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Lessons in Ice Carving On A Winter Visit to Saskatoon
If you visit Saskatoon in winter – especially in late January when the annual PotashCorp Wintershines Festival is on, there’s a good chance you can get a lesson in ice carving.
I was lucky enough to learn a few things from Saskatoon’s premier ice carver – Peter Fogarty – who runs a business called Fire and Ice Creations.
Peter Fogarty with his ice carving saw
Before we got going with my lesson in ice carving Peter shared with me some interesting facts.
Did you know?
- That most ice carvers come from the hospitality industry?
- That it takes four days to make the ice Peter works with?
- That there is a North American ice carving circuit?
- That -5C is the ideal temperature for carving ice because it has the most elasticity?
- That it’s possible to carve 60,000 pounds of ice over 10 days? (Peter did just that.)
- That Peter won the People’s Choice Awards at the 1988 Winter Olympics?
- That the tools used in ice carving are sharp – so sharp that carving ice is literally like cutting through soft butter?
Ice carving is a heck of a lot of fun. After only minutes of playing around I could see the allure of working on a big piece.
Here’s Kee Gawah, an ice carver from Sweden – who was invited to Saskatoon to participate in the 2013 Wintershines Festival – taking you through some of the steps in carving ice.
Kee starting in on an ice block with a chainsaw
At work with the dremel
The chisel that cuts like butter
Me having fun with the dremel
Using a torch gives the ice sculpture that wonderful glassy effect
Peter Fogarty does say that an ice carving is living art – and you have to enjoy the moment in time.
I would agree.
Have you ever had a lesson in ice carving?
A big thank you to Tourism Saskatoon for including ice carving in my itinerary.
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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11 Responses to Lessons in Ice Carving On A Winter Visit to Saskatoon
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
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Hi Leigh, what an interesting post! I’m always fascinated with ice sculpture. It must entail a lot of skill, artistry and a great labor of love to create one. I likened it to the art of making Buddhist sand mandala, which are created by monks with great concentration and lots of time and energy only to be dismantled later (in the case of ice scupltures, only to melt eventually).
I’ve watched ice carving demonstrations on cruise ships and have been fascinated by the skill and artistry of the carvers. An interesting post, Leigh!
Jackie Smith recently posted..WAWeekend: Girls, Guys, Getaways
@Jackie Playing with those ice carving tools is a lot of fun. I highly recommend it – if the carvers will hand them over.
It is interesting as ever art on the earth.
Victor Tribunsky recently posted..Neuschwanstein Castle – Decoration for Life
@Victor Ice carving is certainly an art form – even if it’s transient in nature.
Fabulous post, but what did you produce?
Mette – Italian Notes recently posted..Salted lemons
What fun. I’m not sure how I’d cope when all the hard work put into my amazing ice sculpture disappeared before my eyes! It would certainly be fun to give it try!
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..Sunday Snapshot: Shakespeare & Company
@Jenny I think of sand sculptures too that don’t last long. I think you take pleasure in the creation.
I am glad I read through this. It is a very new thing for me as I was not aware that ice has elasticity. These people are very good at their work.
@Peter I learned a lot too and had no appreciation before meeting Peter about what the best carving temperature was.
it is a kind of art
i think. and it must be very funny. thanks for photos and sharing