Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Tools Of Their Trade

Today I have shots of the solo carvers at work, on the same day as yesterday's shots. Their sculptures are set up on the west side of Confederation Park, under the shelters, which keep these sculptures in good shape through the festival. Sculptures are relatively short lived- after the festival these are broken down; it becomes a liability sort of thing.


Some of the tools they work with can be found here. Among the more unusual items are clothes irons and welding torches; I have an example of the latter at work in a future blog.

42 comments:

  1. Theses sculptures are very fantastis, and it's really nice to watch how they are making.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This work is with art and skill at the same time.

    Tomás.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fascinating sculptures, William !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, I can see the sculptures taking shape! These carvers are really good at what they are doing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I admire these artists for their willingness to put so much work into temporary sculptures!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bold tools for bold art. Fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Orvokki: it is, yes.

    @Tomas: that's true.

    @Karl: the finished work is something to behold!

    @Nancy: they are!

    @Merisi: I do too.

    @Lauren: indeed!

    @Marianne: I imagine so.

    ReplyDelete
  8. They are real sculptors, great to see them at work.

    ReplyDelete
  9. blue, black, and white is the coldest color combination of all
    Brrrrrrrr, let the carving begin!

    Janis
    GDP

    ReplyDelete
  10. The clothing is even more impressive!

    ReplyDelete
  11. All that work for such a short life William, it would be much shorter if they were over here right now :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice to see the artists working on their sculptures.
    I hope it is colder in Ottawa than overhere in the Netherlands, untill now the average temperature in February is 6,9 ºC, that's 4 degrees above the normal average. That would be bad news for ice scultures. ;-(

    ReplyDelete
  13. As I've said before, these people amaze me with their skills, and now the ability to work in such frigid conditions.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I bet that clothes iron is used for smoothing out flat places.

    ReplyDelete
  15. @Marleen: it is fun.

    @Janis: the carvers do dress for the cold!

    @VP: they're well insulated.

    @Grace: they wouldn't last long in that heat.

    @Jan: the temperatures have dropped- good for the Canal, which reopened.

    @Lowell: they're very talented.

    @Tex: indeed!

    @Luis: they are.

    @EG: I do too.

    @Sharon: I think so.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Absolutely amazing...thanks for the behind the scenes shots.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I guess in one way ice is a good carving medium as so many different tools can be used to produce the end product. It seems each year somebody else has found another tool to use.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I never even thought of watching them working. It looks fascinating making something from ice!

    ReplyDelete
  19. We have the same activity in St. Paul's Winter Carnival, and I am always so impressed when I see the final results. PS. I think I have "my groove back again and will be posting more regularly. Thanks for being so faithful about visiting.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This must take an incredible amount of patience....

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm always so impressed by this art. Love the maple leaf!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think you would need a lot of warm clothes!

    ReplyDelete
  23. @Linda: you're welcome.

    @Red: there are some unconventional tools!

    @Jennifer: it's a great treat to watch them at work.

    @Kate: you're welcome!

    @Pat: as am I.

    @Norma: oh yes!

    @Halcyon: indeed.

    @Ciel: so did I.

    @RedPat: definitely!

    @Tanya: it's nice to see that crafted in ice.

    ReplyDelete
  24. gorgeous wings!! i wonder if this artistry is similar to working with wood carving? so cool either way. i am amazed!!! ( :

    ReplyDelete
  25. Guess there's no way you could work in your shorts and shirt sleeves. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Amazing work as always. I particularly like pictures five and six of the guy carving with the ice on his suit...

    ReplyDelete
  27. I can't wait to see the finished products.

    ReplyDelete
  28. @Cheryl: very talented!

    @Beth: I imagine they spend some of their time with wood carving to keep up their skills.

    @Revrunner: definitely not.

    @Geoff: when you're using power tools on ice, it's going to end up sending ice flakes back onto you.

    @Mari: much more of this to come!

    ReplyDelete
  29. They seem to be really focused on their work. Interesting tools of the trade there!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gee that looks cold! But I suppose if ice is your medium that's how it goes. They're doing amazing work!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Seems a shame that the works are not permanent.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Amazing that welding torches should be used on ice. Such a special, creative art. So fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I wonder how someone decides, "Gee, I think I want to be an ice carver."

    ReplyDelete
  34. @Lois: they do get focused.

    @Kay: they're well dressed.

    @Linda: alas, but that's part of the charm.

    @Gemma: yes, they have to be very careful with heat.

    @Jack: it's quite an artistic skill.

    ReplyDelete