CANADA
PATRICIA LEGUEN lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She studied fine
arts in France and Canada. She has been sculpting snow, ice and sand
at numerous international competitions. Her team won second place
in Ice Art '96, third place in Harbin in 1999 at the Fourth International
Snow Sculpture competition, and best handbuilt sand sculpture at the
world championship in Harrison Hot Springs, BC, Canada in 1999. She
also works as a translator and conference interpreter.
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CHINA
QU DONG QUN was born in Shen Yang and is a graduate of the Sculpture
Department of the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts. He is a member of the
Chinese Artist Association, Chinese Sculptors Institute, and Liaoning
Artist Association. He won a bronze medal for his sculpture "Boxer"
which was purchased by the National Olympic Committee.
HONG TAO was born in Harbin and is a graduate of the Sculpture Department
of the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts. He is a member of the Chinese Artist
Association, Chinese Sculptors Institute, Liaoning Artist Association
and the Chinese Ice Art Institute. He has competed in numerous stone
sculpting and snow sculpting competitions and received numerous awards.
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EUROPE
LUMIR LANG was born and lived in the Czech Republic and has a Master's
Degree in Economics from the University of Mines Ostrava. He moved
to Alaska in 1998. He began sculpting ice in 1998 and was one of the
sculptors who built the Memorial Chapel in 1999. In addition, his
team won fourth place in the multi-block competition. In the winter
of 2000, he was invited to participate in ICE FEST 2000 in Cripple
Creek, CO.
ZYGMUNT KIDA is of Polish ancestry but went to London for creation.
However, during his time of residency he ascertained that it doesn't
matter where one works. The important thing is only thought. His mind
is to observe different places. "Creation is like recording once
of the situation has chosen from, who knows, me either."
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JAPAN
KAZUO NEMOTA is from Tokyo, Japan and is a chef at the Hilton Tokyo
Bay Hotel. He has been sculpting ice for the past 15 years and makes
up to seven sculptures monthly for wedding ceremonies and banquet
parties. He has participated in many snow and ice sculpture competitions
and won first place in Daisen in 1998. His first visit to Fairbanks
was in 1998 and he returned this year to have fun sculpting the gigantic
natural clear ice of Fairbanks.
MASAHIRO NAKANO is from Tokyo, Japan and is a chef at the Hilton
Tokyo Bay. He has been sculpting ice for the past three years. He
participated in four competitions this year and received a prize in
the single block competition in the Mergi Temple Contest. He is very
impressed with the size, clarity, and high quality of the Fairbanks
ice and hopes he can return to Fairbanks every year to sculpt ice.
He loves Fairbanks, the local people and Fairbanks blue ice.
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RUSSIA
SERGEI BANNIKH lives in Krasnoyarsk, Russia He is a professional
photographer. He has been doing ice sculpture since 1991, and was
a snow sculptor for 10 years before that. He was in Alaska in 1996
and 1997. He won the People's Choice award in Anchorage in 1996 for
his piece "Life Moment." In 1997, he won the gold medal
in Fairbanks for the abstract composition "Mystical Garden."
NADYA FEDOTOVA has been sculpting ice in international competitions
since 1993. She was a member of the team that won first, second and
third place, in addition to people's choice and artist's choice awards.
Nadya has given numerous ice sculpting demonstrations in local Fairbanks
schools.
DMITRI GOROKHOV is a Krasnoyarsk artist. In 1995 he received first
place prizes in the Fairbanks World Ice Art Championships in both
the single and multi-block competitions, and in 1996, he received
second place awards in both competitions. Most of his awards have
been for the abstract category.
VLADIMIR IGNATIEV is a graphic artist, designer, and ice sculptor.
He possesses a wide range of creativity. He is the co-designer of
the National Emblem of the Sakha Republic, author of numerous breastplates,
badges, posters, and pennants that reflect life of the Republic. He
designed the memorial in the square of Victory in Yakutsk, the war
memorial in Suntar. His works are symbolical and graphic.
SERGEI KHOROLSKY is by education an economist and a founder of the
art foundation "Ice Fantasy" in the city of Khabarovsk.
He is the director of the Khabarovsk Ice Festival "Ice Fantasy
2000î and is participating in this year's championships to learn as
much as he can about the organization of an ice sculpture competition.
SERGUEI LOGUINOV graduated from the Khabarovsk State Pedagogical
University . He has participated in many art festivals and exhibitions.
He is the designer of the Khabarovsk emblem as well as the Regional
Flag. He currently is Vice President of the Local Management of Cultural
Development.
FYODOR MARKOV is an artist and sculptor in bone and ice. In his works
there is an original, figurative and creative approach to the material.
