World Ice Art Championships

The World Ice Art Championships is an ice sculpting contest in Fairbanks, Alaska produced 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]

25th World Ice Art Championship banner.

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 begins mid February and, weather permitting, lasts until the end of March, featuring the art and skill of as many as 75 teams from around the world.[3]

Locations: 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] In 2017, after a fire destroyed their main lodge, the Ice Alaska organization restructured to protect the future of the event. Then, in 2018 they reached an agreement with the Tanana Valley State Fair Association and moved the World Ice Art Championships, along with the associated Ice Alaska Ice Park, to the Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds.

Ice Alaska has negotiated with a new property owner to harvest ice blocks and transport them to the new venue; 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 professional competitions, a youth event, and an amateur exhibition. abstract and realistic categories.

Single Block Classic

The Single Block Classic is open to 30 contestants. (One Artist and One Block of Ice) Each Artist is provided one block of Ice 6’x4’x3’ (roughly 1,720 lbs) and 48 hours to create a sculpture.

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

Double Block Classic

The Double Block Classic is open to 25 Teams (2 Artists and 2 Blocks of Ice) Each Team is provided two blocks of Ice 6’x4’x3’ (roughly 3,440 lbs) and 72 hours to create a sculpture.

Multi-Block Classic

The Multi-Block Classic is open to 15 Teams (4 Artists with 9 Blocks of Ice) Each Team is provided 9 blocks of ice 6’x4’x3’ (roughly 15,490 lbs) and 132 hours to create a sculpture.

Youth Classic

This competition is held during the week of School Spring Break, usually the second week of March. Is open to ~5 to 15 teams. A Team is defined as 1 or 2 Carvers. Available to students in grades 8th thru 12th 2’ x 3’ x 2-3’ block of ice. The Youth Carvers have an opportunity to be mentored by Master Carvers who volunteer with the event to encourage the next generation of artisans.

Winners
YearBlockCategoryNameArtists
2010SingleRealisticBlue Ring OctopusJunichi Nakamura Heather Brice
2010SingleAbstractIce DancingVitaliy Lednev Sergey Loginov
2006SingleRealisticBeach WalkerSteve Brice Junichi Nakamura
2006SingleAbstractFiddlerVladimir Zhikhartsev Vitaliy Lednev
2006MultiRealisticBalto's ChargeSteve Berkshire Mark Johnson Stanley Kolonko Carl Eady
2006MultiAbstractSunrise Over Spring WaterSergei Zaplatin Sergey Tselebrovskiy Grigoriy Ponomarev Larry Moen
2005SingleRealisticLeapSteve Brice Aaron Costic
2005SingleAbstractFire of LoveVitaliy Lednev Vladimir Zhikhartsev
2005MultiRealisticAnimal ParadeSteve Brice Heather Brown Tajana Raukar Mario Amegee
2005MultiAbstractGatewayAaron Costic Gregory Butauski Chad Hartson Jeff Meyers
2004SingleRealisticColorful DuoPaul Raukar Tajana Raukar
2004SingleAbstractThe DanceJennie Graham James Stugart
2004MultiRealisticDragon BoatYan Liansheng Zhang Daquan Ma Yue An Quifeng
2004MultiAbstractMichelangelo Hi-Tech-The Creation of Ice ManVitaliy Lednev Karen Pless Chuck Carpenter Kathleen Carlo-Kendall
2003SingleRealisticGraceful PredatorJunichi Nakamura Tajana Raukar
2003SingleAbstractWhite DanceAlexander Zaitsev Regan Dillon
2003MultiRealisticFriend or FoeSteve Brice Joan Brice Heather Brown Tajana Raukar
2003MultiAbstractSeed of PromiseLumir Lang Ben Firth Craig Araquistain Amy Moran
2002SingleRealisticKing of the SkyJunichi Nakamura Hideshi Terada
2002SingleAbstractFlame in the WindVladimir Zhikhartsev Sergey Loguinov
2002MultiRealisticLeap of FaithTajana Raukar Heather Brown Wendy Croskrey Joan Brice
2002MultiAbstractIce FallsLumir Lang Ben Firth Tokuji Nakano Craig Araquistain
2001SingleRealisticA Total Lack of SharingSteve Brice Kevin Roscoe
2001SingleAbstractEnlightenmentVladimir Zhikhartsev Sergey Loguenov
2001MultiRealisticPretendersAaron Costic Steve Brice Marja Pohjoisaho Tajana Raukar
2001MultiAbstractThe Unison of LoveSergei Tselebrovski Sergei Bannikh Sergei Loguenov Alexander 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.

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