The World Ice Art Championships, 2009 Fairbanks

As may be becoming apparent from many of these blog posts, Fairbanks hosts a large number of competitive events in the winter -- many of which I haven't even mentioned (like the outhouse races and the cross-country ski world championships).  

There are common elements to many of these competitions unique to Alaska.  The Alaskan author, Sherry Simpson, characterized this well in the following quote:  They call the race "The Spirit of Adventure" [this is a sailboat race in Southeastern Alaska], and it's true it offers most elements of the best Alaskan contests:  potential disaster, a test of skills undervalued by society, the chance to be pummeled by awful weather, a certain grandeur of vision, and relative pointlessness.  It is practically irresistible. (The Accidental Explorer:  Wayfinding in Alaska, pg 98)  Think Iditarod!

The Ice Park was open from February 24 to March 22nd (extended for an additional week due to the unusual persistence of cold weather).  Harvesting the ice for this competition and other uses began the week before Christmas when they were able to obtain 180 blocks of 4' x 6'x 2' in size, weighing about 3000 lbs each.  They also provide this ice to Anchorage and for the sculptures you will find all over Fairbanks during the winter.  I guess Fairbanks has excellent quality ice for this sort of thing.  The January 2009 issue of the Tip of the Iceberg newsletter has a lot of information -- probably more than you need to know -- but the article on Ice Operations 2008-2009 is quite interesting (http://www.icealaska.com).

The photos below are of some of my favorite pieces -- which just happened to have won most of the awards.  The photos are not brilliant, but I hope they are intriguing enough for you to check out the website (they do look better if you click to enlarge them).  The photos on the website have been taken by professionals.

Title:  50th Celebration by the Sourdough Band

Place:  4th, multi-block, realistic category and Artist's Choice Award

Artists:  Harbin, China (4)

Ice blocks used in multi-block sculptures

Poster for photo below (if you click on it you can read the information)

Title:  The Invitation

Place:  3rd, single-block, realistic and Artist's Choice for this category

Artists:  China (2)

Title:  Pandora's Box

Place:  1st, multi-block, abstract category

Artist's:  Russia (2), US (1), Korean (1)

Title:  Finders Keepers

Category:  single-block, realistic category

Artist's:  US (2)

This sculpture did not place in the judging, but I thought it was quite graceful.

Poster for 1st prize, multi-block, realistic category

Title:  White Fang

Place:  1st, multi-block, realistic category

Artists:  Japanese  (4)

Close-up of wolves

... and the stag

Poster for  1st prize single-block, realistic category

Title:  Surfacing Kingfisher

Place:  1st, single-block, realistic

Artists:  Japanese (1), Canadian (1)

Title:  Spring

Place:  1st, single-block, abstract category

Artists:  1 (US), 1 (UK) 




Title:  Subsistence

Place:  6th, multi-block, realistic category

Artists:  Mongolia (3), US (1)

Title:  The Three Graces

Place:  2nd, multi-block, abstract category

Artists:  Russians (3), US (1)

Title:  Leafy Lunch

Place:  2nd, single block, realistic category

Artists:  US (2)

This piece was entered in the Olympic Arts Trials and these artists will represent the US at the Winter Olympics Arts Festival.  This photo is not very good but the lighting was magnificent.

I found it difficult to photograph these ice sculptures in either daylight or under lights.  It is also hard to provide perspective on exactly how large they are.  I would encourage you to check out the World Ice Art Championships website at http://www.icealaska.com.  If you click on the 2009 links for single- and multi-block photos you can see them as they develop.  Under multi-block 2009, click on #12 daily photos to see very good photos of the winner, White Fang.  It is truly an awesome piece of art.