Photography courtesy of Ice Visions
David Van Camp has been sculpting blocks of frozen water into fleeting art since 1976. If you want to see his ice creations this Saturday at the Loop Ice Carnival, then visit early: The sculptor says the weather forecast for this weekend isn't optimal for the ice.
"The ideal conditions would be below 30 degrees, so that when the sun's hitting the street carvings that are on the sunny side of the street, they don't start crumbling and turning white," he says. "When you get over 30 degrees, then the sun starts to really destroy [the sculptures]...That's the biggest challenge, just hoping for the good weather."
Van Camp began ice-carving while studying hotel-and-restaurant management at Kansas State University. While later working at hotels and restaurants, there was always a need for ice carvings, and Van Camp often volunteered for the projects. Finally, in 1992, he launched his own ice-carving business, Ice Visions.
To create all 50 sculptures for this weekend's event, it takes two weeks and a team of nine: Van Camp and two carvers, as well as six support staff to get "all the other little things that you need to make it all happen."
When he first started making ice sculptures for the Loop Ice Carnival, it took time for Loop merchants to buy into the idea, he says. But now they've embraced the creations, often challenging the Ice Visions' team.
One of Van Camp's favorite sculptures from past years was an interactive polar bear and penguin sculpture, which people could put their heads into for photo opps. It stood 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide, was comprised of four 300-pound blocks of ice, and took three hours to carve.
Van Camp says the popular ice slides will make a return, as will ice cubes filled with chocolate or dollar coins.
"There will be more carvings on the sidewalks, more carvings of the merchant spots," he says. "And I think the weather is going to be great for the spectators."
After a moment, he adds, "It will be a little too warm for the ice, though."
