Hamilton, Ohio City of Sculpture Presents IceFest 2004
"Announcing the premiere Great Miami Valley YMCA Sled Race; Junichi Nakamura, World and Olympic Champion, arriving from Obihiro, Japan; Fifth Third Bank Fire & Ice; Technicolor Ice Walk; IceCubeFest presented by Lane@Fitton; Pyramid hosts Greater Cincinnati Weaver's Guild; Amateur Photo Contest; Soap Sculpture Competition Involves over 450 Students"

Over 100 Ice Sculptures – Over 200 Blocks – 2 Tons of Ice on Display During Icefest 2004

IceFest Continues to Grow as a Two-Day Event!
Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture presents its 3rd annual IceFest, which takes place at the Butler County Courthouse and Journal Squares in downtown Hamilton on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, 2004. IceFest again will create an exciting schedule of activities for everyone. This year's theme has been chosen as "Around the World in Ice". The purpose of IceFest is to provide a free and fun family-oriented winter-event that attracts visitors and local residents while also highlighting the many sculptures located in Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture and showcasing the Hamilton community's beautiful downtown.

The Great Miami Valley YMCA Sled Race is Introduced
Teams consisting of 5 "dogs" - human pullers and riders- travel in creative sleds through a course set in downtown Hamilton! Each team makes several mandatory stops and performs certain tasks at each stop such as eating a Klondike bar, drinking hot chocolate, or taking a rest stop that does not begin till all "dogs" are still.  This race takes place from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, January 24. Cost is $25 per sled plus $5 per person (5 racers per sled minimum).  The race is open to the public and also offers a great opportunity for putting together a corporate team.  Entry registration forms with rules will be available beginning December 1, 2003, at any of the four Great Miami Valley YMCA locations. Deadline for registration is January 16, 2004.  Dave Schirmer, chair of the sled race, states, "We are working to make this activity very creative for our sponsors since it is a new tie-in to the City of Sculpture and the annual IceFest celebration and could be a great opportunity for a new corporate challenge in Hamilton."  For information on joining the Great Miami Valley YMCA Sled Race, please contact Dave Schirmer (513) 863-1145.

Committee members are very excited to welcome eight-time World Champion, Junichi Nakamura, of Japan to the Icefest 2004 competition and celebration. In Japan, he is a farmer; to the rest of the world, he is one of the best ice carvers, capturing several Olympic Medals during his 22 years of ice carving. During the past 15 years, he has been competing all over the world … the most active competitions being in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan. According to Nakamura, “I balance my summers between managing my farmhouse and designing and creating images of ice sculptures; while in the winters, I focus on making the sculptures themselves. I feel fortunate to live in ideal conditions, where I can create and plan at my leisure.”

Alice Connelly, Executive Director of NICA, wrote regarding Pushing the Limit!!: Video Review by Dawson List, “Perhaps the best moments in the video come from the drama inherent in the National Championships. In 2000, leader Junichi Nakamura works to complete his single block piece, Fantasia. Once again, the carver doesn't see the carving fall, but the camera does. Only this time, Junichi's helper catches the sculpture and cradles it in his arms. Junichi is able to repair the piece, giving him the 2000 Championship.”

During Icefest 2004, Nakamura will not only compete on Saturday. On Thursday, he will create an 8-block freestyle sculpture to be place at One Renaissance Center, Hamilton’s City Center. Nakamura will also perform a 2-block demonstration on Friday afternoon at the Butler County Courthouse to be witnessed by both the ice carvers and the general public. Times TBA.

It’s IceFest week in Hamilton! The weather is cooperating for Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc., which is the committee preparing for the annual ice extravaganza that has fast become southwest Ohio’s premier outdoor winter event. This is only the third annual IceFest, but the event has already tripled in size. During IceFest 2004, over 105 ice sculptures will be on static display beginning Friday evening, January 23, at 8:00 p.m. during the annual Technicolor Ice Walk. On Saturday, January 24, over a dozen professional ice carvers from as far away as Japan will be on hand to compete for $4500 in prizes. All outdoor events will be in downtown Hamilton, Ohio, on Courthouse and Journal Squares while also lining High Street. In excess of 15,000 people are expected over the weekend, which is free and open to the public.

Pre-event, Thursday, January 22 –World-renowned ice sculptor, Junichi Nakamura, will create a ten-block ice sculpture on the plaza outside the Government Services Center, One Renaissance Center, 345 High Street, Hamilton, OH. Jeff Stahl, of Arctic Diamond, will also carve a multi-block patriotic sculpture similar to the Iwo Jima Soldiers Raising of the American Flag entitled “A Call to Peace”. Stahl will work with Junichi as well as Chad Hartson, one of the competitors for Saturday’s event. Thursday’s exhibition will be perfect for live news cut-ins. It will take place from around 1:00 p.m. through 6:30 p.m.

Junichi Nakamura:

Committee members are very excited to welcome eight-time World Champion, Junichi Nakamura, of Japan to the IceFest 2004 competition and celebration. In Japan, he is a farmer; to the rest of the world, he is one of the best ice carvers, capturing several Olympic Medals during his 22 years of ice carving. During the past 15 years, he has been competing all over the world … the most active competitions being in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan. According to Nakamura, “I balance my summers between managing my farmhouse and designing and creating images of ice sculptures; while in the winters, I focus on making the sculptures themselves. I feel fortunate to live in ideal conditions, where I can create and plan at my leisure.”

