"Rhode Island is bringing a surprise to Venice" Venice by Pawtuxet

Venice Travel Guide: 8,137 reviews and 21,375 photos

DON'T MISS THIS ONE!!

I visited Venice with two of my kids years ago and we giggled, bought leather goods, wandered the narrow streets, ate and drank plenty of wine.
Now I want to bring you information about something one of our Rhode Island artists is bringing to Venice soon. SEE IT IF YOU CAN. This is more amazing than you can imagine.
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BARNABY EVANS BRINGS THE FLAMES OF WATERFIRE TO THE
CANALS OF VENICE

WaterFire Venezia, an art installation by Barnaby Evans, will debut in Venice on the evenings of November 19 and 20 as part of the closing ceremonies of the 12th International Architecture Biennale 2010.

WaterFire, in its first installation in Europe, is in Venice at the invitation of both Luca Molinari, curator of the Italian Pavilion, and the Association TEVERETERNO.

Rhode Island is bringing a surprise to Venice - Venice

WaterFire Venezia will be installed on the Rio dell'Arsenale with 33 bonfires suspended just above the surface of the canal, just outside the entrance to the Biennale's Arsenale exhibition halls. The artwork will recapitulate the theme of the Biennale, People meet in architecture, as the fires serve to gather people together within the historic walls of the Arsenale entrance.

At the heart of WaterFire is the deliberate juxtaposition of the two ancient elements that most symbolize life - water and fire, accompanied by music and performances. The fragrant scent of wood smoke will combine with the music, the performances and the firelight to touch all five senses, transforming both the site and the people gathered. The visual glory of the extraordinary architecture of Venice comes alive in the warm light of sunlight, but the long celebrated mystery of the torch-lit Venetian night has been lost in the glare of sodium-vapor fixtures that drain the city of its vitality and color. No one now living has experienced the true Venetian night depicted in paintings and poems - a night where the architecture of the City of Water comes alive, animated and illuminated by the warmth of fire and torch light, reflecting off the dark water.

"Lighting WaterFire in the ancient city of Venice on the beautiful canals is a long-wished for dream of mine," said WaterFire creator and founder Barnaby Evans. "Venice, the City of Water, is the archetypal city for the realization of this magical balance of fire and water. Venice is a city of astounding beauty and mystery at every turn and it is a wonderful honor to be able to bring WaterFire to such an extraordinary site as the Rio dell'Arsenale."

WaterFire Venezia is presented by a separate organization from the non-profit that produces WaterFire in Providence, but it is hoped that the media attention in Europe will attract visitors to Rhode Island to see the original and larger WaterFire installation. Evans is fabricating new braziers and associated equipment in Venice with Venetian craftsmen and will keep these braziers in Italy for other projects in Europe. The boats in Venice will be traditional Venetian working vessels. Thirty-six Providence volunteers are so excited about the project debuting in Venice that they are paying their own way over to witness the occasion, help out and be on hand for the first lighting of WaterFire in Europe. No funds from the Providence non-profit will be used to produce the lighting in Venice, but Evans hopes that Venetian inspired elements and music will find their way back to the Providence.

The WaterFire prometheia torches will be carried by volunteers from Providence to Venice to "pass the torch" onto the City of Water. Then the prometheia torches will return to Providence bringing the light of Providence back to the city.

For more information on WaterFire's International journey visit:
WWW.WATERFIRE.ORG/VENICE

Intro Updated Nov 4, 2010
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giampiero6 Aug 15, 2011 at 8:48 AM

Cool. And beautiful pics!
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tiabunna Nov 5, 2010 at 5:01 AM

Sounds like a really interesting juxtaposition (always wanted to use that word) between the "new world" and "old world". Pity I can't get along to see it...
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deecat Nov 5, 2010 at 4:27 AM

Janet, this is really incredible. Thanks for alerting me to this terrific event.
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evaanna Nov 5, 2010 at 12:52 AM

It sounds really great. Thanks for telling us. Wish I could watch it, too.