2008 Crystal Gallery of Ice
Video by John Gomes (http://johngomes.smugmug.com/gallery/4014352/1/244587353/Original)
2008 Crystal Gallery of Ice "Outer Space: The Next Frontier"
In Town Square from January - March 2008
January 4 - Ice Arrives and is unloaded at Town Square
Did you know that each block of ice weighs between 3000 and 4000 lbs.? The ice is a special “blue diamond” ice that is harvested from an ice pit in Fairbanks, loaded in a Lynden 18 wheeler, delivered to the Alaska Railroad and delivered to Anchorage. Once in Anchorage the ice is unloaded with a fork lift and straps and chains. Each block has 1 foot of white ice padding that is cleared off using a long blade chainsaw. The carvers decide how the block is to be placed. Once the block is set the carvers can begin to work their wonders using chisels, chainsaws, routers and special ice tools. Watching the carvers is a big part of the attraction.
January 5-19 - Ice carving exhibition
Six individuals and/or teams of sculptors will be competing this year at the 2008 Crystal Gallery of Ice for a $1000 cash prize. The competition begins 9 a.m. January 11th and ends on Sunday, January 13th at 12 noon. The theme for this year is “Outer Space; the Next Frontier”. The competition will be one of the events featured at the Performing Arts Center event: Arts Gone Wild. The Children’s Ice Gallery and the Crystal Gallery of Ice will have a Grand Opening Celebration on January 20th and will be open for viewing throughout January and February. The first shipment of ice arrives on December 26th for the Town Square Ice Fountain. The public is invited to watch as the carvers prepare the ice fountain December 26-30 for the grand opening of the Ice Rink at the NECA/IBEW New Years Eve Fire and Ice Celebration on December 31st. The second shipment of ice arrives on January 4th and carving will begin Saturday, January 5th.
January 20 - Grand Opening Celebration
Join us for the Grand Opening Celebration on Sunday, January 20, 2008 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm in Town Square. Feel free to dress up as your favorite space character! Come join us and watch out for “Trekkies!”
January thru March - Ice Rink & Ice park OPEN to the public
Town Square Ice Rink and Gallery of Ice and the Children’s Ice Park are free and open to the public.
