Testing the waters - ice sculpture
I have not had the time nor energy to write a post these last few weeks as I have been crazy busy trying to install a back boiler stove in my house before winter. This is not an easy job as I have to learn lots of new skills to make it happen. I have learned how to Plumb, how to build a fireplace, line my chimney, tile with stone slabs and lots of other things that I have no experience of. YouTube is an amazing resource for all these skills and I finish every evening learning how to do the next step. I really feel like Neo from the Matrix, downloading how to fly a helicopter. It boggles my mind how my father built this wonderful house and everything in it without a formal education or YouTube. I am nearly there (I hope) and I have also tried to document the whole process to make a video series for those wanting to undertake the same. With fuel prices set to rise having the option to burn wood cutoffs from my work makes me feel like a prepper for the coming apocalypse.
But tonight I have a bit of energy and thought I would at least start on this post I had sitting in my drafts. I still have a lot of content waiting in my drafts. I just wish I had the mental energy to craft them into posts and put them out there. I am still around curating every day and trying to keep up with the latest scandals around the blockchain but the energy to post is just not there at the moment. Maybe by getting this one out there, I will get kick-started again.
That said, this will be a short post. It is just to document a one-day sculpture I made in the town of Cashel, Ireland for an arts festival. I had been there twice before with the last time making a sand sculpture and I was happy that they wanted me back, albeit, just to make something in ice for one day.
The boys are back in town
This was in September 2017 and it was hot hot hot. Not the best weather to make an ice sculpture. Ice is a nice material for these types of gigs but logistically it can be a pain to get it to the location especially when you are working by yourself. Each block weighs around 125 kg or 275 lbs in the empire units. Not something even someone as ripped as me can throw around. Having to contend with it melting as fast as I carved was also a challenge.
I had two blocks of ice with me as I drove the 150Km to the town, they were in the back of a rented van wrapped in bubble wrap and sleeping bags. I got the organisers to put up a marquee to protect me from the direct sunlight. Lots of sun and heat causes the ice to fracture and shatter the internal structure as those with a keen eye can see.
And the sculpture?
Due to all the logistics and stress over the weather, the piece was quite freeform. I was trying to think about ways that fire and ice are also symbolic of the different emotions that come from love. Working in a t-shirt on ice can lead you to interesting thought processes. Not sure if I even got the piece to speak to me, let alone the audience. But, I am sure they enjoyed the spectacle as I used a chainsaw, chisels and grinders to fashion the ice drenching them in ice-cold slush as I did.
Ice still fascinated me. How, with just removing all heat from liquid water you can actually carve it. Then, it will just melt away, back down the drain to continue its cycle of metamorphosis. If these molecules of water could speak imagine the stories they would tell. I wonder, have I ever carved the same water twice?
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Daniel that sculpture is amazing. I know it was a while back, but man, I can see the craftmanship in it.
I totally get it when you don't feel like posting. I have a million post ideas floating in my head at any moment, but I often struggle to get them into words. When that happens, I step back because I'd rather not post than just post for the sake of it.
Scandals on Hive? You don't say! 😋 I'm being facetious now. I try to ignore them and not get involved with the drama. There will always be drama, no matter where we are, it's a human condition. Don't let it get you down.
As for using your offcuts, I hoard them for that exact reason and while my housemate thinks I'm a loon, I know that eventually they'll come in handy in said apocalypse.
It wasn't my best work but it did ok for the day I had.
I am the same as you. Everything I write to the Blockchain has to have some sort of meaning to it. I still have lots of content to come and have a schedule of what comes next but My mind just wasn't in it to post. My life offline is very tough at the moment with family illness and trying to prepare for an uncertain future. But I do realise that writing my blog is a certain therapy for me and I should really give myself the time to do it.
I love the drama that I see here now and again. I think it is good to argue ideas out to push everything forward. In general, most people are so nice. I think having an account which is so personal makes people behave and I was so sorry to hear that you lost access to your first one. But it will always be there.
Thanks Emma
Congratulations @ammonite! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 100000 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
This is interesting. I am here wondering about the whole thing, Where you got the ice from, how you work on ice without it freezing your hands, and lots
Thank you. I am actually working on a post about how I get the ice so stay tuned. I usually wear heavy gloves when I carve ice because of the cold but for this project, I was able to work with any because it was so warm.
That's nice, looking forward for the post.
Good one
Thank you.
Good to see you back!
I really hope to get more time to write and I am already working on my next post. I realise that I have to post as it is good for my head. Thanks
Looks amazing 😍👍
Thank you. You're too kind. It was okay for the day that was in it but not a piece for the portfolio.
I was starting to wonder how you were going. Now that sounds like some hardcore serious renovations 😳 no wonder you have no energy at the end of the day!
Cool that you’ve got so many new skills now 😆
Ice sculpture looks lovely as always, were they able to protect it as long as was required for the event?
It has been a tough few weeks with family illness as well so I just could not steal time away for myself to write. but I have been curating, mostly on onchain art.
I like to learn new stuff even though, as I get older I may not retain it.
The sculpture did the job for the day. It never really sang to me. I left it in the town square till evening and then knocked it over and broke it up over a drain. Mainly for public safety reasons. It probably would have lasted a few more hours before it became dangerous.
Hope everyone is on the mend :S
You'll retain it if you have to keep using it. But you can still point at all the stuff you made/learned with pride :)
Your ice sculpture is beautiful, your unique style is amazing. ♥️
Perfect for snow season haha! So beautiful! 😍
Congratulations @ammonite! You received a personal badge!
Wait until the end of Power Up Day to find out the size of your Power-Bee.
May the Hive Power be with you!
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
Check out our last posts:
Congratulations @ammonite! You received a personal badge!
Participate in the next Power Up Day and try to power-up more HIVE to get a bigger Power-Bee.
May the Hive Power be with you!
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
Check out our last posts: