By Staff
Michiana's award-winning ice carvers, along with nationally-recognized sculpture artist John Mishler, whose works of art grace public venues across the United States, Canada and the south of France, will be on hand for Dowagiac's 11th annual Ice Time Festival Saturday.
Culinary chefs will compete for cash prizes in the Professional Ice Carvers Competition that opens at 1 p.m. at Beckwith Park, in downtown Dowagiac.
Five-time event Chairman Dr. Timothy Dowsett, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said carvers will compete for $1,200 in cash prizes, with the top artist taking home $600.
Best known for his outdoor pieces that incorporate kinetic energy, this will be Mishler's second consecutive year judging the Professional Ice Carving Competition that will be staged from 1 to 3 p.m.
"The Chamber of Commerce is, indeed, honored to have an artist of this magnitude working with us," said Dowsett, who is one of eight corporate sponsors of this weekend's celebration.
In addition to Dowsett Chiropractic Health Center, Saturday's event is being underwritten, in part, by Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, First National Bank, Harding's Friendly Market, Kemner-Iott Agency of Cass County, Lyons Industries, McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home and Michigan Pizza Hut.
"Mishler has a keen eye for the vision, skill and the temperament, which is required of an artist that is working with one of nature's elements," Dowsett said.
"While John doesn't work with ice, many of his outdoor pieces incorporate kinetic energy and have moving parts that turn with the wind. These moving sculptures have become his trademark."
In Mishler's sculptures, the kinetic element mirrors the shape of the stationary part of the form and, as it turns, it appears it will collide with its immobile counterpart, yet it passes by as it turns gracefully in the wind.
Returning to the festival for his 11th year, event organizers and Mishler will welcome award-winning ice carver Andrew Thistlethwaite, executive chef for Elcona Country Club in Bristol, Ind., who will be defending his 2006 championship.
Joining Thistlethwaite will be 12 of this area's best ice artisans, who will carve 39 sculptures that will line Front and Commercial streets in the downtown and will also compete for cash prizes in the professional carve-off, which awards $600 for first-place, $400 for second and $200 for third.
Thistlethwaite, who ranked third in the competition in 2003 and 2004 behind international Olympic ice carver Scott Erwin, will carve the show's multi-block ice sculpture at Beckwith Park.
More than 22,400 pounds of ice will be transported to downtown Dowagiac for Saturday's event from a Chicago ice plant to make the 39 street sculptures and the show's 2,200-pound multi-block sculpture, which is sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by Harding's Friendly Market.
Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, who helped to organize the festival, said this week's significant snowfall has set the stage for a perfect wintertime celebration, which is expected to draw day-visitors from across southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana.
Phillipson said the ice carvers will be joined by timber carver Lonnie Glines, who will provide on-site demonstrations from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and whose works will be featured in the festival's Silent Art Auction.
The chainsaw artist from Harrison will carve two three-foot statues from logs.
Festival-goers can bid on the statues throughout the day, with the two works of art awarded to the top bidder.
Phillipson said proceeds from the auction help the Chamber of Commerce, which has a reserve bid in place, cover festival costs associated with this year's $9,000 community event.
Festival organizers are also pleased to welcome the exhibition of the Fruitbelt Wood Carvers Association, beginning at 11 a.m. at Apparel Alternatives, located in the downtown at 140 S. Front St.
Unlike the culinary chefs, who will be carving ice sculptures outside, Phillipson said the wood carvers will use very little electrical tools, relying mainly on carving knives and chisels to craft their items.
Families can also sample some of southwestern Michigan's hottest chili during the annual Professional Chili Cook-off.
Free samples will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Beeson Street Bar and Grill, The Eagles, Wood Fire Italian Trattoria, Wounded Minnow Saloon and Zeke's Restaurant.
Those folks wishing to cool down their taste buds, will want to enter the ice cream eating contest, hosted by Caruso's Candy Kitchen at 2 p.m.
Phillipson said participants will attempt to be the first to devour Caruso's legendary Pig's Dinner, which includes four flavors of ice cream, four toppings, crushed nuts and whipped cream that sit atop a split banana.
Children will also enjoy building miniature "snow" sculptures from marshmallows at Beckwith Park beginning at 1 p.m.
The children's interactive workshop is a free activity, hosted by the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant of the Chamber of Commerce.
Phillipson said festival-goers are also invited to enter a creation made at home in the Ice Art Competition that will be judged at noon outside of The Wren's Nest at 202 S. Front St. Participants can freeze something colorful at home in a unique-shaped container and bring it with them to the festival.
The winning entry will be judged on originality, shape and color.
Ice Time also features its fourth annual Winter Hibernation and Pajama Sale, which kicks off at 7 a.m. at The Marshall Shoppe.
Phillipson said six downtown specialty shops are offering final markdowns on fall and winter merchandise, with some prices slashed up to 75 percent off.
Participating sites are: Apparel Alternatives, Booth's Country Florist, Laurie Anne's, The Marshall Shoppe, Vincent J. Jewelers and The Wren's Nest.
Some locations require shoppers to wear their pajamas to receive the best early-morning bargains.
New this year, Phillipson said, Dowagiac District Library is hosting a winter book sale this week, which continues on Saturday.