WaterFire, Kaffe Fasset
So my classes are off this week for a quick break between summer and fall sessions, so I thought I would blog about this and that. Last weekend, I got to attend Waterfire in Providence, Rhode Island. WaterFire is an amazing public art installation along the Woonasquatucket River and the middle of downtown Providence along the Moshassuck and Providence rivers. It is on a grand and amazing scale. Over a million people a year come to this event, which takes place over several different weekends from August through November. The elemental nature of this event, bringing water, fire, and air together on this Earth, is sacred and inspiring. Walking along the river, listening to the crackling flames, passing through narrow arched doorways, all felt very medieval, mysterious, ancient, and timeless. As we sat along the river, we watched gondolas slide by, larger barge type boats (that looked to me like smaller versions of the bateau mouches on the Seine River in Paris) full of happily waving passengers cruise up and down, and performers both along the riverside and on boats on the river itself. For me, I found it to be a way of connecting to others throughout history via the fire. Watching the fires burn and swirl in the wind and against the backdrop of the calm waters was gorgeous and fascinating. Each one had a personality and seemed truly alive. Boats would come along to refill the wood, and the volunteers would solemnly and silently add logs with precision and care. As the fires slowed and died down periodically, it was a reminder of how we are all constantly changing, sometimes burning off that which we no longer need, sometimes needing our flames to be stoked, sometimes needing fuel to be added from outside ourselves. All throughout this event, there was beautiful, sacred music being played from unseen speakers, creating a haunting and immersive environment. Amazingly, there was a pervasive kind of reverent silence among the throngs who walked along the river. Even the dogs were calm, and there were a lot of dogs! This really illustrated how powerfully Earth’s elemental forces bring people together, as humanity has come together around fire for eons. I found myself to be refreshed and rejuvenated through this experience. This was a great reminder about how art, especially when utilizing such elemental forces, can bring people together. My conclusion: the world needs more WaterFire!
On another note, Kaffe Fassett, the amazing multidimensional artist of quilts, textiles, paintings, knitting, mosaic and more is coming to Connecticut! He will be giving a lecture about the Power of color at the Ridgefield Playhouse on September 21 and I will be attending with some of the students from my class. I will give a report here after the event. I am so excited about this! The timing is quite incredible since I just discovered Kaffe’s work through some library books that I brought to class with me as I mentioned in my previous blog post. I cannot wait to drink in his words about color since his work is literally exploding with the most vibrant, glorious, sumptuous hues I have ever seen. I wonder what Pharrell Williams, multidimensional creator himself (musician, producer, clothing designer) would think of this, since he is a synesthete, someone who hears music and sees color. What would he think of the vibrancy of the color, would he hear music to go along with it?! Pharrell, I want to know!
What I’m watching: Rick Rubin and Pharrell in conversation (in a nod to Pharrell)
What I’m listening to: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (played at WaterFire)
What I’m reading: Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion selected and edited by Diane K. Osbon and for my fun book I just finished Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. Waiting my turn to get the next one in the series from the library!
