Wednesday, February 5, 2014

The One Block Challenge

Kicking things off for Winterlude today in Confederation Park. Last Friday the festival opened with ice carvers first handling what's a quick competition before moving on to their main work. With a time limit in store, carvers from around the world fashion out of a single block of ice a sculpture, in whatever form they wish. The sculptures are set around the Colonel By fountain, which I have shown you before in warmer weather.






More of these sculptures tomorrow....

31 comments:

  1. Can I keep that Eiffel Tower in my fridge? I knew I'd love Winterlude!

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  2. Amazing craftsmanship. Love them all!

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  3. I'm amazed at how much work goes into a sculpture that isn't going to last. But at least it's fast work. They're fabulous.

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  4. Wonderful shots of those great ice sculptures. It must be quite cold overthere. Overhere in the Netherlands they would melt away at the moment, because we still haven't had any serious winter weather. At this moment it's 10 ÂșC again ...

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  5. wow, great ice sculptures...such an interesting art form!

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  6. Love the ice sculptures William.. Especially the Eiffel Tower :)

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  7. @Ciel: if you've got enough space!

    @Lauren: I've been looking forward to reactions on this festival since I started photoblogging last year...

    @Stuart: it's remarkable to watch the carvers at work. I took shots of that too.

    @Merisi: quite fragile, yes.

    @Revrunner: thanks!


    @Jan: you need a good cold spell. We get skaters here on the Canal from the Netherlands who come specifically for that exoerience.

    @Tanya: I never get tired of this kind of art!

    @Grace: I figured that one would get some reactions!

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  8. Amazing! I wish I had the talent to do something so beautiful!

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  9. I think my favorite is the one in the top photo.

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  10. One and three are absolutely fabulous!
    Jane x

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  11. It's a great idea to have these around the fountain, makes it easier to walk around and see them all properly. I quite like the seahorse.

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  12. @Norma: I wouldn't be capable of it myself either...

    @Sharon: the skill of these carvers astounds me.

    @Jane and Chris: they certainly are.

    @Hamilton: it does make for a good setting.

    @Mo: thanks!

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  13. Beautiful and ethereal artwork! I love that last one too:) How lucky you get Winterlude there!

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  14. A great festival. Can't wait to see more!

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  15. Wonderful , I love these ice sculptures!

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  16. I'm amazed what good carvers can do with a block of ice!

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  17. The light through your first photo really brings out the artistry. But, I like the Eiffel Tower most.

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  18. I"d love to be able to see these in person!

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  19. @LondonLulu: it's well established here.

    @RedPat: I marvel at their talent.

    @Halcyon: lots more to come!

    @Karl: and what astounds me is that the carvers are from all points of the earth.

    @EG: it really is craftmanship.

    @Jack: I've got quite a bit of sunlight backdropping these sculptures.

    @Cheryl: it's something I'm glad I can see each year.

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  20. It must be fun to watch them create these marvelous sculptures!

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  21. This is one of the time which I am thankful for the invention of photography, so all these beautiful sculptures can be 'immortalized'

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