Magic from a block of ice…
Ice sculptors are artists. With their creative vision and technical expertise, they carve for us objects of breathtaking beauty from large blocks of ice. If you have visited the World Ice Carving Championships at the Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds before, you are familiar with the ice carving duo of Heather and Steve Brice. Heather is a nine-time World Ice Sculpting Champion and Steve is a seventeen-time World Ice Sculpting Champion. I have such reverence and admiration for their sculptures. These beautiful creations reflect the skill, love and respect they have for the art. Heather and Steve are also year-round Ice Alaska and World Ice Carving Championships volunteers, without whose help the organization would not run as smoothly. In addition, they designed and maintain the Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs, about sixty miles outside of Fairbanks.
Heather was born in California and raised in Fairbanks and Steve was born in Fairbanks, raised in Georgia and returned to Fairbanks in 1990. Heather told me they met when Steve’s cousin suggested she try ice carving. She liked the idea, met Steve and helped him carve the hands of the Madonna at a school in Fairbanks. Steve told her about a competition and invited her to join his team. That was her first time ice carving in competition and their team won. That was in 1999. Heather’s favorite things to carve are animals doing human activities and Steve’s favorite objects are female figures.
If you are a first-time visitor to the World Ice Carving Championships this year, be sure and look for the spectacular carvings sculpted by Heather and Steve. I know you will be as awestruck and mesmerized as I am by their crystal masterpieces.
