A STAFF OF 20, AND ABOUT 200 VOLUNTEERS.
>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH GOES INTO THIS.
IT HAPPENS WHEN THE SUNSETS.
WE FINISH CLEANING UP BY DAWN AND WE WANT EVERY PIECE OF LITTER AND EQUIPMENT TO BE GONE.
IT'S LIKE, DID I DREAM THAT?
?
>> TURN THIS OFF FIRST.
>> ROLL THAT OVER THERE.
>> KEEP THAT SEPARATE.
>> ONE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER OVER THERE.
>> REPORTER: THE GENERAL IN THE FIELD DIRECTS STAFF LEADERS WORKING WITH VOLUNTEER TEAMS AT STATIONS ALONG THE RIVERFRONT.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING POINTS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL FLOWING TOGETHER.
>> WE'RE HERE FROM 6 P.M. UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT.
NOT EVERYTHING AT THE EVENT HAPPENS ON THE RIVERS.
>> REPORTER: TRUCKS HAVE TO BE UNLOADED AND LOADED.
A STAGE IS LIT.
TENT ERECTED.
AUDIO SYSTEMS TESTED.
WOOD STOCKED AND LOADED ONTO BOATS.
THE PREPARATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE BY THE TIME THE SUN AND THE MOON TRADE PLACES IN THE SKY.
THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE DARKENED BOATS ARE DELIBERATE.
THE DETAILS BECOME PART OF THE NIGHT.
THE AUDIENCE FOCUSES ON THE SPECTACLE AND THE VOLUNTEERS FACES.
THESE ARE THE FIRE TENDERS WHO WILL COAX THE RIVERS AND FEED THE FLAMES UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
>> COMING OUT OF THE DARK COMES A BOAT WITH ALL THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S YOUR TEACHER, NEIGHBORS, ENGINEERS.
EACH OF THOSE FELLOW CITIZENS PLACE ON THE FIRE THEIR LOGS.
THEY MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO BUILDING THE FIRE UP AND MAKING THE CITY BRIGHT AND FULL AND VIBRANT.
THE FIRE SUDDENLY IS BROUGHT BACK TO A REALLY WARM GLOW.
THAT SENSE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY STEP IN AND TURN THINGS AROUND.
THAT'S THE CORE MESSAGE.
.
>> REPORTER: WHAT TAKES 14 HOURS TO SET UP IS GONE AND 4.
THE END OF THE DAY'S TEAM MAY COME AS LATE AS 4:00 A.M. THEN THE CITY TRANSFORMS ONCE AGAIN FROM THEATER TO WORKING CAPITAL.
>> WE DISAPPEAR SUNDAY MORNING AND WE DON'T APPEAR AGAIN UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER.
>> 99% OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE DON'T HAVE A CLUE IN WHAT HAPPENS FOR A WATER FIRE.
WHEN I CATCH PEOPLE WALKING BY AND SOMEONE SAYS THANK YOU, YOU'VE TOUCHED SOMEONE.
WE'RE TOUCHING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
>> REPORTER: SUCH AN ELABORATE PRODUCTION IS EXPENSIVE.
EACH SEASON COSTS ABOUT $2 MILLION.
THE ONGOING CHALLENGE IS HOW TO KEEP THE FIRES BURNING.
>> IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
>> IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND THIS BEFORE.
>> IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
>> REPORTER: IN ONE SHORT SEASON, WATER FIRE DRAWS MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE.
MORE THAN HALF ARE FROM OUT OF STATE, AND A GROWING NUMBER FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
>> I KNOW PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL DOWN FROM CANADA TO SEE THIS.
I THINK THERE'S AN APPEAL IN THIS SORT OF QUALITY OF VERY SIMPLE RITUAL AND IN SEEING A CITY THAT'S QUITE BEAUTIFUL.
>> THERE ARE NO BOX SEATS.
THERE ARE NO SKY BOXES .
THERE ARE NO LUXURY -- THERE'S NO WHERE YOU CAN'T GO.
YOU WANT TO SIT ON THE BEST SEAT IN THE RIVER, JUST GET THERE EARLY ENOUGH.
>> IT'S A FREE EVENT.
THE BIRD DON'T SING FOR NOTHING.
>> REPORTER: THEY EXPAND THE ROSTER OF PERFORMERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
>> WE'RE ALWAYS ADDING NO EXPERIENCES AND SURPRISES.
IT'S A VERY INTERESTING MIX OF THE FAMILIAR AND WARM AND SOMETHING WE LOVE MIXED WITH, GEE, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO NOW?
>> REPORTER: VISITORS MAY STUMBLE UPON MIMES, ACTORS, MUSIC PERFORMANCES.
THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE ALSO CRITICAL ACTORS IN MAKING THIS SCENE A SUCCESS.
>> NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN PART OF AN AUDIENCE AT WATER FIRE.
THERE IS NO AUDIENCE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS IN THE PLAY.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO WATER FIRE, YOU'RE NEVER PART OF THE AUDIENCE.
YOU'RE PART OF THE ART.
>> REPORTER: MUSIC IS KEY TO THE SENSE OF MYSTERIOUS SPACE.
EACH PERFORMANCE HAS A UNIQUE SOUND TRACK.
EVANS PICKS THE MUSIC SELECTION.
HE INCLUDES WORK BY LOCAL COMPOSERS.
>> IT'S A GIFT BECAUSE IT'S HOW I HEARD IT WHEN I COMPESED -- COMPOSED IT.
HAVING IT BE PART OF THE SPACE IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
.
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE SPILLS OVER THE RIVER BANKS AND FILLED DOWNTOWN WITH VIBRANCY.
THE OUTDOOR EVENTS TURN THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT INTO A FESTIVAL.
.
>> THE WATER FIRE EVENT IS PERFECT.
IT'S PERFECT FOR THE SKATE OF THE IT -- SCALE OF THE CITY.
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE OFTEN INVITES GUESTS ON THE BOATS.
WATCH ING THE FLOW OF THE EVENTS FROM THE BANK IS STUNNING, AND ON THE WATER, THE EXPERIENCE CAN BE ABSOLUTELY PROFOUND.
>> STAND STRAIGHT AND DRESS IN BLACK.
THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS JUST GREAT.
>> IT WAS A COMBINATION OF A PARTY AND A WAKE.
IT WAS A FESTIVE EVENT.
>> WE GO AROUND AND CORNER AND YOU GO UNDER THE BRIDGE, AND YOU SEE ALL THE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH THE TORCHES.
IT WAS GREAT.
>> I DID VOLUNTEER TWICE TO LIGHT THE FIRES.
JUST SEEING THE PEOPLE LINEDED UP ON -- LINED UP ON THE CANALS THERE WAITING FOR YOU TO LIGHT THE FIRE AND SEE THE MAGIC.
>> REPORTER: IT GENERATES MORE THAN $70 MILLION EACH YEAR.
BECAUSE IT'S A FREE EVENT, EVANS AND THEIR STAFF START FROM DIME ONE FROM EACH YEAR DEPENDING ON SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS.
IT GENERATES NEARLY $5 MILLION ANNUALLY IN TAX REVENUE.
THEY INVEST MUCH OF IT BACK INTO THE EVENT.
A RECENT SURVEY FOUND THAT 100% OF THE PEOPLE WANT WATER FIRE TO CONTINUE FOREVER.
>> YOU DON'T EVER GET UNANIMOUS ANSWERS IN POLLING.
THE PERSON DOING THIS SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS.
>> REPORTER: THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF WATER FIRE 'S FUTURE.
ONE THAT CONTINUES TO WOW THE PUBLIC AND STILL ORCHESTRATES BLISS.
>> WILL YOU MARRY ME?
>> YES.
[APPLAUSE] .
>> REPORTER: IF THERE IS A FACE OF WATER FIRE, IT IS THIS ONE.
THE BARE CHESTED MAN IS A FIRE DANCER WHO MESMERIZES THE CROWD LIKE SOME ZEN VERSION OF A ROCK STAR.
MANY OF THE PLAYERS IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE NEARLY INVISIBLE, BUT HE IS THE FRONT MAN.
THE RIVER FRONT GOES ELECTRIC WHEN HE EMERGES FROM THE DARKNESS.
IT IS AN EXHAUSTING ATHLETIC RITUAL.
HE WILL PERFORM IT A FEW MORE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
>> HE JUST HAS SUCH GREAT SPIRIT AND ENERGY.
YOU JUST CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> REPORTER: HE'S BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2003.
HE AND EVANS HAVE BECOME CLOSE COLLABORATORS.
>> I SAID I WANT YOU TO DIVE OFF INTO THE DARK AND DISAPPEAR BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS FANTASTIC.
WE HAD A WHOLE SUPPORT TEAM THERE TO MEET HIM.
>> I JUMP IN AFTER THE FIRE.
>> IT WORKED BEAUTIFULLY.
>> I GO IN THE WATER AND THE FIRE GOES OUT AND I START SWIMMING.
I TRIED TO MAKE IT OVER.
>> AND THEN I NOTICED THE CROWD WAS LIKE, WOW.
THAT'S AMAZING.
>> I JUST STAYED UNDER WATER FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
>> I SAID, OH, MY GOD.
THEY'RE ALL DIALING 911.
>> SO I'M UNDER WATER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REACTION IS.
>> THEY ALL THINK HE MUST HAVE HIT HIS HAND AND HE CAN'T GET OUT.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
>> REPORTER: HE'S ONE OF MANY INDEPENDENT ARTISTS.
HE LOOKS FOR LOVE AT EVERY WATER FIRE.
WOMEN HOPE TO GET HIS ATTENTION BEFORE THE MYSTERIOUS MAN IN WHITE GLIDES AWAY.
THE POPULAR GARGOYLES COME TO LIFE IN MEMORIAL PARK.
THE CREATURES CLAIM THEY WERE BORN AT WATER FIRE.
>> I THINK IT'S UNIQUE IN ITS CAPACITY TO ENGAGE NOT ONE BUILDING, NOT ONE AUDITORIUM, BUT A NETWORK OF WATERWAYS, STREETS, PLAZAS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING IN.
>> REPORTER: EVANS IS PASSIONATE ABOUT BRINGING TOGETHER COMMUNITY AND CULTURES.
ON ONE NIGHT, THE CROWD MAY WITNESS A CEREMONY.
ON ANOTHER THEY MAY BE TRANSPORTED TO AFRICA OR LEARN TO SALSA UNDER THE STARS.
.
>> IT COMES IN, AND TO SEE THOSE SURVIVORS COME DOWN, YOU HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE AND YOU CAN HEAR A PIN DROP WHEN THESE PEOPLE WALK IN.
IT'S VERY TOUCHING.
>> THIS EVENT IS ALL ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE.
>> IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER WITH PURPOSE AND DIGNITY IN A MOMENT OF BOTH BEAUTY AND REVOLVE, BUT ALSO WITH RECOGNITION OF THE PEOPLE WE'VE LOST.
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE SADNESS THAT IS AN INEVITABLE PART OF LIFE.
FAMILIES SOMETIMES REQUEST A WATER FIRE FUNERAL.
SPECTATORS QUIETLY SHARE IN THE GRIEVING.
>> IT ALLOWS A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT OF THE CHURCH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR LOSS AND SHARE THEIR LOSS IN A DEEPLY SYMBOLIC WAY.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM BURYING SOMEONE IN THE GROUND.
IT HAS ANOTHER LEVEL OF FINALITY AND CLOSURE TO SEE THE FLOWERS AND THE CANDLE LANTERN.
IT SYMBOLIZES THE SENSE OF WHERE WE'D LIKE PEOPLE TO GO ONCE WE'VE LOST THEM.
.
>> OUR CITY IS BREATHING.
IT'S LITERALLY ON FIRE IN A WONDERFUL WAY.
.
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE REFLECTS THE RENEWED SPIRIT OF AN OLD NEW ENGLAND SEA PORT, BUT IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD.
EVANS' INSTALLATION HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 20 THINGS TO SEE IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> I SAID, LET'S SEE WHO BEAT IT.
IT WAS YOSEMITE VALLEY IN THE LIGHT OF THE FULL MOON.