Decorativeness is combined with the Yakut traditional color and composition
emphasizes the conditional character of folk art. He completed the
Yakut Artistic Specialized School and is a member of the Artists Union
of Russia.
EDWARD PAKHOMOV is a sculptor and lecturer. Various trends of creative
searches are the characteristic features of his work. Working with
different materials, he seeks to reveal their peculiarities and plastic
possibilities, tries to interpret the feeling of a person in the modern
world, and applies to the traditions of national plastic arts. He
completed the Yakut Artistic Specialized School and is a member of
the Artists Union of Russia.
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EGOR SAVVIN is an artist and sculptor in bone and ice. He is an outstanding
representative of the young generation of the Yakut decorative sculpting
in bone as he combines traditional art with his own inward vision
of modern art. He completed the Yakut Artistic Specialized School
and is a member of the Artists Union of Russia.
VIKTOR SHAROV was trained in the art institute in Khabarovsk. He
now lives in Khabarovsk and works as a designer. He is participating
in an ice sculpture competition for the first time.
SERGEI TSELEBROVSKI of Krasnoyarsk was trained as an artist and now
does drawings and artwork for signs and advertising. He participated
in an ice sculpture competition in Moscow in 1996 and received a prize
for originality. In 1995 he received first place prizes in the Fairbanks
World Ice Art Championships in both the single and multi-block competitions,
and 1996, he received second place awards in both competitions. Most
of his awards have been for the abstract category.
ANDREI TRIFONOV was born in Moscow and graduated from the Art College
in Moscow. He now resides in Provideniya. His media is miniature paintings.
This will be his second year in sculpting ice.
ALEKSANDER ZAITSEV is a Krasnoyarsk artist. He sculpted snow for
15 years, and began ice in 1991. He has participated in ice sculpture
competitions in Alaska since 1993. He has won seven prizes in the
Fairbanks competition since 1994, including first place and People's
Choice awards. He organized the artists foundation "Diksi"
in Krasnoyarsk, which encourages the development of ice sculpture
in Siberia.
VLADIMIR ZHIKHARTSEV is a watercolor and acrylic artist. He was born
in Krasnodar (near the Black Sea) where he received his art education.
He lived in Provideniya for 11 years. Vladimir began sculpting ice
in Fairbanks in 1991. Since then, as Captain of the team, he has won
first, second and third place, in addition to People's Choice and
Artists Choice. Beginning in 1993, he and Nadya Fedotova have made
numerous ice sculpting demonstrations in Fairbanks schools.
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UNITED STATES
CONNIE ADKINS is a 22 year Fairbanks resident. In 1995 she began
her volunteering with Ice Alaska working in concessions. This is her
first year sculpting. She feels that ice sculpting is a great way
to relax, enjoy the outdoors, and express yourself.
DARRYL ALLAN, Canadian born, some would say with a fly pole in his
hand. Darryl is the director of food and beverage for Fountainhead
Development in Fairbanks and a great enthusiast of ice sculpturing,
scoring a first place in the 1997 Fairbanks Open. This will be the
first year for Darryl entering the World Ice Art competition. While
humbled by the expertise of others in this event, he's just happy
to be a part of it and ready to give it his best shot„or should we
say best chip!
CRAIG ARAQUISTAIN (Toolman). Six years of college to become a skilled
laborer! Ice sculpting is a natural extension for a lover of art and
antiques. Besides, I can't placer mine until the ice melts.
GREGORY BARTHOLOMEW was an Ice Alaska volunteer for several years.
In 1996 he began his participation in ice sculpture competitions.
He has worked with medal-awarded teams from Mexico, France, Estonia,
Sweden and the United States. He still is involved in several volunteer
ice projects as well as assisting in the many local business sculptures.
DEREK BLOOM is a 22 year resident of Fairbanks. He participated with
Keven Laughlin in the 1998 Fairbanks Open novice class, Dancing Spirits.
If you made a phone call from the ice phone booth last year, Derek
spent many hours getting that ready, in addition to numerous business
sculptures in town.
JOAN BRICE has been a Fairbanks resident for over 30 years. She
was introduced to ice sculpting in 1996 by her nephew, Steve Brice.
She has always enjoyed art and finds working with ice fascinating.
STEVE BRICE was born in Fairbanks. He returned to Fairbanks in 1990
and received his first experience with ice. In 1996, he started to
devote more time to ice and less time to sculpting stone. He has traveled
all over the world sculpting but Fairbanks is his favorite. In competitions,
he has placed fourth, third, second place twice and first three times,
one of which was the Olympic trials for the 98 Winter Olympics.
