"What the heck is that in the ice!" shouts old man Grimp, who was living in
the bush when the Canucks changed their logo. As the other fans in the seats of GM Place calm
him down, explaining everything is all right and that security doesn't need to cart the old man
out, the questions remain: what IS that thing in the ice, and how did it get there?
Ice graphics are done all around the world, almost anywhere ice becomes a
playing field. The logos of hockey teams are only a start, as art is displayed sideways in the
course of bobsled runs or even as events themselves. Many factors affect the way the painting
is done, including special paints, water, and even the way it is frozen. It is a very
specialized field, with few companies in the market competing, and when they do compete it is
on a global scale.
Jet Ice is a Canadian company that has helped with the decorations at the
winter olympics in Salt Lake City and Nagano. Considering the scope of these events, ice
conditions need to be an incredible quality since a single flaw can mean the difference between
a gold medal and obscurity. "We are very proud to be a part of the Olympic Games and to watch
our Canadian athletes compete to achieve their lifetime goals of bringing home a medal for their
country" says Dave Loverock, the president of Jet Ice.
There are of course aspirations to that worldwide market, some very close to
home. Gordon Halloran, an artist currently living on the Sunshine Coast, has developed a form
of ice painting he wants to see at the Italy winter olympics, and at the one held in Whistler,
BC in 2010. His unique style and "quintessential Canadian artform" (Globe & Mail) is available
for viewing in some of the unlikeliest places: art galleries. Who would want to look at art on
walls wearing a muffler and overcoat? Halloran has skipped this issue by developing a process
where the paintings done on the ice can be transferred onto canvas for dry & warm viewing. He
has created Ice Paintings for The World Figure Skating Championships, The Calgary Olympic Plaza
and several other rinks in Canada.
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The Ice Painting Team Challenge is an event developed to introduce Canadians
to this artform which should already be a part of out heritage. Physical and artistic stamina
is needed with all the carrying buckets, pouring paint, pebbling, carrying and installing ice
shards. Teams of 6 to 10 people race to complete 225 sq. ft. artworks on the ice at the Sechelt
Arena, and then watch as a zamboni comes in and gives it a high-gloss finish. This is of course
after the teams have entered the arena sporting their home-made flags and the plan has been
descibed for the future work. After the paintings have been photographed and/or video taped,
and the champagne reception has reluctantly been finished, they are ready for the New Years Eve
unveiling, where skaters come onto the ice to show of their Olympic-style skills. The event is
the first of its kind on the Sunshine Coast, and Gordon Halloran and Caitling Hicks, the
organizers, hope it will be a tradition for future generations. "Even though you don't think of
yourself as an artist, you may have these skills and talents" says Halloran, inviting everyone
to join. Hicks and Halloran have even planned a film of the event to be shown across Canada.
The Great White North, a title Canada is never going to live down regardless
of the pineapples & oranges grown in BC, is a source of pride for people & organizations like
Gordon Halloran and Jet Ice. These ambassadors to the Global Village show the versatility of
Canadians - how we can perform artwork on any surface and still get it into a gallery. Knowing
those five rings under the olympians feet were made by Canadians (not to mention the occasional
loony) can be a source of pride and inspiration.
Ice Painting Team Challenge
Dec 31st
Sunshine Coast Arena, Sechelt
8 am - 6 pm
Champagne Reception
Seaside Building, Sechelt
8:30 pm
Olympic-style free skate
Jan 1st
Awards * Music * Improv
Public skate on the paintings
Sunshine Coast Arena, Sechelt
Contact Caitlin Hicks at 1-604-886-3634 for more information
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