Sharon hopes WaterFire events along Shenango River spark revival
An international celebration of art, community and culture is sparking a revitalization of one Western Pennsylvania town.
WaterFire, a series of day-long free events featuring ethnic music, food and art, debuted in Sharon in August and will return Sept. 14 and Oct. 12. The core of the project is a public art installation involving more than 50 cedar and pine bonfires floating atop the Shenango River.
“Sharon made a very conscious decision to revitalize the community through arts and culture,” says Dayna Shaw-Sear, executive director of WaterFire Sharon, a nonprofit arts fund of the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.
Artist Barnaby Evans created WaterFire in the mid-1990s in Providence, R.I., to celebrate the 10th anniversary of First Night Providence. The public art form came to symbolize the city's effort to make the arts a major player in the revitalization of its downtown. An economic study showed that in one year, WaterFire Providence brought in $55 million in revenue and contributed $3.8 million to the state budget.
The goal was to use the city as the canvas for a public art project that would challenge people to expand their horizons, Evans says. Bringing together water and fire serves as a symbol for other contrasting ideas — light and dark, life and loss, he says.
“It's about how much we all have in common,” he says.
WaterFire Providence now attracts millions each year, and its success has spread. The event occurs annually in cities around the world, including Columbus, Ohio, and Kansas City, Mo. WaterFire events have been held or are being planned in Houston, Singapore, Rome, Venice and Paris.
Sharon competed with some major metropolitan markets for WaterFire. The contract they obtained stipulates the town is the only one within 70 miles permitted to host the event.
“We had the same vision of turning our community around as Providence did,” Shaw-Sear says.
Local organizers spent time in Providence training to work the boats. The first event attracted more than 35,000 people.
“It really exceeded our expectations in every way,” Shaw-Sear says. “The economic impact was amazing. We've never had that many people come to town. They patronize the stores and eat in the restaurants. It was a huge boost for the economy.”
Organizers anticipate WaterFire events will generate $7 million in local revenue over the next three years. Each event has a theme — September's is “World Fire,” and will feature belly dancers, Irish step dancers, mariachi music, bagpipers and other performers. October's is “Up and Around,” with stunt kites and other aerial performers.
Each day-long event begins at 10 a.m. with performances, interactive art experiences, food and more. The actual WaterFire performance begins at dusk. Attendees can take boat rides during lightings, watch fire performers and other entertainers and listen to music.
“It's definitely a multisensory experience — seeing the bonfires with the firelight flickering and reflecting off the river,” Shaw-Sear says. “The aroma of cedar and pine. The sounds of 32 speakers along the river playing beautiful world music.
“The whole experience is very moving and emotional. A lot of people use the term ‘spiritual.' It transports you to a different type of place.”
Rachel Weaver is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-320-7948 or rweaver@tribweb.com.