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HEATHER BROWN is a 23-year resident of Fairbanks. She graduated from
UAF Fairbanks with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mixed Media Sculpture,
which included bronze casting and a Minor in Native Arts. A mother
of two, she has been creating an assortment of artworks that have
kept the creative juices flowing from home, but thoroughly enjoys
being back in the sculpting arena.
TIM CARMAN is a 17 year ice artist who is ranked between top amateurs,
ages 18-30. Tim has already made a name for himself in the culinary
business as pastry chef for the elegant Breakers Hotel "Sky Room"
and as a baker-pastry chef at the prestigious Madison Restaurant and
Bar. This will be his first Ice Alaska competition.
MARK CHAPIN graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in Illustration.
He now lives in Berkeley, California and works for REI where he promotes
ice sculpture as a recreation.
MIMI CHAPIN has been involved in ICE ART off and on since she first
met the Chinese in 1988. She interprets languages, sculpts, and is
currently covering publicity and public relations.
TERRY CHAPIN is a professor of biology at the University of Alaska
who has been drawn into the whirlwind of Ice Alaska for the first
time this year by his wife and son. His chainsawing and building skills
will be put to good use by the team.
CHARLES DASH is an executive chef at the Wyndham Greens Point Hotel
in Houston, Texas. He has been a chef and ice sculptor for 14 years.
In 1999, he won second place, and in 1998 won third place in the World
ICE ART Championships single block. In 1999, he won the gold in Pello,
Finland, in the multi-block.
MARK DAVIS, currently Assistant Executive Chef at Eldorado Hotel
Casino in Reno NV, has competed in seven of the last nine Ice Art
Championships, leading teams to win three bronze medals. Mark resides
in Truckee, California which is 12 short miles from beautiful Lake
Tahoe.
STEVE DEAN was born and raised in Alaska. Steve's multifaceted experiences
include working as a horse wrangler, ski and hockey instructor, and
wilderness camp cook. His vast experience in old ivory and wood sculpting
gave him a big edge on the competition when he began Ice sculpting
in 1989. His work and awards include artists and peoples choice in
both single and multi-block competitions at Ice Art as well as awards
for his work in wood and old ivory. He recently created a commissioned
life-size Crucifixion in wood, including a twelve-foot cross, for
St. Raphael's Church in Fairbanks.
TRAVIS DeMONTIGNY is from San Leandro, CA. He currently works for
REI after having graduated from San Francisco State University with
a psychology degree. He would like to give an extra special thanks
to the Chapin family for involving him in this year's competition.
CARL EADY has been an executive chef, pastry chef, food and ice sculptor
for over 20 years. In 1984 he sculpted his first snow and ice sculpture
at Alaskaland while stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Competing
on the US Army culinary team, he won 12 gold medals for the team in
two years. In 1997 and 1998, his team won first place on the Ice Art
competition. For the past two years, Carl has undertaken the planning
of the Kids' Park. This included the maximization of the sites for
amount of sunlight, the initial positioning of the ice, and design
sketches for the structures.
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GINA EATON is a resident of Fairbanks and works as a jeweler. She
has competed in Fairbanks since 1993 and has traveled to compete in
Japan. She graduated of the UAF in 1996 with a BFA.
JASPER EATON is a resident of Fairbanks and works as a carpenter.
CHRIS FARNESS was born in Los Angeles. He has been a professional
pilot for over 20 years. After living in Las Vegas, he needed a drastic
change. He got it! He is now a resident of Fairbanks. His most famous
saying is "I'll take 50 below any day over 120 above!" He
works as a Federal Aviation Safety inspector. This is his first time
sculpting ice. He is curious to see if he can accomplish this work
without any previous training or practice.
BEN AND MELANIE FIRTH live north of Fairbanks. Ben is an artist who
works with pencil, water color, carves antler and sculpts in bronze.
Melanie is a homemaker and teaches their children at home. Their sixth
child was born in January. This is their second year ice sculpting
having participated in the Fairbanks Open last year.
JOAN FOOTE is a resident of Fairbanks. She associates with ice art
because she enjoys the metamorphosis of a block of ice into some wonderful
form and then the disintegration process of this form back to water.
To help ensure this ice art event will occur, she participates in
the organization and site preparation.
BARB GASTON loves the adventure of doing something new. Teaming with
Chris Farnell, she is doing something she has never done before„sculpt
ice.
