Upon leaving the ice sculptures that I finished with yesterday, I stopped nearby at this snow sculpture, erected outside the Chateau Lafayette, the oldest surviving pub in the city, dating back to 1849, hence the year on the back of the sculpture. This is a tribute to the legendary Ottawa Valley lumberjack and strongman Joseph Montferrand, who probably stopped in at the Lafayette in its early years.
This part of the Byward Market has a number of interconnected courtyards. One of them contains some Winterlude exhibits. One of them is an ice sculpture from the European Union.
Items are embedded in the ice from across Europe. I'll be incorporating additional shots into that Purple theme day in May.
Also here in this courtyard were animal silhouettes and video screens with footage of First Nations activities of the far north.
I paused at the entrance to another courtyard area. A woman was taking a photograph before she noticed me.
...a creative way the brighten up the long winter.
ReplyDeleteThat looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly make an effort to keep you guys out and about at winter time. I think I would just hibernate.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that connection with Europe!
ReplyDeleteI am freezing when I see the exposition, today we have 14°C in February, very unusual, so it's good that I see the nice sculptures and the interesting embedded items on a screen !
ReplyDeleteYou are a man of discipline if you only stopped OUTSIDE the pub on a cold day in February! I think a little warmth and a snifter of brandy could have lured me in!
ReplyDeleteSnow sculptures really captivate me. I'm going to have to reread how they are done.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend.
Janis
GDP
i figured u knew the lady ... funny how that happens. looks so cold. another week gone, time flies. have a great weekend. ( ;
ReplyDeleteAnd so grew the legend of Big Joe Mufferaw.
ReplyDeleteThe snow sculptures are incredible William, not as ethereal as the ice sculptures.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very nice. Great to see the connection with the EU.
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful things and places to see...
ReplyDeleteI love the lady looking back at ya, knowing she's been caught by your camera I imagine! Did you say anything to her, or she to you? The snow standing so high, with clear walkways is something I've never seen. Nor have I seen ice or snow sculptures...though I did make a few when I was a kid! Seriously, a woman sitting in a rocking chair graced my yard one winter.
ReplyDeleteI love the lumberjack and that ice sculpture is interesting.
ReplyDeleteHello, I love the cool silhouettes and the sculptures. Enjoy your day and happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteEvery year they learn to do more with ice and snow sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI like it! Thank you so much!The ice sculpture from the European Union is great! I can see my own country in it with frozen tulips?
ReplyDeleteThe detail of that first sculpture is great!
ReplyDeleteI like those those frozen shelves with the European item and the animal sculptures.
ReplyDelete@Tom: it is indeed.
ReplyDelete@Lady Fi: that's true!
@Joan: we get out and about.
@Italiafinlandia: it's quite a connection.
@Gattina: today it's below freezing and snowing again.
@David: admittedly I don't like the taste of alcohol, so I never step into pubs.
@Janis: it's a lot of the same tools as ice sculptures- chain saws, hand saws, chisels.
@Beth: no, I didn't know her.
@Anvilcloud: as he's known by the Anglos!
@Grace: it's quite a difference between them.
@Jan: the EU often sponsors ice sculptures.
@Catarina: indeed!
@Barbara: nothing said!
@Sharon: I agree.
@Eileen: thanks!
@Red: they do, yes.
@Aritha: you're welcome!
@Marie: I agree.
@Sami: so do I.
Beautiful sculptures and I love the animal silhouettes!
ReplyDeleteYou folks make winter fun!
ReplyDeleteThe detail in the snow sculptures is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI really like that last courtyard and the animal silhouettes!
ReplyDeleteThose animal silhouettes are amazing to see.
ReplyDeleteIf we have to have winter, at least there is cool stuff to see!!
ReplyDeleteThe two series I look forward to you doing every year: Winterlude and the Tulip Festival!
ReplyDelete@Tamago: so did I.
ReplyDelete@Cloudia: that we do.
@Spare Parts: I thought so.
@RedPat: I did as well.
@Bill: that they are.
@Jenn: true!
@Norma: I love both of them.
It all looks very magical. The snow sculpture of Joseph Montferrand makes me want to find out more about him. I like the idea of the items across Europe being embedded in the ice, and the animal silhouettes are a lovely addition. Thanks for another very interesting post William.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am able to see this without enduring the cold. Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the purple European ice designs. I could study those for a long time. :-)
ReplyDeleteThose silhouettes nearly look real. I can imagine some slightly inebriated tourist running into them some night and reacting in terror!
ReplyDeleteThe snow sculpture is so NICE. Lot better than my snowman! :)
ReplyDelete"...the oldest surviving pub in the city, dating back to 1849"
ReplyDeleteI misunderstood this at first and thought you meant the oldest surviving ice sculpture! :-D
It is amazing what people can do with ice and snow. But it is Canada...if you don't do things with ice and snow, you won't do things.
Wow, this is so well done, so detailed and with clever ideas!
ReplyDeleteI like the Joseph Montferrand sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI would love to watch the sculptors at work, chipping away at the ice.
ReplyDeleteThe animal silhouettes and illuminated trees are wonderful:)
ReplyDeleteSo impressive. I am not a winter woman but I have to say, you make winter in Ottawa look like the season to be there!
ReplyDeleteSnow sculptures are divine and love the bear silhouettes ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Gostei de ver estes trabalhos e aproveito para desejar um bom fim-de-semana.
ReplyDeleteAndarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
I like the silhouettes. I remember painting the snow one year. I might do that again. It just makes things fun.
ReplyDeleteLike many others who have commented - I too love the animal silhouettes.
ReplyDeleteGood to see your photographs William.
All the best Jan
I agree.
Delete@Denise: from all I've heard, he was quite a character.
ReplyDelete@Mari: you're welcome.
@DJan: thank you!
@Catalyst: I can see that!
@Happyone: mine too!
@Sandi: quite true.
@Iris: thank you!
@Kay: I do too.
@Nancy: I enjoy it.
ReplyDelete@Rosie: they are!
@Jeanie: thanks!
@Carol: I do too.
@Francisco: thanks.
@Jennifer: thank you.
@Jan: good to show them.
@Klara: thank you.