World Ice Art Championships

25th World Ice Art Championship banner.

The World Ice Art Championships is an ice sculpting contest in Fairbanks, Alaska put on by Ice Alaska, a non-profit corporation started in 1989. The contest is the largest of its kind in the world and attended by more than 100 sculptors from 30 different countries every year.[1] The contest also draws tens of thousands of spectators; in 2004, 48,000 people from more than 28 countries passed through the park's gates.[2]

History

A multi-block sculpture.

Ice Alaska put on its first ice art championship in 1991; it featured 16 sculpting teams and lasted a week. Today the event lasts a month and features 75 teams from around the world.[3] Through 2011, the ice festival took place on a 20-acre (8.1 ha) site across the Chena River from Pioneer Park, which the organizers leased from the Alaska Railroad.[4] In 2012 the event moved to a new location, the George Horner Ice Art Park.[5] Ice blocks are harvested from an 80-foot-deep pond called O'Grady Pond Too; the ice is so clear it is referred to as "arctic diamond".[6] In addition to sculptures on view, the event features a Kids Park sculpted out of ice, including ice slides, an ice maze, an ice rink, and spinning cups.[7]

Events

Mexican sculptor Abel Ramírez Águilar with his work at the event
A single block sculpture

The championship is divided into three separate divisions, each of which is divided again into abstract and realistic categories.

Single Block Classic

The Single Block Classic is the first and largest event of the championships. In the event, two-person teams work with the ice from a single ice block measuring 5 feet x 8 feet x 3 feet and weighing more than 7,800 pounds (4 tons) and have two days to complete their sculpture. During this event, heavy machinery may not be used. This event is typically sponsored by ConocoPhillips.

"Cool Brees" ice sculpture of Drew Brees
9-foot-tall (2.7 m) ice sculpture depicting New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees & titled "Cool Brees" at the 2010 World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska

Multi-Block Classic

In the Multi-Block Classic, teams of four members receive twelve blocks of ice measuring 4 feet x 4 feet x 3 feet and have five days to produce their sculpture. The final creations of this event will weigh up to 20 tons and tower over 25 feet in height. During this event, heavy machinery may be used. It is typically sponsored by British Petroleum.

Fairbanks Open

The Fairbanks Open is an unjudged part of the competition, wherein amateur sculptors work alongside world-famous artists.

Winners

Year Block Category Name Artists
2010 Single Realistic Blue Ring Octopus JapanJunichi Nakamura United StatesHeather Brice
2010 Single Abstract Ice Dancing RussiaVitaliy Lednev RussiaSergey Loginov
2006 Single Realistic Beach Walker United StatesSteve Brice JapanJunichi Nakamura
2006 Single Abstract Fiddler RussiaVladimir Zhikhartsev RussiaVitaliy Lednev
2006 Multi Realistic Balto's Charge United StatesSteve Berkshire United StatesMark Johnson United StatesStanley Kolonko United StatesCarl Eady
2006 Multi Abstract Sunrise Over Spring Water RussiaSergei Zaplatin RussiaSergey Tselebrovskiy RussiaGrigoriy Ponomarev United StatesLarry Moen
2005 Single Realistic Leap United StatesSteve Brice United StatesAaron Costic
2005 Single Abstract Fire of Love RussiaVitaliy Lednev RussiaVladimir Zhikhartsev
2005 Multi Realistic Animal Parade United StatesSteve Brice United StatesHeather Brown United StatesTajana Raukar United StatesMario Amegee
2005 Multi Abstract Gateway United StatesAaron Costic United StatesGregory Butauski United StatesChad Hartson United StatesJeff Meyers
2004 Single Realistic Colorful Duo United StatesPaul Raukar United StatesTajana Raukar
2004 Single Abstract The Dance United StatesJennie Graham United StatesJames Stugart
2004 Multi Realistic Dragon Boat ChinaYan Liansheng ChinaZhang Daquan ChinaMa Yue ChinaAn Quifeng
2004 Multi Abstract Michelangelo Hi-Tech-The Creation of Ice Man RussiaVitaliy Lednev United StatesKaren Pless United StatesChuck Carpenter United StatesKathleen Carlo-Kendall
2003 Single Realistic Graceful Predator JapanJunichi Nakamura United StatesTajana Raukar
2003 Single Abstract White Dance RussiaAlexander Zaitsev United StatesRegan Dillon
2003 Multi Realistic Friend or Foe United StatesSteve Brice United StatesJoan Brice United StatesHeather Brown United StatesTajana Raukar
2003 Multi Abstract Seed of Promise Czech RepublicLumir Lang United StatesBen Firth United StatesCraig Araquistain United StatesAmy Moran
2002 Single Realistic King of the Sky JapanJunichi Nakamura CanadaHideshi Terada
2002 Single Abstract Flame in the Wind RussiaVladimir Zhikhartsev RussiaSergey Loguinov
2002 Multi Realistic Leap of Faith United StatesTajana Raukar United StatesHeather Brown United StatesWendy Croskrey United StatesJoan Brice
2002 Multi Abstract Ice Falls Czech RepublicLumir Lang United StatesBen Firth JapanTokuji Nakano United StatesCraig Araquistain
2001 Single Realistic A Total Lack of Sharing United StatesSteve Brice United StatesKevin Roscoe
2001 Single Abstract Enlightenment RussiaVladimir Zhikhartsev RussiaSergey Loguenov
2001 Multi Realistic Pretenders United StatesAaron Costic United StatesSteve Brice FinlandMarja Pohjoisaho United StatesTajana Raukar
2001 Multi Abstract The Unison of Love RussiaSergei Tselebrovski RussiaSergei Bannikh RussiaSergei Loguenov RussiaAlexander Zaitsev

See also

References

  1. Sculpture that melts in spring | csmonitor.com
  2. Travel Video
  3. "Past events". Ice Alaska. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  4. "Fairbanks' Ice Alaska eyes 2011 lease". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. April 16, 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  5. "Alaska Railroad helps Fairbanks ice park move to new location". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. June 24, 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  6. "Harvest". Ice Alaska. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  7. "Ice Park is a draw for Fairbanks families, visitors". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. March 10, 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.

External links

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Coordinates: 64°50′51″N 147°48′22″W / 64.84750°N 147.80611°W / 64.84750; -147.80611

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