LINDA HECK is a lifelong Fairbanksan and has been volunteering for
Ice Alaska since 1996. She has been creating unusual costumes for
over 10 years. In 1997, Linda was convinced by the British Ice and
Snow Sculpting Team, Colin Wright and Paul Hanson, to use her costuming
skills to sculpt ice. She teamed up with Paul Hanson and participated
in the Fairbanks' Open. They were awarded Artists' Choice for their
piece, "Just for the Halibut." Linda has been hooked on
ice ever since.
JOSHUA KANG was born in Seoul, Korea. He professes that "I'm
doing sculpting with teeth everyday" in his practice of Cosmetic
and General Dentistry in Valencia, Los Angeles. He started ice sculpting
in 1999, winning fourth place, after a visit to the Ice Museum in
1998. This year his 12 year old son, Josh, will be his team member
in the single block. Josh is a 7th grader in Arroyo Seco Jr High School.
He plays numerous sports and likes to go fishing in Alaska.
KEVEN LAUGHLIN was introduced to the Ice Park in 1997 by Derek Bloom
to see what various sculptors from around the world had sculpted.
Since then he has competed in the Fairbanks Open and abstract and
realistic categories.. His participation in 1998 at a symposium in
Passy, France called GLACIALES enabled him to use color and other
materials as well as learning various techniques in achieving certain
effects. Keven was the sculptor coordinator for the Cripple Creek
ICE FEST 2000. Keven has stated "ice has changed my life."
SIDONIA LYNCH was born in Switzerland. She came to Alaska in 1979
and has called Alaska her home ever since. She is a wife and mother
of one daughter first, then taxidermy, custom matting, and lots of
other "projects" which keeps her life more than busy. She
was invited by Marianne to sculpt with her in the 1999 competition
and got hooked on ice sculpting for life. Thank you, ICE ALASKA, for
providing this great opportunity for artists from around the world.
STEVE LESTER grew up living in an art school in San Francisco. He
sculpted in bronze and was first introduced to ice sculpting in 1988
by the team from Qiqihar, China. He teaches sculpture and drawing
in Alaska and Europe.
PAT MASON lives in Moses Lake, WA. She has been involved as a volunteer
and hosting Russian artists since 1995. This will be her second year
sculpting with a Russian team.PHELAN McDONALD was born in Chicago,
Illinois . He has been working in the culinary trade for the past
18 years in Alaska. He began sculpting small standard-sized blocks
in 1986 while working as a cook at an Anchorage hotel. In 1992, he
placed fourth in his first competition in Anchorage. He is a painter
and sculptor and has an associate degree in Advertising Design.
KRISTI MINTER. This is her second year ice sculpting. She has been
an Alaskan resident for 10 years and works at the high school. She
has drawn still life pictures for many years. John Ringhand got her
interested in sculpting and then into ice sculpting.
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JEFF MOEHLIN is a Fairbanks resident and food and beverage manager
for the Wedgewood Resort. He and Darryl Allan won the 1997 Fairbanks
Open. Since then, Jeff has been thoroughly hooked, entering world
class competition in 1998, placing fifth. In 1999 when his sculpture
crashed to the ground at the end of day two in the competition, and
not the type to quit, he managed to almost piece it back together
for the judging. This gratification is all in your presentation to
the spectators and became apparent to him when chances of winning
were gone. Jeff stayed the entire following day to be sure his work
was as complete as possible for the viewing public.
CRAIG PAIGE is an instructor at the US Coast Guard's Food Service
Specialist School in Petaluma, CA. A Michigan native, he joined the
Coast Guard from his home in Wilmington, NC. He has been sculpting
ice for almost three years. He has earned silver medals in two different
local ice sculpting events in California.
KAREN PLESS has a BA in Studio Art and Art Education from Michigan
State. She is a sculptor/ceramicist. She participated in the 1999
multi-block and the 1999 Showdown at Valdez. Inspired by the natural
beauty of Alaska, she is currently building abstract and realistic
driftwood sculptures
NICHOLAS POLLE is a life-long resident of the San Francisco Bay Area
and enjoys hiking, biking, and back packing.
JOHN RINGHAND was raised in Wisconsin and has lived in Alaska for
the past 22 years. He started sculpting at the age of 10 and now sculpts
wood, soapstone, ivory. He was introduced to ice in 1998 competing
in the Fairbanks Open. This will be his third year competing in World
Ice.
CHRIS SADLER has lived in Fairbanks for the past 30 years. This will
be his first experience sculpting ice and he is doing it at the request
of his new stepfather (and partner) Dan Schaaf. He loves his home
state of Alaska and is very eager to participate in a contest of this
magnitude. He is here to enrich his life and artistic abilities and
to just enjoy himself.
DAN SCHAAF, the Horny Hunter, is a local Fairbanks artist. He is
a military brat and also spent 20 years in the Army. He has traveled
around the world studying art. Using what skills he learned, he tries
to create a unique form of Alaskan art.
