Arts

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AS220: Power of the Arts

Tasty potato leek soup for a good cause at AS220.

With live/work spaces for artists (two vacancies opening this spring) along with their existing repertoire of workshops, studios, galleries, and labs, AS220 is more than a local nonprofit — it is a force to be reckoned with.

They even have a restaurant, but clearly this is no ordinary restaurant. The menu consists of an eclectic mix of dishes from a variety of cultures with ingredients derived from local farms and food artisans. Although they are known for their vegetarian and vegan options, they have plenty of dishes for carnivores as well. (They aim, after all, for inclusion). They even provide six month training positions at the restaurant for local teenagers.

If the city is to be judged by its Creativity Index, then things certainly are looking up for Providence, thanks largely to AS220.

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Big Nazo at Bright Night

A performance of Big Nazo.

I love that Providence has its own nonconformist version of First Night. Unlike First Night, Bright Night is not alcohol free but it maintains the mission of kicking off the New Year as an arts celebration incorporating theater, music, arts and films. This year marked its seventh year with events at over a dozen venues in Providence, along with a mini-WaterFire lighting.

We decided to see a live show by Big Nazo, an international performance group that happens to reside here in Providence and makes large-as-life (and larger) puppets, masks and other creatures. The 6:30 pm event at Lupo’s attracted quite a number of families with kids ranging from a few-months-old and up, yet it was a thin enough crowd that everyone easily could enjoy an unobstructed view. The performance itself was, well, weird, a kind of bizarre ride through a wonderfully twisted imagination. Picture a giant horse that removes his mask to become an enormous old white man to remove his mask to become a small-headed dog to remove his mask to become a gloved hand to then reveal his true identity as a mad scientist and your MC for the evening. And that was only the opening. Not surprisingly, Madeline was perfectly riveted and never budged from the front row seat she secured for herself. And she’s been talking about it ever since.

Pass by the windows of Big Nazo on Eddy Street in Providence to see a sample of the weird characters that comprise Big Nazo.

Big Nazo!
60 Eddy St
Providence, RI
www.bignazo.com

Bright Night
www.brightnight.org

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Christmas at Blithewold

My personal favorite in this year's Gingerbread Wonderland -- "Guatamala" by Brianna Ritoli.

If over a foot of snow isn’t enough to put you in the ‘Christmas spirit’ then you might need to take a trip to Blithewold. The 45-room English style manor house is decked out with shimmering lights and wintery decorations for their annual event Christmas at Blithewold. The front door opens onto their 18-foot “Big Tree” decorated with their theme for the year — Fairy Tales and Fantasies. Each room has its own theme such as The Night Before Christmas, The Owl and The Pussycat and Frosty the Snowman and remains roped off (elegantly with ribbon) so you can peek in. Of course, Madeline simply slid right underneath it, but I grabbed her in time, so the displays remain intact. Don’t forget to stop in the Carriage House on your way out where the “Gingerbread Wonderland” features mini-gingerbread houses of all styles made by area children. And keep your kids from eating the candy — if I can do it, anyone can.

A scene from the classic 1950s Frosty the Snowman decorates the nursery.

Christmas at Blithewold
Through Sunday, January 03, 2010
101 Ferry Road (Rt. 114)
Bristol, RI
www.blithewold.org

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The Steel Yard’s Iron Pour

Providence Steel Yard Iron Pour

A giant jack-o-lantern blazes at the Steel Yard's Annual Iron Pour.

Sometimes I wonder how Geoff hears about these things.  With little prior warning or details, we drove out the other night to The Steel Yard to witness their annual Iron Pour.  We arrived a bit after the ‘performance’ had begun, and there was already a significant crowd (of taller people) blocking the view to the action.  We literally couldn’t see anything.  We imagined something fascinating happening since every so often we would hear a collective ahh and see sparks fly out from the center of The Steel Yard.

Madeline happily viewed the show from Geoff’s shoulders.  However, I was most definitely not happy.  All I could see was the backs of people’s heads, and smoke from the fires our blew into our faces.  Upon complaining loudly, a neighboring observer (if you could call him that since he couldn’t see anything either) told us that the crowd had doubled from last year.  The bleachers, which were full, had been brought in this morning in anticipation of a larger crowd.  Yet it still struck me as so odd how so many people remained attentively facing the center although they couldn’t see a darn thing.  Not me.  I was ready to go.

Iron Pour

Stoking the fire at the annual Iron Pour.

On our way out, we happened to find less obstructed, if more distant, view of the Iron Pour.  From here we could see the iron workers stoking the fires of the furnaces, and the blazing Jack-O-Lantern.  When they would pour the molten metal, sparks scattered across the yard.  We lingered a bit longer to watch.  Madeline truly loved the display, so much so that she started to protest loudly when we announced we were leaving.  It’s a good thing there was a man making balloon pumpkins — it made the perfect parting gift.

The Steel Yard
Their 5,612 square foot industrial shop is a multi-use venue featuring studios where artists craft ceramics, glass and jewelry, as well as shops for welding, metal working and blacksmithing.  Classes are offered on the premises.
27 Sims Avenue
Providence, RI
http://thesteelyard.org

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WaterFire Providence

WaterFire

Providence alights with WaterFire.

Tonight, the final fires of the season blazed for WaterFire in Providence, RI.

WaterFire

Sparks fly on a windy night.

A warm night made it a perfect evening for a walk through the city, although it did get quite windy at times spreading the sparks all over the banks of the river.

The 2010 season will begin in May.

WaterFire
www.waterfire.org