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The BP World Ice Art Championships, in the Fairbanks, Alaska community, was founded in 1989. It is currently one of the biggest annual ice art competitions and exhibitions in the world.

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The 2009 event hosted over 100 ice artists, from over 20 countries. This is a steady growth from the lone eight teams that attended in 1990. The exhibition ice sculptures stay open for public view until the fourth Sunday in March.

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Over the years, talking heads, like Paul Harvey, have covered the BP World Ice Art Championships on their talk radio shows.

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There are three competition categories: the single- block classic, the multi -block classic, and the Junior World Ice Art Championships. There are also twenty spaces set aside for those amateurs wishing to make a sculpture outside of the competition. The sculptures can be abstract or realistic in all categories.

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In the single block classic, the sculptors are given harvested blocks of ice from the O’Grady pond, where the cold temperatures grow thick, clear, natural ice. Each team is given one 5ftx8ftx3ft block of ice, weighing over 7,800 pounds. Then, the team finds the perfect shaded spot in Ice Park to begin chipping away at their ice masterpiece. The teams are not allowed to use any power or mechanical devices to move the ice sculpture- once in position. They then have just 60 hours to complete their ice sculpture. The Amateur Open participants will get the same type of ice block, but is not part of the competition, and does not have the stringent rules attached.

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In the multi-block classic, the two to four person sculptor teams are given 10 blocks of ice measuring 4ftx6ftx3.3ft. This totals to about 46,000 pounds of ice. Their ice blocks also come from the O’Grady pond. These teams can use power or hand tools to create their ice sculpture within the 132 hour deadline.

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White lights are used to judge both of the competitions. The winning sculptures are illuminated with colored lights, and are now ready for public view. Realistic and abstract first, second, and third place awards are given in each category. There is also a Governors’ choice and Artists’ choice award. The picture above is of “Surfacing Kingfisher.” The sculptors, Junichi Nakamura, of Japan, and Suguru Kanbayashi, of Canada were the 2009 Single Block winners.

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The Ice Art event brings around $12,420,000 each year to the Fairbanks community. The official goals of the competition are:

• To use ice to promote artistic and educational endeavors.

• To use cultural and artistic exchange to enhance and promote international friendships.

• To use elegant ice exhibitions to preserve and display all cultures.

• To promote Alaska winter tourism and economic opportunities.

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