DAVID SCHOTTER is from Milltown, Indiana. He has been in Fairbanks
since 1997. A graphics specialist by trade, he will soon retire from
the US Air Force. He plans to develop his hobby of sculpting, woodcarving,
and carving instruction into a full-time vocation. This is the third
time he has competed in the ICE ART Championships and the second time
teamed with his spouse and arts partner, Gloria.
GLORIA SCHOTTER is from South Vienna, Ohio. She has been in Fairbanks
since 1998. She has been involved in the graphics arts field for over
20 years and currently works at the Skills Development Center at Eielson
Air Force Base. Gloria and David met in 1992 and were married in 1998
and have been caught up in arts and crafts from the start. This is
the second year she has participated in the ICE ART Championships.
KARRIE SHAW moved to Fairbanks in 1997 and has hit the ground running
with her accomplished husband Sheldon. Together they make a 
great
team; Sheldon says she has a great aesthetic sense that compliments
his technical skills. Karrie and Sheldon were awarded People's Choice
at ICE FEST 2000 in Cripple Creek CO for a 7-foot realistic Victorian
woman.
SHELDON SHAW began his involvement with ice in 1996 when he first
volunteered with Ice Alaska. Stan Zielinski put a chisel in his hand
and he began work on his first ice structure. Since that time he has
made several large architectural pieces including two arches on the
UAF campus. Sheldon and Karrie met and married in 1997 and have been
sculpting partners ever since. Sheldon designed and led construction
of the awards ceremony stage in 1999 and 2000.
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MARIANNE STOLZ was born and raised in Germany and completed a wood
carving apprenticeship. She now works as a professional wood carver.
Her passion for mountains and ice climbing brought her to Alaska in
1985. Now, if you have a sort of a serious ice climber and a professional
wood carver, you inevitably end up with an ice sculptor. She enjoys
the media of ice. One can do dimensions unthought of in wood and it's
just plain fun working with sparkling ice that cuts like butter. It's
rewarding to create something enjoyable for the community.
ANITA TABOR is a charter member of ICE ALASKA. Her background is
in art education. She works full time as a commercial and fine artist
in various media. She has competed internationally in wood and ice
sculpture events. In ice, awards include a gold medal for single block
and first place, silver and bronze for multi-block, in addition to
three artist and people choice awards . Anita is the logo designer
for the Ice Art pins.
JACQUES TOKAR is a native of France and now lives in Los Angeles.
ICE ART 98 will be his seventh year competing in Fairbanks. In 1990,
he made the world's largestice cream sculpture, commissioned by Baskin
Robbins, of the then Soviet President Gorbachev
GEORGE TORASSA has been competing in the World Ice Art championships
for the past four years. He acquired his ice sculpting skills as a
chef in fine hotels and restaurants. He currently holds the position
of Executive Chef, Napa Valley Cooking School; President, Wine Country
Culinarians„Napa-Sonoma; and is the only chef member of the California
Uniform Retail Food Facility Law Review Committee. Prior to his culinary
career, George was a professional baseball player for the San Francisco
Giants.
JAKE TORNATSKY is a first-time competitor in ICE ART. He is a resident
of San Francisco, CA. His background is in carpentry, solar-engineering,
and music. He is joining Roger Wing to enter the world of ice sculpture.
DELINE TRUJILLO. This is her third year in competition in Single
Block but she has been involved in Ice Alaska as a volunteer since
1994. She looks forward to competing in the Multi Block in the future.
Her favorite comment is , "I love being a part of this every
year. Meeting people from all over the world is like traveling without
having to go there. The world comes to you!" She recently assisted
Karrie Shaw in an ice sculpture class at Eielson Air Force Base. She
was thrilled to see such young talent and promise from future ice
sculptors.
DENNIS WALLACE was born in El Paso, TX. Born a "military brat,"
he moved from Texas to California, to Maryland, to Hawaii, to Florida,
to Virginia, and back to Maryland where he graduated from high school
and the community college, and met and married his wife, Lisa. He
enlisted in the Air Force as a Graphic Illustrator, and has been an
Alaskan resident for the past two years. This is his first year competing
in the ICE ART Championships.
ROGER WING is a wood sculptor and graduate student living in Missoula,
MT. This is his fourth time sculpting in Fairbanks. The beautiful
ice and the chance to sculpt with artists from around the world are
an irrestible attraction for him.
Other participants did not submit any biographical information.
If you were a ICE ART 2000 contestant and wish to have your bio
included, please send us an e-mail with your biographical information.
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