One year ago I was pondering entropy and the preservative effects of stone sculpture. Today I sit in northern Vermont, thinking again of impermanence. It is 20 below outside, the small open reach of the river is steaming, and I am delaying going outside to do my work. I have come to the Vermont Studio Center (not part of our Carving Studio exchange later this year) to do a one-month sculpture residency. I do not know why I selected to work in ice, but once chosen, I knew I had to be here in January.

Part of my attraction to ice is its impermanence. Even if a new ice age kept northern Vermont cold forever, the ice would sublimate; evaporating directly to water vapor until only impurities remained.

So why am I attracted to this impermanent media? Maybe it is the lack of shipping costs? Not needing to worry about whether the pin will hold? Or perhaps I want the freedom to experiment without regard to outcome, play with new designs without the pressure of perfection. I certainly still feel the pressure to produce, to create piles of amazing ice. Fortunately, in these temperatures nobody follows through on their intentions to visit my work area, so I don’t need to worry about anyone judging my work poorly. Which perhaps brings me to the deeper reason for why I chose ice – to challenge myself to work outside my comfort zone in a new medium, in a new location, and in a difficult environment; and to do all of this while dealing with my fear of being judged harshly. I don’t know for sure, but hopefully it will be clear by the end of this month.

 

Carve well, have fun, and be safe,