Double the block, double the carver. The Double Block competition begins today. It’s my favorite of the competitions. I’m not sure why but the sculptures speak to me when I watch the teamwork involved. The finished works of art are more personal; but that’s just my opinion. The Collegiate Competition begins today also and it’s always fun to watch these young budding artists who may be tomorrow’s most outstanding and renown sculptors.More about these two competitions in the next post.

I thought it would be fun to pop on over to the gift shop, the snack shop and the “Wall of Sculptures”.The gift shop has lots of homemade items, pictures, t shirts, all great souvenirs of this year’s Ice Alaska event. And be sure you check out your sleds while there. No charge to borrow one and then spend some time swooping down all the great slides in the playground. While there, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, piping hot and chock full of marshmallows.

There is a new feature this year in the gift shop; the mirror on one wall is covered with pictures of all the sculptors

competing in the Ice Art Carving Championship. The artists all turned in a short bio and picture of themselves. Spend some time perusing the wall and learning a bit about the sculptors who worked on your favorite objects of art.