“A religious experience…awash in sparks and strange chanting…a vision of fire and architecture”—THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL—June 13, 1996

“Engages and mesmerizes viewers with an emotional power very few works of art ever achieve”—QUIX ART QUARTERLY—Fall, 1996

“Water Fire … so enthralled the audiences that it was adopted as a signature piece for the city. The crackling flames, the scent of the burning logs, the flotilla of boats and fire tenders … evoke unique emotions in those gathered along the riverfront.”—ART NOW GALLERY GUIDE—New England/Boston Edition June/Aug 1997

“I was fortunate while visiting Providence this past weekend to be able to experience…Water Fire. It was wonderful to see people of all ages, ethnic groups, couples, families…strolling along the promenade…I would consider this one of the loveliest spiritual/communal experiences of my adult life. Let this shine as an example of art and government working together to provide a magnificently uplifting experience for all.”—Excerpts from a letter to THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL from J. C., Queens, NY

“Water Fire accomplishes what many other public installations only aspire to…we are pulled out of ourselves as well as into ourselves. It’s rare for art in any medium, from performance to monumental sculpture, to attain the overwhelming impact of Water Fire.”—THE PROVIDENCE PHOENIX—June 20, 1997

“A nighttime spectacle…Compelling and enigmatic, Barnaby Evans’ outdoor installation embraces an esthetic of ritual and community that calls to mind a Viking funeral or a cremation ceremony along the shores of the Ganges of India.”—ART NEWS—October, 1997

“You may even hit it lucky and be [in Providence] for one of the Water Fire Saturday evenings…The spectacle has the primal impact of a tribal ritual.”—THE NEW YORK TIMES—April 24, 1998

“Water Fire is memorable because of the sparks showering the water, the scent of wood smoke and the echoing music…Sometimes it’s Gregorian chants…which seem to pour out of the flames.”—THE WASHINGTON POST—July 26, 1998

“‘Water Fire,’ a kind of primal civic rite…symbolizes the city’s effort to make the arts a major player in the revitalization of its … downtown.”—CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER—August 30, 1998

“Providence is host to a world-class event! … Barnaby Evans has created an extraordinary work of performance art; the central performers are not human players but rather the primal elements of fire and water…there is a truth to the beauty of ‘WaterFire’ that has the power to transport us to another realm; and in the process of that transport, we are transformed into more appreciative, more present individuals…”—THE BARRINGTON TIMES—November 11, 1998