Experiencing Humanities

Experiencing Humanities through Ice Sculpture

BIS/221

1 March 2016

Experiencing Humanities through Ice Sculpture

        The humanities area the reason people find life worth enjoyable. They are the why to the questions of the here, now, then and tomorrow. The exploration of within that has come to the external. Humanities can be defined as the analyses of the human’s purpose within culture. The humanities include everything from part two for architecture, philosophy to religion, music literature, and history. Humanities can even include ice sculptures.

        Recently I was looking to be able to visit the World’s Ice Art Championship in Fairbanks Alaska more commonly referred to as The Ice Park. The park itself looked like someone’s yard. That is until the visitor walks out the back door of the admissions office. Once with in the confines of the privacy fence and tree line, the wonderful world of snow and ice begin to immerge. This park is one part Ice Louvre, one part amusement park however it is all wonderland. There was so much to observe that a visitor would amass frostbite before being able to see every sculpture. There was everything from a modern 2 bedroom house with all furnishing and appliances, including a detailed fireplace and art work over the mantel of a couple’s silhouettes kissing to an “underwater adventure” with fish, sea turtles, and even a sperm whale.  What is even better is that most every piece was able to spin or had slides and stairs built in to it.

The Ice Park is the perfect example of life imitating art or art imitation life. It also gave me a better appreciation of the work, beauty, and wonder that is life and that comes from creating what only can be seen as the artist. It is astonishing that a person can mold a plain medium to convey such beauty. These once hunks of ice are truly something to cherish and delight in.