WAY UP AT THE TOP WAS THE MILKY WAY AS SEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
WE'RE THINKING, WOW.
THIS IS BIG.
.
>> REPORTER: EVAN'S FOCUS IS PROVIDENCE.
OCCASIONALLY HE GETS REQUESTS TO CREATE WATER FIRE IN OTHER CITIES.
HOUSTON HAD ITS OWN REVIVED WATERFRONT.
BEYOND THE U.S., HE IS BEING APPROACHED BY CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
>> IT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH THE WORLD, SO WHY NOT IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL?
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE UNITED POLAR OPPOSITES WHEN HE CREATED A PASSING OF THE TORCH AROUND THE GLOBE FROM SINGAPORE TO PROVIDENCE AND BACK AGAIN.
VISITORS OFTEN DESCRIBE THE FEEL OF AN EVENING AS EUROPEAN.
IT WOULD TAKE YEARS OF PLANNING TO HAVE ITS ACTUAL DEBUT ON THAT CONTINENT.
THE PRIDE OF THE RENAISSANCE CITY WOULD JOURNEY TO THE ETERNAL CITY.
>> IT'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WATER FIRE.
>> REPORTER: A MERE EIGHT DAYS LATER, THE PREMIER OF WATER FIRE: ROME.
TWO HISTORIC NIGHTS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012.
MEANWHILE, A SMALL TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS HITS THE GROUND RUNNING.
OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR DAYS, THEY MUST CLEAN UP THE TIEBER RIVER -- TIBER RIVER.
♪ .
>> WHEN YOU SEE IT SO BELOVED IN OTHER PLACES, YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH WE'RE ALL THE SAME AROUND THE WORLD.
HOW MUCH WE VALUE FRIENDSHIP AND COMRODSHIP AND BEAUTY AND LIGHT AND EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.
>> WATER FIRE.
>> SALUTE AND THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE DAYS OF WORK.
IT WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
NEXT TIME WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THREE TIMES AS BIG.
>> REPORTER: THE ARTIST SEEMS DESTINED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
HIS MASTERPIECE AND HEART REMAIN IN PROVIDENCE.
THAT'S WHY MANY PEOPLE SEE HIM AS SUNOMINOUS -- BUT MANY PEOPLE DON'T.
>> IT'S HOW DO WE LITERALLY PASS THE TORCH TO ANOTHER GENERATION.
>> REPORTER: SINCE 1994, WATER FIRE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE STATE'S LIVELIEST EXPERIMENTS.
THE TEAM HAS WORKED WITH NO REAL PLACE TO CALL HOME.
NOW WITH THE COMMUNITY'S HELP, WATER FIRE IS BUILDING A SOLID FUTURE BY TRANSFORMING A HISTORIC BUILDING INTO A PERMANENT ART CENTER AND A HOME THAT WILL GIVE WATER FIRE EXPANDED CAPACITY.
>> WE HAVE A LIST OF OVER 100 THINGS WE WOULD LOVE TO DO IN PROVIDENCE.
>> REPORTER: WATER FIRE IS THE MOST POPULAR WORK OF ART IN THE CAPITAL CITY'S HISTORY.
THE WORLD EAGERLY AWAITS HIS NEXT ACT.
IN THE MEAN TIME, THE SUN WILL SET, MUSIC WILL FILL THE NIGHT AIR, AND WATER FIRE WILL REFLECT THE GLORIOUS PAST OF PROVIDENCE AND ALUMINATE THE CITY'S BRIGHT FUTURE.
♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ ♪ .
>> WE WANT TO HAVE A PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
YOU CAN WORK ALL DAY AND THEN YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE BOAT, AND THE LIGHT THAT YOU'VE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH ALL OF THE WORKING TOGETHER IS LIGHTING THE SKY AND STREET AND BUILDINGS.
IT'S LIGHTING ALL THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE SITTING THERE YOU.
YOU SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOST IN THIS QUIET, SATISFYING SMILE.
YOU REALIZE THAT ALL OF YOU CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S WHAT WATER FIRE IS ALL ABOUT.
♪[ MUSIC ] ♪ ♪
WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City is a local public television program presented by Rhode Island PBS