Ice sculpting on the streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Ice sculpture is a form of sculpture that uses ice as the raw material. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1042x1398, 354 KB) Ice sculpting on the streets of Stockholm. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1042x1398, 354 KB) Ice sculpting on the streets of Stockholm. ... Panoramic view of Gamla stan from the harbour. ...   (IPA: ; UN/LOCODE: SE STO) is the capital of Sweden, and consequently the site of its Government and Parliament as well as the residence of the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf. ... A sculpture is a three-dimensional object, which for the purposes of this article is man-made and selected for special recognition as art. ... material is the substance or matter from which something is or can be made, or also items needed for doing or creating something. ...

Sculpting ice presents a number of difficulties due to the variability and volatility of the material. Ice must be carefully selected to be suitable for sculpting. The ideal material should be made from pure, clean water for high transparency, and have the minimum amount of air bubbles. Completely clear ice sculpture blocks weighing 300 lbs (140 kg) and measuring 40"×20"×10" (100 cm × 50 cm × 25 cm) are produced by specialized machines from the Clinebell company based in Colorado. Much larger clear blocks are produced by large machines in Europe or are harvested from ice quarries in Fairbanks, Alaska or a frozen river in Sweden. These large ice blocks must be moved by heavy machinery and are used for large ice sculpting events or as part of an ice hotel. The temperature of the environment affects how quickly the piece must be completed to avoid the effects of melting; if the sculpting does not take place in a cold environment, then the sculptor must work quickly to finish his piece. Some sculptures can be completed in as little as ten minutes if the carver is using power tools such as chainsaws and specialty die grinders. Many people first see an ice carver at work on cruises at sea where ice sculptures are often used in the elaborate food displays. Ice sculptors also use razor-sharp chisels that are specifically designed for cutting ice. The best ice chisels are made in Japan, a country that, along with China, has a long tradition of magnificent ice sculptures. Impact of a drop of water Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. ... Absolut Icebar in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden (December, 2005). ... In physics, melting is the process of heating a solid substance to a point (called the melting point) where it turns into a liquid. ...

As various technologies are adapted for use with ice carving, many sculptures are now created largely by machine. CNC machines and molding systems are now commonly used to create ice sculptures and complicated logos and color effects are now possible using recent methods. A CNC Turning Center A CNC Milling Machine The abbreviation CNC stands for computer numerical control, and refers specifically to a computer controller that reads G-code instructions and drives the machine tool, a powered mechanical device typically used to fabricate metal components by the selective removal of metal. ...

Cuisine

Ice sculptures feature decoratively in some cuisines, especially in Asia. When holding a dinner party, some large restaurants or hotels will use an ice sculpture to decorate the table. One of the most popular themes involves a pair of swans, often representing the couple in a wedding celebration. Cuisine (from French cuisine, cooking; culinary art; kitchen; ultimately from Latin coquere, to cook) is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Species 6-7 living, see text. ... Nubian wedding with some international modern touches, near Aswan, Egypt Preparing for the photographs, at a wedding in Thornbury Castle, England A traditional Japanese wedding ceremony A wedding is a ceremony which celebrates the beginning of a marriage. ...

Ice sculpture around the world

A deer sculpted out of ice in the parking lot of "Squire's Pub" in West Long Branch, NJ

Image File history File linksMetadata Ice_Deer. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ice_Deer. ...

China

In China, Heilongjiang Province is the most significant region for ice sculpture. The most famous event is the increasingly popular International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival held annually in Harbin. The festival has consistently increased in size over the years, with more talented artists involved and more impressive techniques and pieces on show. Ice sculpture decoration ranges from the modern technology of lasers to traditional ice lanterns. The climate of Heilongjiang is very cold and ice is plentiful. Objects of all sizes appear, up to and including building-sized pieces. Heilongjiang (Simplified Chinese: 黑龙江省; Traditional Chinese: 黑龍江省; pinyin: Hēilóngjiāng; Postal System Pinyin: Heilungkiang) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. ... Ice and Snow World in Harbin The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has been held since 1985. ... Harbin on a map of China For other meanings of Harbin, see Harbin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Laser (disambiguation). ... Heilongjiang (Simplified Chinese: 黑龙江省; Traditional Chinese: 黑龍江省; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Postal System Pinyin: Heilungkiang) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. ...

