Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Ice Carvers At Work

The main ice sculptures have for years been held in Confederation Park, but have changed this year to being placed in the Byward Market. I asked someone who was working with Winterlude efforts this year about it, and he indicated that the trees in the park have been growing too big for the structures that need to be in place for the event, and so the trees have to come first. We'll see if this location happens to be the case next year, as I don't personally think this spot is the most ideal place for the ice sculptures. That said, however, I have been to see the sculptures several times, have enjoyed them, and will take them in again before it's all said and done. Today I start with this one that was out in the open.


I like to photograph the carvers at work on that first weekend of the festival, and I did so on that first Saturday evening when most of the sculptures were well along. Sculptors commence on the Friday afternoon and have until the end of Sunday afternoon to finish their work. They come from around the world, plan what they want to carve in advance, and start piling up a series of blocks (shipped in from a facility that makes these ice blocks). Using a series of tools ranging from chain saws to hand saws to chisels, as well as some more unorthodox methods, they start fashioning their vision out of the ice. I have more of these works in progress over the next two days.

59 comments:

  1. Wow - amazing! Or should I say, very n-ice?

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  2. ...a wonderful to enjoy winter!

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  3. That is an amazing skill but it seems a shame that they are ephemeral.

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  4. Wonderful. The nearest thing we have are people doing chainsaw sculptures in wood, not cold enough anywhere here for ice sculptures.

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  5. Gorgeous! This people really love the ice ....

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  6. It never ceases to amaze me what they can produce.

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  7. I love these sculptures, we also have them here each year, and also sand sculptures.

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  8. A cold business to make them, but they look beautiful.

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  9. Very talented artists, what a pity the work doesn't last for years.

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  10. So many winter traditions. Such short-lived art!

    Janis
    GDP

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  11. Such fine and delicate work with such rough tools. Great craftsmanship.

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  12. I feel cold just looking at them.
    They are really good at their job.

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  13. very cold works ... i am smiling over the little one in the 1st shot ... who looks so so cold??! i bet it is fun to see though. worth the cold times to see them do their handiwork. ( ;

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  14. Hello, I love the ice sculptures. The artist are amazing, great work. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day. Have a great week ahead!

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  15. @Lady Fi: n-ice indeed!

    @Tom: that it is.

    @Italiafinlandia: definitely!

    @Rosemary: the fact that they don't last makes them all the more precious.

    @Joan: I'll have some wood carving work coming up in a post soon.

    @Ella: they are quite splendid.

    @David: I know the feeling.

    @Gattina: sand sculptures we do not see.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Marianne: that they do.

    @Sami: alas, no.

    @Janis: it's a wonderful tradition.

    @Jan: I certainly agree.

    @Catarina: they are warmly dressed for the job.

    @Beth: they are well worth seeing.

    @Eileen: that I agree with.

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  16. I love that first one and hope to see it finished. Lovely! :-)

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  17. Simply gorgeous...and their limited lifespan seems to make them more endearing. But the fragility and need for cold continuously also speak to how the medium itself creates other criteria within which the artist must plan. Then they seem to stretch these boundaries to the limits! I haven't ever seen them, but they are certainly worth spending as long as one can to look and enjoy them.

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  18. They always amaze me! Thanks, William!

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  19. The sculptures are so elaborate and detailed, I'd love to see them. I wonder what the ice sculptors do in the summer????

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  20. Here we go....artists at work. It always surprises me that they can get such beauty out of ice and with a chainsaw.

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  21. Fascinating to watch William, wish I was there ✨

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  22. These guys are real pros when they ship in ice p
    blocks from a facility that makes that makes them. No more going down to the lake to cut ice.

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  23. @DJan: yes, I've got it coming down the line.

    @Anvilcloud: I like doing that each year.

    @Barbara: it's quite something to see happen.

    @RedPat: you're welcome.

    @Shammickite: it wouldn't surprise me if they do wood carving.

    @Sharon: they certainly do craft wonders.

    @Grace: it is fascinating.

    @Red: that's true!

    @Jennifer: I agree.

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  24. Amazing artists! Ice sculptures always intrigue me. I can't imagine how many hours it takes to get one done and in the freezing cold. Awesome!

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  25. Nice Art action shots, W. Amazing how they surprise and delight every year!

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  26. It’s great to see the artists at work!

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  27. That is so amazing. All that work and then it just melts.

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  28. I am in awe of y’all he work these artists do in those conditions. And the Zen feeling of creating this beauty that won’t last forever !

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  29. Must be very tricky to carve ice ~ Beautiful work ~ ^_^

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

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  30. Amazing to see photos as the sculptors work

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  31. Beautiful work those carvers do, the masters of their craft!

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  32. This event always produces fascinating examples of creativity! Tweeted.

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  33. I always find it amazing that a block of ice can be transformed into a work of art by these skilled ice carvers, working in the cold temperatures and often in tight quarters.

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  34. Ice sculpting is a wonderful thing to see, each one is amazing! And so temporary.

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  35. Beautiful work. Yet I am glad it's too warm for this where I live. That is a long period of cold weather!

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  36. @Betty: it's a lot of work.

    @Cloudia: they do amaze!

    @Marie: that it is.

    @Happyone: actually they break them down when the festival ends.

    @MB: so do I.

    @Sallie: I agree.

    @Carol: it takes skill and great care.

    @Maywyn: that it is.

    @Bill: I quite agree.

    @Mari: thank you.

    @Pat: and they do it!

    @Tammie: I agree with that.

    @Iris: and lots more cold to come.

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  37. It's amazing how beautiful and detailed these sculptures can be.

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  38. A great time-lapse series. They must be dedicated to work in the cold.

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  39. I am so impressed by ice carvers. Something I could never do and greatly admire!

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  40. So fast a year has passed and the ice sculptors are back again. Looking forward to see their wonderful sculptures.

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  41. Simply amazing and the sculptures produced are awesome!

    All the best Jan

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  42. The sculptors are so talented to work with such fragile ice:)

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  43. I am going to have to make a point to check out the ice carving going on here during the Canada Winter Games. Hopefully they are lit up as well done as these!

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  44. If I tried to do that, all I'd end up with would be ice cubes!

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