303 replies to this topic

[Recchia]

Frankie811, on Aug 12 2005, 02:57 AM, said:

I don't see why we are having this debate about waterfire now. The crowds are still coming, from near and far, to enjoy a free and popular public display of art. It's heartwarming to see families, friends, lovers, strangers, couples and groups relax and take in the moment. For those who are tired of Waterfire I say fine, stay away. Barnaby Evans is an artist who's not about to see Waterfire turned into some kind of freak show that you all want to see it become. But I yield that new music needs to be introduced at some point.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, and I don't see why they can't have different music playing in different locations.  The ballroom crap still seems popular, so keep it but have something different up in Station Park or down along South Water Street.  

I like Waterfire a lot, and every time I've been, it has been packed.  It will only get better once GTECH and Waterplace are built too.  

I think it already appeals nicely to younger crowds as well, (nothing is better than pounding beers at an outdoor bar while overlooking a nicely lit up river with tall buildings in the background) and this could be helped even more with some different music.

[ruchele]

Frankie811, on Aug 12 2005, 02:57 AM, said:

For those who are tired of Waterfire I say fine, stay away. Barnaby Evans is an artist who's not about to see Waterfire turned into some kind of freak show that you all want to see it become.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My point above was not that Waterfire should end, but that there should be other things going on in the summer along the river BESIDES Waterfire, for people who are interested in something else.  Barnaby Evans may be an "artist," but he doesn't have sole right to the River 3/4 of the weekends of the whole summer and Fall.  

How does a River Festival or a regular series of summer festivals like I proposed above constitute a "freak show"?

[Frankie811]

ruchele, on Aug 12 2005, 09:25 AM, said:

My point above was not that Waterfire should end, but that there should be other things going on in the summer along the river BESIDES Waterfire, for people who are interested in something else.  Barnaby Evans may be an "artist," but he doesn't have sole right to the River 3/4 of the weekends of the whole summer and Fall. 

How does a River Festival or a regular series of summer festivals like I proposed above constitute a "freak show"?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Apparently I misunderstood your previous comments. If you purpose musical events along the riverwalk on nights other than Waterfire then yes, let's do it. There use to be a concert almost every Friday night in front of Bella Vista Restuarant, but they've seemed to stop in the last year or two. That was nice because every week brought a different venue of music and it was all free    I believe Caparts was the sponser.

[Frankie811]

http://www.projo.com...5.17eee1fb.html

[Frankie811]

Just a reminder that there is a Waterfire tonight. The last two of the year will be Oct 15 & 29th.

[CtownMikey]

http://www.waterfire....com/index.html

[markOne]

Waterfire can and should be built upon in ways that don't detract from the original vision but that will provide variety to the night.  I love the "ballroom crap" that shows off Turk's Head to great effect and draws people a little bit into the city.  We should find ways to keep pulling them deeper into the city.  Just past the Turks Head is the Arcade.  Open that up and use the confined space to create a busy "fair".  Just beyond that is Westminster retail district.  Draw people down there with art, dramatic lighting, and music.

In Burnside Park, do something that will make folks want to go to Kennedy Plaza.  From there they could go to the ballroom stuff or down to Westminster or to restaurants anywhere.  The more we can get people flowing through the city the better.

Maybe add free parking in the jewelry district (or other outlying areas) so people have to do a little walking to get to Waterfire in exchange for easy parking.  This could work especially well if Waterfire is extended to the hurricane barrier.

Let Waterfire have the river but lets give the audience a place to go once they have made the walk.  There is simply just too much energy in Providence on Waterfire nights to let go relatively untapped.

[Garris]

markOne, on Nov 22 2005, 12:51 PM, said:

We should find ways to keep pulling them deeper into the city.

Absolutely.  I think it was "Sound Stage" that was going on one night this past summer all over the downtown at the same time as a Waterfire, and the seamless activity and blend of people from the waterfront all the way to Weybosset was fantastic.  

It would be nice to see the Waterfire energy leveraged for other events.

- Garris

[Baines]

markOne, on Nov 22 2005, 12:51 PM, said:

Waterfire can and should be built upon in ways that don't detract from the original vision but that will provide variety to the night.  I love the "ballroom crap" that shows off Turk's Head to great effect and draws people a little bit into the city.  We should find ways to keep pulling them deeper into the city.  Just past the Turks Head is the Arcade.  Open that up and use the confined space to create a busy "fair".  Just beyond that is Westminster retail district.  Draw people down there with art, dramatic lighting, and music.

In Burnside Park, do something that will make folks want to go to Kennedy Plaza.  From there they could go to the ballroom stuff or down to Westminster or to restaurants anywhere.  The more we can get people flowing through the city the better.

Maybe add free parking in the jewelry district (or other outlying areas) so people have to do a little walking to get to Waterfire in exchange for easy parking.  This could work especially well if Waterfire is extended to the hurricane barrier.

Let Waterfire have the river but lets give the audience a place to go once they have made the walk.  There is simply just too much energy in Providence on Waterfire nights to let go relatively untapped.

I was in PVD about 30 days ago for Waterfire and it was great. But imagine if the city could pull together a group/consortium that would combine events on Waterfire nights that encompassed from the mall to the beginning of the Jewery District. Of course, this requires light transportation/parking, marketing, and commitment.  But what a nightlife.

Cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville all are looking to achieve it in "weather friendly" conditions and can not equal PVD.

[cloudship]

I am digging this up from the past because I just happened to stumble upon it.

I think that the whole WaterFire thing is dying, perhaps not so much in Providence itself, but in New England. But I think it isn't a problem with the concept but how it is being executed. It seems to have been caught in a tug of war - the artists is still trying to keep it as a piece of art, with the focus on the art instalation. But what it really became - where it's value lies - is as a backdrop - not so much teh center of attention but the visual draw.

If they try and keep it isolated, it is going to wither away. Already has been - look at how few showings they have had. But if they just keep it as a background and keep it fairly simple, then I think it can become pat of the fabric of the city.

[Frankie811]

cloudship, on Feb 25 2006, 10:18 PM, said:

If they try and keep it isolated, it is going to wither away. Already has been - look at how few showings they have had.

Yeah, I know. They ONLY had 21 ( one cancellation ) events last year from May to October, down from their usual high of about 25.   And it's all about the money, as in lack of state and city grants and corporate sponsership. I'm stopping here now 'cause I really don't feel like going down this road AGAIN!!!

[PVDJack]

cloudship, on Feb 25 2006, 10:18 PM, said:

I am digging this up from the past because I just happened to stumble upon it.

I think that the whole WaterFire thing is dying, perhaps not so much in Providence itself, but in New England. But I think it isn't a problem with the concept but how it is being executed. It seems to have been caught in a tug of war - the artists is still trying to keep it as a piece of art, with the focus on the art instalation. But what it really became - where it's value lies - is as a backdrop - not so much teh center of attention but the visual draw.

If they try and keep it isolated, it is going to wither away. Already has been - look at how few showings they have had. But if they just keep it as a background and keep it fairly simple, then I think it can become pat of the fabric of the city.

I don't know if it's "dying" or "withering away", but I would agree that the city is not leveraging WaterFire enough, and that a "backdrop" strategy would make sense.

[Garris]

I second that Waterfire isn't being leveraged enough...  They need to program events to counter the increasing perception that if you've been to one Waterfire, you've been to them all...

- Garris

[jencoleslaw]

Garris, on Feb 26 2006, 11:43 AM, said:

I second that Waterfire isn't being leveraged enough...  They need to program events to counter the increasing perception that if you've been to one Waterfire, you've been to them all...

- Garris

i used to really love the waterfire experience and i like it a lot less now that there are waterfire boat tours in the river, and all kinds of vendors and stuff. maybe i'm an elitest snob but i just don't like all that "junk" that interferes with the experience.

[Recchia]

Watefire's great.  You can drink at outdoor bars on the water, what's better than that?  It's a great pregame to going to a bar afterward.  

I wish RIPTA ran a few of the routes til 230am or something (like the 99), especially on waterfire nights.

[runawayjim]

waterfire as it is hasn't run its course.  go down on any waterfire night and the riverwalk is packed full of people.

what they need to do though, is build upon it.  as someone said, use it as a backdrop for other events in the city.  the soundsession thing last summer was a perfect addition to waterfire.  why not do more events like that?  barnaby needs to open his eyes and realize that waterfire is no longer about the art installation, but rather about the community aspect of the event as a whole.  there needs to be more to go with it than just the vendors and the occasional jazz concert and ballroom dance thing.  they need to do more with it.  the sound session thing was a start.  do more with that...

do they light it for the gay pride day?  if not, they should.

[Cotuit]

runawayjim, on Feb 26 2006, 07:09 PM, said:

do they light it for the gay pride day?  if not, they should.

No they don't and yes they should, especially considering that Pride is a nighttime parade. But considering WaterFire cost $10k or something like that, Pride can't afford to sponsor it.

[runawayjim]

Cotuit, on Feb 26 2006, 07:45 PM, said:

No they don't and yes they should, especially considering that Pride is a nighttime parade. But considering WaterFire cost $10k or something like that, Pride can't afford to sponsor it.

it costs $10k to burn a bunch of fires?  they don't even need the background music most of the time (i would actually prefer they changed that a bit... all that stuff they play every time is getting a bit old).

[MapmanNo1]

Cotuit, on Feb 26 2006, 07:45 PM, said:

No they don't and yes they should, especially considering that Pride is a nighttime parade. But considering WaterFire cost $10k or something like that, Pride can't afford to sponsor it.

Just because WaterFire is expensive doesn't mean that Pride shouldn't go after it. Pride already has many sponsors; I'm sure there are companies out there that would be willing to work with Pride and WaterFire. After all, there is that lucrative gay market...

I agree wholeheartedly that WaterFire needs to morph into more than just an art exhibit. It is a true community builder. While the vendors and the motor boat rides are commercial and annoying, I am willing to put up with it. The SoundSession/WaterFire night last summer was truly amazing...it is an excellent template for future collaborations.

PS: This is my first post; I've been a long-time lurker...

[Cotuit]

MapmanNo1, on Feb 26 2006, 08:21 PM, said:

PS: This is my first post; I've been a long-time lurker...

Welcome lurker.