United States

Since 1989, Alaska has hosted the annual World Ice Art Championships. Nearly 100 sculptors come from around the world to sculpt large blocks of pristine natural ice. The event is run almost exclusively by volunteers.

In a typical year, more than 45,000 spectators pass through the gates of the Ice Park home of the World Ice Art Championships. The competition is broken down into two main categories: Single Block and Multi-Block and each competition is further separated into Abstract and Realistic sculptures. One of the most popular attractions is the Kids Park where children of all ages can glide down ice slides or spin in ice twirly tops.

Typically held the last week of February and the first week of March, spectators may view the sculptors at work during the championship competitions. In the Single Block Classic, teams of up to two persons work on a 3'×5'×8' (90 cm × 150 cm × 200 cm) block of naturally formed Alaskan ice, weighing roughly 7,800 pounds (3,500 kg). In the Multi-Block Classic, teams of up to four persons each receive ten blocks of approximately 6'×4'×3' (180 cm × 100 cm × 90 cm) each weighing about 4,400 pounds (2,000 kg). to create their crystal masterpieces. Teams that compete in both the Single Block and Multi-Block events must handle a total of 50,000 pounds (23 t) of ice. Power tools and scaffolding can be used in both events: assistance from heavy equipment is only permitted in the Multi-Block Classic Competition. Thus, participation in the event requires exceptional strength, endurance, and engineering skill as well as mastery of basic ice sculpture techniques and artistic vision.

The National Ice Carving Association (NICA), based in Oak Brook, Illinois (in the Chicago metro area) is an organization of ice carvers and those interested in ice carving. NICA sanctions and supports various ice sculpture competitions around the United States and in Canada and has held a yearly National Championship since 1991. NICA also was responsible for managing the ice carving competition held in conjunction with the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and provided support for the most recent 2006 event in Italy.

Perhaps even more important than its to role in ice sculpture competitions, NICA also holds tradeshows and seminars that are designed to educate and inform those interested in ice sculpture. NICA offers resources and information for the business side of ice carving as well. NICA has an elected board of directors and an executive director and produces a newsletter (On Ice) and maintains a website (http://www.nica.org) Many of the world's best ice sculptors are members of NICA and NICA is a valuable resource for those working to be the best.

Japan

The Japanese city of Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido is famous for its winter carnival, in which teams compete to create ice sculptures. Some of these creations are the size of multiple-story buildings. This article is about the Japanese municipality system. ... Sapporo ) is the fifth-largest city in Japan by population and the third-largest by geographic area. ... Hokkaido   listen? (北海道 Hokkaidō, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, is the second largest island of Japan. ...

As well as its popularity in Asia, there are many countries in the west famous for their ice sculpture. The term Western world or the West (also on rare occasions called the Occident) can have multiple meanings depending on its context (i. ...

Sweden

Although ice hotels now exist in several cold countries, the Ice Hotel in Kiruna, Sweden is best known as the earliest. Since its creation in 1989, the hotel has featured in many television travel programmes, magazines and newspapers. With the exception of the beds, the entire hotel is made completely out of ice blocks - even the glasses in the bar are made of ice. The ice is made from water taken from the River Torne. The hotel features more than 60 rooms and suites, a bar, reception area and chapel. It charges around 2,800 Swedish Krona (approx. 390 US dollars) per room per night. The hotel only exists between November and May. Kiruna is a city in northernmost Sweden with 19,000 inhabitants; and 23,000 in the Kiruna Municipality. ... A chapel is a private church, usually small and often attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. ... ISO 4217 Code SEK User(s) Sweden Inflation 2. ...

Finland

The SnowCastle of Kemi is the biggest snow castle in the world, built in Kemi in 1996. Since it the world's largest snow castle has been built annually in Kemi. The area has varied from 13,000 to over 20,000 square meters. Highest towers have been over 20 meters high and longest walls over 1,000 meters long. Sometimes there has even been three-storey buildings there. The SnowRestaurant has ice tables and seats covered with reindeer fur. The ecumenical SnowChapel decorated with ice sculptures has seen numerous weddings. Many couples have come from Japan and Hong Kong. There is also a SnowHotel in the snow castle. The Hotel has double rooms and a honeymoon suite with ice decorations, too. SnowCastle in 2006 Snow Restaurant The SnowCastle of Kemi is the biggest snow castle in the world. ... Kemi is a town and municipality of Finland. ... Binomial name Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758) Reindeer map The reindeer, known as caribou when wild in North America, is an Arctic and Subarctic-dwelling deer (Rangifer tarandus). ... The word ecumenism (also oecumenism, Å“cumenism) is derived from Greek (oikoumene), which means the inhabited world, and was historically used with specific reference to the Roman Empire. ...

