I left off yesterday's post with the ice sculptures outside the Lord Elgin Hotel. A short walk away is the Chateau Laurier, one of the other official hotels for Winterlude. Ice sculptures can also be found at its front entrance.
Back into Confederation Park, I have views first of some of the solo ice sculpture carvers at work. Carvers work over the course of the first weekend, using hydraulic lifts to move around the pre-fabricated blocks of ice, and carving smaller pieces and placing them on tables to be set for insertion into the larger work. Their tools start out with chainsaws and include handsaws, chisels, sandpaper, and even things like blow dryers or torches.
I walked over to the shelter housing the pairs sculptures to look at the work in progress. The carvers here are from places you'd expect- here in Canada and Europe- but also the unexpected, like Mauritius, Mexico,the Phillippines, and Iraq. I have more of this tomorrow.
...chilly work, reminds me of chainsaw craving in the Adirondack Mountains.
ReplyDeleteThat's the good thing about events like this William, it brings artists from around the world together, that can only be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ice sculptures. I can see a scary hand with long nails!
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e Bom Dia dos Namorados.
ReplyDeleteAndarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Wonder if people learn to carve from families or from working in restaurants. Sounds so international.
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
I can see how easily you could goof one of these up!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful work and an interesting hobby.
ReplyDelete@Tom: they were well dressed for it!
ReplyDelete@Grace: quite literally! The Iraqi carver was working with a Canadian carver, if I'm not mistaken.
@Nancy: yes, part of a dragon. That dragon's probably my favourite sculpture here- that or the Pegasus.
@Francisco: thank you!
@Janis: they certainly must start somewhere.
@Janey: one mistake could be ruinous.
@Marie: it is all beautifully done.
So much much talent!
ReplyDeleteLovely.
I love that sweeping staircase in the last photo.
ReplyDeleteThat's a place where the sun isn't welcome too long, I think ...
ReplyDeleteInteresting how they make the rough shape and then put in the details. Nice way to show things.
ReplyDeleteSo much detail. They are very talented!
ReplyDeleteShaping up so well! That is a surprise to learn there are ice carvers from more exotic climes!
ReplyDelete@Catarina: there seems quite a tradition of ice carvers from around the world.
ReplyDelete@Sharon: I do too. The finished sculpture is a beauty.
@Jan: no, that's true. The solo sculptures, being on the north side, get just a bit of sunlight early in the day, but not much. The shelters keep these fairly well contained.
@Red: it's quite a process, watching the carvings being done.
@Lois: they are indeed.
@Christine: yes, these are places where snow is never seen!
Just so amazing. Interesting
ReplyDeleteMB
It's interesting to watch how they do these.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm gonna like what that fella in the last photo is creating.
ReplyDeleteOooh that gift box looks neat!
ReplyDeleteSculptures are so beautiful! Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteSuch talent!
ReplyDeleteIt is so amazing to see them at work!
ReplyDeleteI still can't get my mind around the fact that humans can actually do this kind of artistry! It's truly incredible. I mean, really, carving blocks of ice into beautiful sculptures! Like I said, incredible!
ReplyDelete@MB: it is a visual feast, this event.
ReplyDelete@Karl: it is. I've noticed other people captivated by watching the process.
@Revrunner: it's quite a fanciful sculpture!
@Jenn: and that's only half of the sculpture.
@Klara: thank you!
@RedPat: a lot of talent!
@Marleen: it definitely is.
@Lowell: incredible indeed!
can't pick a fave ...they are all so neat-O!! very cool. good times. ( :
ReplyDeleteIt must be amazing to watch the artists sculpt their creations.
ReplyDeleteAwesome and creative works ~ neat shots too!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Amazing ice sculptures William. I first saw someone working on ice sculptures in Thailand about 15 years ago. Such talented artists.
ReplyDeleteYou have carvers galore, William. And they're all good.
ReplyDeleteFascinating and gorgeous or gorgous and fascinating. Take your pick.
ReplyDeleteUhm...of course! Ice carvers from the equatorial region...Wherever they're from their work is pretty spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThey're all so beautiful!
ReplyDelete@Beth: yes they are.
ReplyDelete@Bill: it is.
@Carol: thanks!
@Sami: I quite agree.
@Catalyst: that they are.
@Mari: indeed.
@Kay: yes, quite odd!
@Norma: definitely!