Ok, it's been so cold we haven't got out much. From what they say it's been a pretty solid cold snap here even for Fairbanks standards. We've had temps hovering around -35 to -40 for about 15 days, and we're finally seeing the end of those temps. It's a balmy -8 and we're looking forward to some solid positive numbers over the next week.
But this installment isn't about the cold. Oh wait, yes it is. It's about nothing but cold - the Ice Museum, to be exact. The ice art here is amazing, and I'm sure there will be to come, but we had a chance to get up to Chena Hot Springs resort and we visited the ice museum there. I think I'll leave the pictures to fill in the story.
Oh, that's not cold. that's the greenhouse for the restaurant there.
Also, I had to fit in the goats. Meet Bert and Ernie.
Ok, there's the museum. And a cold little boy. We'll see just how cold later.
Oh man, this is going downhill fast.
Really, read on, it does get better.
That's just some art. But I really want to know how it's made.
We did, however, get the honor of seeing the artist at work. He wasn't making anything quite as interesting as the ball above, but we did get to watch him making some martini glasses.
But first, some more ice sculpture.
But Christmas is over.
And some more.
Evidently one used to be able to play chess, but recently they were forced to weld down the individual pieces due to people not behaving.
It was also explained to us that the first year they built the museum at Chena it was all made of ice - then it melted. Now, the building itself is a large temperature controlled refrigerator, and has been the same for several years. Ice eventually sublimates over time, so nothing here is truly permanent. Pieces must be remade. As a result there are inventive ways of recreating pieces. The artist was using an ice lathe in the picture above. He also creates many of his own tools. I'm not an expert on the topic, but I'm fascinated and I feel fortunate to be able to experience the ice sculpture capital of the world.
Oh yes, I did mention the martini glasses. Evidently they tried Coke at first, but found it freezes instantly as it hits the ice glasses. Something with a higher alcohol content was in order.
This was my favorite shot. The lighting turned out good and you can see a fair bit of the museum interior.
Back outside, it was still cold.
Cold, I tell you. Cold!
K. Chadwick
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