Despite rain and warm temperatures, visitors gathered Jan. 10 to watch artists transform blocks of ice into temporary works of art in downtown Loudonville.
The art of carving ice takes time to master, but once that happens, each artist is able to draw out sculptures that spring to life, if only for a short time. Dave Mast
For many years Loudonville has hosted the Mohican Winterfest, and it has taken place in frigid cold, almost sweltering heat, snow squalls, rainstorms and every weather imaginable.
This year on Saturday, Jan. 10, it was warm and raining, but that didn’t stop people from venturing in to watch ice carving professionals from Elegant Ice in Cleveland fashioning works of art on the park grounds near the square.
The professionals at Elegant Ice turn blocks of ice into stunning art, like this beautiful unicorn that was featured along Main Street in Loudonville during Mohican Winterfest. Dave Mast
Even in the rain, families and couples climbed out of their vehicles, umbrellas in hand, and ventured to the park, where Elegant Ice professionals used their skills to shape massive blocks of square ice into a dancing bear, a sailboat, a buffalo, a unicorn, an eagle or whatever design they could create from their arsenal of ideas.
It was neat to see young children hoisting blocks of discarded ice, exploring them, feeling the slickness, even touching their tongues to the ice pieces.
But above all, this adventure was about watching something as inanimate as a block of ice turn into art, as sculptors took a blowtorch to each piece, drawing out the beauty.
Mike and Whitney Ross from Eaton, near Dayton, have made a point of attending this event annually. Like many, they were taken by the beauty and elegance of…
Nathan young is an artist, scholar, and composer who lives in Hudson.
Peyote Box by Nathan Young.



