Ice Sculpture Festivals Are a Fun Part of The
For some people winter is a season to dread. Shorter days (less sunlight) and cold temperatures can cause some people to stay inside. Sometimes the best way to beat the winter blues is by taking part in winter activities. Outdoor sports like skiing, snowboarding, skating or playing hockey are a healthy and fun way of getting out of a winter slump. Winter carnivals and festivals are another great way to spend a winter day. One common feature that many winter festivals and carnivals have is an ice sculpture display.
Artists who work with ice can create a wide variety of sculptures. They are made from blocks of ice, which can be clear or cloudy, using water that can be coloured before it is frozen to add another dimension to the artwork. Different coloured lights can also be built within the sculpture or placed behind to create a dazzling effect.
Some ice sculptures are small and can be used with food presentations or as table top decorations for banquets and other events. In fact, there are several professional level cooking schools that show patrons how to create an ice sculpture. A large sculpture is made from ice that is found outside and is more commonly featured at a winter festival or carnival. One type of large ice sculpture is similar to a statue, where an object, person, animal or other type of creature (such as a famous cartoon character) could be sculpted from the ice. Some of these larger sculptures might be a few feet high and some have been as tall as 48 feet. Outdoor sculptures will last longer than one indoors. Outdoor sculptures can last from a few days to a few months, depending on the temperature outside and other weather conditions. However, most professional level ice sculptures - even those that are inside - will last for at least a few hours.
This art form is not limited to statue type figures; they can include many other displays such as a giant slide the entire family can enjoy. Another large type of ice sculpture are those that have been carved to look like buildings, castles, temples or entire scenes. Some of these creations can actually function as a building. There are several ice hotels around the world in countries like Sweden and Canada where people can spend a night or two in a structure made completely of ice. There are also ice bars, where everything (including the glasses used for drinks) are made of ice. This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience where quite literally everything about you is a work of frozen art.
An ice sculpture is an exquisite piece of temporary art created by artisans who toil over large blocks of frozen water for many hours to create a thing of beauty. The coloured lights hidden within the sculpture or shining from behind bring another dimension to these centrepieces, enhancing the decor of both indoor and outdoor events. No matter what the size or type, an ice sculpture is something that can bring a little winter magic to anyone.