Down in the Byward Market, a series of snow sculptures were erected in various locations. This being an Olympic year, the Games played a strong influence in the work from the carvers.
Such as the sport of curling. Yes, I am a Canadian. No, I cannot explain curling.
This rendition of the bobsled is another example.
A short walk away from these three, this Olympic and Maple Leaf sculpture stands outside of a restaurant that serves good Italian cuisine.
This last one, of course, features the idea of the Olympic torch.
How cool...literally!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! Wonderful. Love all your carvings...
ReplyDeleteThese and last post are amazing William.. I'm loving being immersed in snow and ice sculptures, it's 35C here today so every bit of cool is most welcome :)
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or is the torch bearer looking Native?
ReplyDeleteI had no clue they did some snow statues too, I'd try the bobsleigh, I'd loooove to bobsleigh!
These are really nice. I would guess repairing a snow sculpture would be a bit easier than an ice sculpture.
ReplyDeleteThese snow sculptures are just as creatively done as the previous ice ones. However, i like the transparency of the latter. I wonder which form will hold up longer in an outside setting?
ReplyDeleteRead your comment on denise's blog, An English Girl Rambles, about our recent meeting and FaceTime chat. We have just started with FT and chatted with a friend in Missisauga, so if you ever want to give it a try...email and let us know. It is great fun and free is always good too.
So nice, William! Although there were some snow sculptures here in Quebec I didn't get to see them this year, so thank you for sharing these!
ReplyDeleteWow! Not much else to say.
ReplyDeletewow, these are amazing! my fave is the olympic rings with your canadian leaf!
ReplyDeleteFabulous artwork...I wonder how long they stay perfect.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Heehee, loving these snowy sculptures...even if curling must remain a mystery for now! (I cannot get Mr. L to explain cricket to me, so a lot of sports must remain a mystery). I like the face in the last capture.
ReplyDeleteI don't get curling either! But these sculptures are amazing. You're so lucky to be surrounded by such cool (literally!) artwork in Ottawa!
ReplyDeleteI love the maple leaf and that curling sculpture is very impressive.
ReplyDelete@Norma: very cool indeed, some days more than others!
ReplyDelete@Weekend Windup: thanks!
@Grace: we have no shortage of snow here, so sharing it even through photos is a good thing to do!
@Ciel: yes, it does look Native to me. And there are more snow sculptures to come.
@Stuart: much, much easier.
@Beatrice: the snow sculptures will tend to hold up much, much better.
@Linda: you're welcome!
@Luis: thanks!
ReplyDelete@Tanya: that's my favourite too.
@Jane and Chris: I'm not sure if they bring these ones down- they might as an issue of liability as they do with the ice sculptures, or if they leave them to melt.
@LondonLulu: curling gets quite an audience here, but I've always found it perplexing.
@Carla: I enjoy being here.
@Sharon: the attention to detail particularly in the curler's face really works well with that one.
These are really cool! The Olympics can be inspiring in many different ways. :)
ReplyDeletePS: I LOVE curling. I always watched the men's Brier and the ladies Tournament of Hearts when I was in Canada. We are lucky in Ontario - we've got some of the best curlers! :)
I love all of these but especially the bobsled and the Canadian symbol. What a shame such talent will melt away!
ReplyDeleteWe've just had some more freshly fallen snow over night and I'm taking a snow day off work (just because) so maybe I should get outside and create something. I'm getting the hang of curling. Sortof.
ReplyDeleteWow. You have some very talented people.
ReplyDeleteWow, again! They must have really wettish snow to be able to carve it like that!
ReplyDeleteThese are all wonderful! How can I not be impressed?
ReplyDelete@Halcyon: there is quite a following here. I've always found it a mystery.
ReplyDelete@Lowell: it's not meant to last, but it's beautiful.
@Hamilton: think along the lines of a snow demon. Just don't bring it to life.
@Lady Lilith: they are very talented indeed.
@RedPat: I've seen them working on sculptures before. They use some of the same tools as ice sculptures, but tend to start out with a single huge block of snow that comes boxed. Some of those blocks can be twenty five feet tall.
@EG: thank you!
This is a very nice series of snow sculptures. I like it all.
ReplyDeleteNeat! We saw some snow sculptures in Michigan once. Here we're pretty much limited to snowmen.
ReplyDeleteThose are pretty dang amazing! Also, what is curling, really? Every time it's on, and I find myself completely flummoxed! :)
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome .
ReplyDeleteGreat sculptures! I didn't know it's possible to make them of snow too.
ReplyDeleteReal artists. MB
ReplyDeleteI watched the Canadian ladies beat Great Britain today at curling. Perfect timing with these brilliant sculptures and your shots of them.
ReplyDeleteThese are pretty amazing!
ReplyDeleteI just watched the Canadian women bobsledders take the gold over the USA. Congrats! (But, I hope the hockey results are different . . . )
ReplyDelete@Inna: so do I.
ReplyDelete@Linda: snowmen are found here too.
@Meradeth: I find it a baffling sport.
@Country Gal: thank you!
@Anonymous: yes it is.
@MB: that they are.
@Lauren: thanks!
@Joan: I agree.
@Jack: winter games tend to be good for Canadian athletes.