Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009
Today
Hi: 36
Lo: 24
Mon
Hi: 32
Lo: 23
Tue
Hi: 30
Lo: 27
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
Related Twitter Posts

  • Ezmii_Junior:
    i got a thank u by bean for the sand sculpture i sent him and i guess he sent a picture that i cnt download or see. ugh! i still luv u bean!

  • BlueGarnet:
    Battery Powered Hatbox Idea #1 Refridgerated hat box for hats with elaborate flowers or ice sculpture detailing. (Cannot spell tonight.)

  • captain_hilary:
    Setting up an ice sculpture backstage at pearl jam, I don't know what's going to melt first, me or the sculpture!

  • 5wa:
    Meechigan fan on the beach or sand sculpture? link

  • TaneliT:
    Once so beautiful home, now filled with boxes. Modern art or a temporary affliction of urban living?


Follow us on Twitter ...
In Arts & Entertainment
Sound-off: Are ice sculptures a waste of time?
Ladies and gentlemen: The Ice Goat.  
By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

Published Jan. 25, 2009 at 5:32 a.m.
Tags: ice sculpture, sand sculpture, temporary art, bradford beach

During the winter months, many Milwaukee neighborhoods from Downtown to the North Shore display ice sculptures. Sometimes, groups organize ice-sculpting competitions, sometimes artists are commissioned to sculpt ice simply for citizens' viewing pleasure.

Obviously, once temperatures climb, the ice sculptures go by the way of Frosty, however, does this fact make their creation a waste of time? Artists spend hours, sometimes days, on perfecting their frozen masterpiece, only for them to melt away.

The same question could be asked of sand sculpture, commonly created at Bradford Beach in the summer time. So is temporary art a waste of time, or if not, what benefit does temporary art provide? Sound-off!

Ice sculpture / sand sculpture is not worth the effort. I understand putting your heart and soul into something you can enjoy for the rest of your life, but for a sculpture that could melt or erode within a day doesn't seem worth it.

Ice sculpture / sand sculpture is valuable, important art. Everything in life is temporary, and these sculptures -- just like some installations and other ephemeral art -- remind us of that fact. Temporary art is as much about the process, maybe even more about the process / the journey, than the end result. Plus, they are amazing to look at, even if it's only for a couple of days.

7 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by mike3333 on Jan. 26, 2009 at 4:56 p.m. (report)

art is art, u dig?

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by mike3333 on Jan. 26, 2009 at 4:55 p.m. (report)

Is blogging a waste of time? It just goes away.

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by dbergart on Jan. 26, 2009 at 11:57 a.m. (report)

As a carver and event organizer I find the challenge that the art of sculpting ice is a waste of time to be a very narrow view of what it really is. I have no recommendations to enlighten the challenger, except to say, An expanded mind does not return to it's original form."

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by paulm on Jan. 25, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. (report)

Sijan is right. Art is temporary. Enjoy it now. Ice melts, paintings fade, cars rust and people die.

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by mikebrenner on Jan. 25, 2009 at 3:37 p.m. (report)

why oh why couldn't that fonzie sculpture have just been made out of ice? the artist could have used food coloring to give him those aqua disco pants.

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5




Show me the other 2 Talkbacks
OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | britneysnation.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | FanaticPhotog.com | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnDoorCounty.org | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLakeCountry.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnMilwaukee.com's Bartender Olympics | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | Wisconsincustomhomenews.com | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest