Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Sculptors At Work

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.

33 comments:

  1. ...chilly work, reminds me of chainsaw craving in the Adirondack Mountains.

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  2. That's the good thing about events like this William, it brings artists from around the world together, that can only be a good thing.

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  3. Beautiful ice sculptures. I can see a scary hand with long nails!

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  4. Wonder if people learn to carve from families or from working in restaurants. Sounds so international.

    Janis
    GDP

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  5. I can see how easily you could goof one of these up!

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  6. Such beautiful work and an interesting hobby.

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  7. @Tom: they were well dressed for it!

    @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.

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  8. I love that sweeping staircase in the last photo.

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  9. That's a place where the sun isn't welcome too long, I think ...

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  10. Interesting how they make the rough shape and then put in the details. Nice way to show things.

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  11. So much detail. They are very talented!

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  12. Shaping up so well! That is a surprise to learn there are ice carvers from more exotic climes!

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  13. @Catarina: there seems quite a tradition of ice carvers from around the world.

    @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!

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  14. It's interesting to watch how they do these.

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  15. I think I'm gonna like what that fella in the last photo is creating.

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  16. Oooh that gift box looks neat!

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  17. Sculptures are so beautiful! Happy Valentine's Day!

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  18. It is so amazing to see them at work!

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  19. I 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!

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  20. @MB: it is a visual feast, this event.

    @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!

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  21. can't pick a fave ...they are all so neat-O!! very cool. good times. ( :

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  22. It must be amazing to watch the artists sculpt their creations.

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  23. Awesome and creative works ~ neat shots too!

    Happy Valentine's Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  24. Amazing ice sculptures William. I first saw someone working on ice sculptures in Thailand about 15 years ago. Such talented artists.

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  25. You have carvers galore, William. And they're all good.

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  26. Fascinating and gorgeous or gorgous and fascinating. Take your pick.

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  27. Uhm...of course! Ice carvers from the equatorial region...Wherever they're from their work is pretty spectacular.

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  28. @Beth: yes they are.

    @Bill: it is.

    @Carol: thanks!

    @Sami: I quite agree.

    @Catalyst: that they are.

    @Mari: indeed.

    @Kay: yes, quite odd!

    @Norma: definitely!

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