The full WaterFire lighting for Saturday, Sept. 27th has been postponed to Saturday, Oct. 4th.
However, we are going ahead with a reduced lighting of 12 bonfires.
Due to a major storm and potentially dangerous conditions on the river, the WaterFire lighting scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27th has been postponed to Saturday, Oct. 4th. All the special events planned for the 27th have been moved to the 4th including the Ninth Annual Providence Rotary Street Painting Festival, the World Wide Day of Play activities sponsored by Swarovski and the American Heart Association, the passing of carnations and inspirational quotes by sponsor MetLife Auto & Home, and the observance A Thousand Ships. Please see http://www.waterfire.org/october-4 for more information.
In appreciation for all the many people who have traveled to Providence for WaterFire this weekend, there will be a small lighting of the twelve WaterFire braziers near RISD at 6:45 pm which will continue as long as rain conditions and river currents permit. This section of WaterFire is between Washington and College Streets. There will be a tent with refreshments and food open for everyone for shelter nearby in Market Square right across from the bonfires. Across the street from the tent in Market Square the RISD Museum of Art will be open for the "Chihuly At RISD" exhibition until 10:00 pm. Join the RISD museum for the opening of their wonderful new Chace Center this evening.
Also the screening of the documentary film "Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North," part of the WaterFire project A Thousand Ships, will continue as planned at 3:30pm in the Brown University List Art Center Room 120 (64 College Street).
"In Traces of the Trade, Producer/Director Katrina Browne tells the story of her forefathers, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. Given the myth that the South is solely responsible for slavery, viewers will be surprised to learn that Browne’s ancestors were Northerners [ the DeWolf family from Bristol, Rhode Island ]. The film follows Browne and nine fellow family members on a remarkable journey which brings them face-to-face with the history and legacy of New England’s hidden enterprise."
We are honored that filmmaker Katrina Browne will be with us for this screening and a post-film discussion. Please join us.
WaterFire’s larger observance A Thousand Ships has been postponed to Saturday Oct. 4th. Please see www.waterfire.org/1000ships for more information.
Tibetan Monks to Light WaterFire on Sept. 27th
Just before sunset, two Tibetan Buddhist monks will walk from their blessing of the Rhode Island State House down to the confluence of the rivers at the heart of downtown Providence (at the three flagpoles at RISD between Washington and College Streets). To the sounds of a traditional Tibetan invocation and prayer, they will pour the sand recovered from a ritually dismantled mandala created at Providence College earlier this week (click here for more information). After chanting and praying, they will pour the sand into the river and board the WaterFire boats to set alight the bonfires.
Kancha Lama, White Tara Mandala, detail, watercolor/cloth, 2007