I was glad to get into Confederation Park last Friday to take these shots. I was there on both weekend days, and it was much busier. These smaller sculptures have a variety of styles, but the precision of the carver's work always impresses me. Here around the fountain they're out in the open.
It's off topic, but this is in an office building near Confederation Park. The Winter Olympics start up tomorrow (with some events today) in Sochi, all so Darth Vladimir... I mean, Tsar Putin... Oh, right... so President Putin can have his own ego stroked. Anyway, this is set up in the lobby area, cheering on our athletes.
For the next post, I'll start showing you some of the tools ice carvers use when working on the larger sculptures. I caught some of them at work early on in the process on Friday, and they had the weekend to finish their work. The end result is spectacular.
Really love these sculptures! Such talent!
ReplyDeleteWhat also astounds me is the speed at which these are caved. Of course, with ice, time is if the essence :)
ReplyDeleteOh you mean the KGB? Ooops, ummm, they are fantastic. My favourite is the one before last, very elegant!
ReplyDeleteOK, so here's the question. If, when almost complete, a fragile and important piece of ice breaks off, can it it be re-attached ? Will a little water work like glue ?
ReplyDeleteWow, very cool.
ReplyDeleteAmazing ice sculptures . Nice shots of them . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteGreat sculptures!
ReplyDelete@Kathy: it truly is talent.
ReplyDelete@Hamilton: these ones particularly... they have such a short amount of time as opposed to an entire weekend for the larger ones.
@Ciel: thank you!
@Stuart: while they use water to fasten on pieces during the creation process, if these things fall off, like an arm, for instance, they tend to break into too many pieces.
@Whisk: they are!
@Country Gal: you're welcome!
@Gnome: thanks!
Jane: The fifth picture is incredible! The perceived tenseness of the ice muscle mass really makes this animal appear to be energetically in motion and the howl very audible. Wish I could see this in person! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteAny animal sculpture is a winner with me.
ReplyDeleteJane x
They're all beautiful...especially the wolf!
ReplyDeleteBeauty. And nice pictures. THX.
ReplyDeleteLove the third picture! Can't imagine what care it takes to do those wings!
ReplyDeleteOf course my favorite in this group is the Phoenix Bird but the howling wolf is a close second. I love your Putin descriptions.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you have taken these photos without people standing in the way! I look forward to seeing the tools the carvers use.
ReplyDelete@Jane: that wolf is definitely my favourite of this lot.
ReplyDelete@Jane and Chris: yes, and all the more so if it was a cat!
@Norma: I figured you'd say that!
@Inna: thank you!
@Cheryl: one mistake can be costly.
@Sharon: over in my writer's blog, I've made fun of Vladimir before, and plan on doing so again very, very soon.
@EG: it can require patience, but with these it's easier to do so without people getting in the way. On the weekends, it's another matter.
I love that amazing bird, the wolf is also a close second:) Like many others, I'm looking forward to the actual tools - what painstaking work and skill it takes!
ReplyDeleteWow! Those sculptures are really something. I am looking forward to seeing the artists in action.
ReplyDeleteAren't the carvings amazing. And the one block challenge--spectacular. Waiting breathlessly for tomorrow. MB.
ReplyDeleteAmazing to think that they each came from one block of ice!
ReplyDeleteThey are all beautiful and amazing.....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful carvings. Thanks. Have you seen the snow carvings at one town in Colorado? They are huge. I have no idea why they even considered Russia.
ReplyDeleteThose are so amazing. I love that last one!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos today.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Olympics I was against them being in Russia. Interesting fact I read that for the "safe zone" Putin changed the border with Georgia. Just took that land and pow now your in Russia.
cheers, parsnip
Oh wow. You found some amazing ice artist.
ReplyDeleteWonderful sculptures! They work pretty fast to do these… must be very talented!
ReplyDeleteStunning. Breathtaking talent - I just couldn't do that. I admire sand sculpture, but am guessing working with ice must be more difficult.
ReplyDelete@LondonLulu: wait til you see the bigger ones!
ReplyDelete@Halcyon: I'm already getting some good comments on that one.
@MB: thank you!
@RedPat: some of these sculptors can do a lot with a block!
@Wilf: they certainly are.
@Mari: I haven't heard of the Colorado town, but it doesn't surprise me. We've got snow carvings here as well. I have to get over to the other side of the Ottawa River this weekend to take shots there.
@Krisztina: thank you!
@Parsnip: Putin's something of a disaster waiting to happen.
ReplyDelete@Lady Lilith: thank you. They do incredible work.
@Linda: they're astoundingly talented.
@Mike: it would be very difficult. One mistake, and the entire sculpture might be ruined.
Very impressive what these artists can do with the ice.
ReplyDeleteIt is!
DeleteAmazing work!
ReplyDeleteGreat posting.
Thanks!
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