If you ever doubt the power of art to capture the imagination and revive a dead city, take a trip to Providence, Rhode Island.

Some years ago the “town fathers” of Providence, Rhode Island were desperate to find a way to revitalize the city’s downtown, and especially its dangerous waterfront. So what did they do? They hired an artist. The artist they chose was a multi-media public artist named Barnaby Evans, who is known for combining science and art, nature and the senses, especially soundcapes, to generate something magical.

The magic in this case took the form of a sculpture, a sculpture installed on the three rivers of the capital city of Rhode Island. This one sculpture has 100 component parts. Each part is a giant metal basket into which firetenders place wood and light the firewoo…