There are ice decorations also in Lainio Snow Hotel (near Ylläs and Levi, Finland). Levi is a town in Finnish Lapland most notable as a winter tourist destination. ...

Canada

The Ice Castle at the International Ice Sculpture Competition and Exhibition 2005, Lake Louise, Alberta

In Canada, Quebec City, Quebec holds an ice sculpture festival each year during the Quebec City Winter Carnival. The sculpture festival lasts about three weeks. For the sheer variety of ice sculptures and the number of visitors, the Quebec festival is regarded by some as the best in the world. Each year about twenty teams are chosen to participate in the competition. Half of these teams come from Canada and the others come from other countries. Ice sculpting started to become important in Quebec in the 1880s, as traditional sculptors like Louis Jobin turned their skills on this less permanent medium. Image File history File linksMetadata Ice_Castle_-_Lake_Louise_Jan_2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ice_Castle_-_Lake_Louise_Jan_2005. ... Motto: « Don de Dieu feray valoir Â» (I shall put Gods gift to good use) Site in the province of Québec Official logo Provincial region Province Country Capitale-Nationale Québec Canada Gentilé Québécois, Québécoise Mayor Jean-Paul LAllier 1989-Dec. ... Bonhomme Carnaval is the ambassador of Carnaval de Québec The biggest winter carnival in the world, the Carnaval de Québec (known in English as the Quebec City Winter Carnival) is a celebration held yearly in Quebec City, Canada, with many activities, such as dogsled rides, night parades, snow... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ...

In the National Capital Region of Canada the Crystal Garden international invitational ice-carving competition starts every February, as part of the Winterlude winter festival of Ottawa. The competition site has been located in Confederation Park in Ottawa and also on the shores of Leamy lake in Gatineau, across the Ottawa River. There is a solo category, a pairs category and a one-bloc challenge. In addition to the sculptures done in the competition many ice sculptures are made to decorate the many Winterlude sites. Ice sculpture museum carved out of snow at the annual Winterlude Sculptures in Confederation Park are illuminated nightly Winterlude is an annual festival in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec that celebrates winter. ... Motto: Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant Location of the City of Ottawa in the Province of Ontario Coordinates: Country Canada Province Ontario Established 1850 as Town of Bytown Incorporated 1855 as City of Ottawa Amalgamated January 1, 2001 Government  - Mayor Larry OBrien  - City Council Ottawa City Council  - Representatives 8... The fountain in Confederation Park Confederation Park is a downtown park in Ottawa, Canada. ... Map of Quebec with Gatineau highlighted in red. ... This is about the river in Canada. ...

About 10 km East of Quebec city, near Montmorency Falls and within the grounds of the Duchesnay winter resort the first Ice hotel in North America is erected each January. Small and medium sized ice sculptures are used to decorate the interiors. Montmorency Falls in the summer. ... Absolut Icebar in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden (December, 2005). ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

Russia

Gorky Park sculptures

An annual competition is held in Moscow's Gorky Park. Image:Icesculptureingorkyparkmoscow. ... Image:Icesculptureingorkyparkmoscow. ... Gorky Park (Moscow) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Ireland

Not Traditionally known for Ice sculpture, Ireland has produced some well respected sculptors, winning The Jelgaga International Ice sculpture Festival two years running. See also Duthain Dealbh [Duthain Dealbh], is made up of the three Irish sculptors Daniel Doyle, Niall Magee and Alan Magee all graduates of Fine Art Sculpture, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Dublin, Ireland. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...

See also

• Ice palace

An ice palace or ice castle is a castle-like structure made of blocks of ice. ...

External links

• The National Ice Carving Association (NICA)
• Ice Hotel Sweden
• Ice Hotel
• Lainio Snow & Ice Village, Finland
• Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival
• CNC CAD/CAM Automation for carving Ice
• ice carving secrets: ice carving information and techniques