Jeff Stahl:

Jeff Stahl, proprietor of Artic Diamond, Inc., will complete a ten-block patriotic sculpture similar to the Iwo Jima Soldiers Raising of the American Flag. Jeff will be carving with Junichi as well as Chad Hartson, one of the competitors for Saturday’s event. Title of the piece is "A Call to Peace". Jeff, an Olympic Ice Sculpture Champion and 2002 Winter Olympic Qualifier, is also the mastermind behind the entire IceFest event. Jeff approached the Hamilton Convention & Visitors Bureau several years ago looking for a venue for an ice sculpting event. It was soon agreed that Jeff would work not only as consultant for the City of Sculpture organization who presents the annual IceFest event, but would also act as creator for the many unique ice sculptures found at each year’s IceFest. Artic Diamond is Southern Ohio's premier ice sculpting company, with over 28 years of experience.

NICA Ice Carving Competition featuring over a dozen professional ice sculptors competing for $4,500 in prize money

Fort Hamilton Healthcare Corp. Ice Rink open

Over 100 Ice Sculptures on static display at Courthouse and Journal Squares

Lane@Fitton IceFest for Children (ages 6-9)

IceFest photo contest continues

Many Downtown Restaurants Open

Greater Cincinnati Weavers Guild Demonstration at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park offices located at 222 High Street

Raffle Tickets for sale all day- 4 wheeler ATV donated by Jones Power Sports

Fifth Third Bank Fire & Ice Lodge Launches Friday Evening Schedule
Launching Friday evening activities will be the Fifth Third Bank “Fire and Ice Lodge” ticketed celebration. Hosted by the Hamilton Junior Women’s League Auxiliary, this unique community gala held in conjunction with IceFest transforms the Hamiltonian Hotel Ballroom into a warm, cozy ski lodge between 6:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Providing the amenities of a full service lodge, this informal evening provides an opportunity for casual dining and mingling with family, neighbors and friends. A buffet offering hearty soups, savory, freshly carved roast beef and turkey, specialty breads and rolls and delectable desserts is served. Hot and cold refreshments along with a cash bar are also available, and local entertainers provide music. Acknowledgement of IceFest sculptors and generous sponsors will occur between sets. Sculpted especially for the event, an ice sculptured bar and fireplace will provide the centerpiece for this spectacular community event.  SOLD OUT

“Technicolor Ice Walk” is Main Event on Friday Evening
The main attraction on Friday evening, which is free and open to all, is the “Technicolor Ice Walk” at Butler County Courthouse Square and other areas in downtown Hamilton! Technicolor Ice Walk showcases the ice sculptures that are sponsored by area businesses, organizations and individuals. Sculptures are brilliantly illuminated with colored lights, beginning at 8:00 p.m. More than 100 sculptures are expected to be on display with the highlighted theme, "Around the World in Ice".

A Sample Sculptures Scheduled to be on Display

Ice Sculpture Competition, Speed Carving Demonstrations, Children’s Activities and Frosty the Snowman are highlights for Saturday
On Saturday, January 24, an ice sculpture carving competition will highlight the two-day event and Olympic Ice Sculptors Matt Williams and Jeff Stahl will again be showcased. Professional NICA (National Ice Carvers Association) ice sculptors from around the nation, Japan, and Canada will compete for over $4,500 worth of prize money. Judging takes place in the afternoon and an awards ceremony follows. This is a NICA sanctioned event. In addition to the children’s activities and speed carving demonstrations taking place on Saturday, soap sculpture contest winners are displayed in merchant windows. Music, food, exhibits and IceFest souvenirs are also featured. Mascot Frosty the Snowman attends and distributes treats for all ages.

IceCubeFest Children's Activity sponsored by Lane Libraries held at Fitton Center

Lane@Fitton presents IceCubeFest. On January 24, at 10:00 a.m., the Lane Libraries and the Fitton Center for Creative Arts will join together for the second season of the Lane@Fitton partnership. Programs throughout the year are for children ages 6 - 9 and serve to promote reading and the arts. IceCubeFest will begin at 10:00 a.m. on January 24 at the Fitton Center, 101 South Monument Avenue, in downtown Hamilton! During this program, kids will have the opportunity to read and look through books about winter, snow and ice, and hear the familiar music of Troika. They will also have the chance to participate in ice activities and demonstrations such as making ice cream and cutting ice with a thread. During the program, the children will learn more about the ice sculptures they'll be seeing as they visit IceFest and they'll also make crafts they can take home with them. Call the Lane Library at 513-894-1409 for more information and to register your child for this program.

Weaver’s Guild of Greater Cincinnati hosted by Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park during IceFest

Pyramid Hill will be serving lunch and refreshments for IceFest in the Regency Rooms, 222 High Street. Offerings will include soups, sandwiches, baked goods, hot & cold beverages. The Greater Cincinnati Weaver's Guild will be available all day from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. offering demonstrations on a spinning wheel and loom. The Weaver's Guild of Greater Cincinnati has everything you need and lots of things you will want! - to keep you warm this winter. Warm up from head to toe with hats, neck scarves, shawls, mittens, silk jackets, slippers, socks, quilts and floor rugs. And just in time for Valentine's Day, warm the heart and home with jewelry, journals, table runners, place mats, napkins, towels, cards and wall hangings. All lovingly and expertly handcrafted. Demonstrations of weaving, spinning and other fiber arts will get your creative juices racing. Feel the warmth! There will be a raffle for Guild and other items – multiple drawings will be held throughout the day.

So families can come into the Regency Rooms at 222 High Street to get warmed up with some soup or hot cocoa and cookies while kids work on the weaving loom. Then they will be ready to go back outside to view the sculptors, sled race, and other activities taking place during IceFest 2004.

Amateur Photo Contest

To further involve residents and visitors, an Amateur Photo Contest, which was added during IceFest 2003, is an opportunity for amateur photographers to submit photos of IceFest into an adjudicated event. More than 50 entries were submitted in 2003, and last year's winner was Jim Dwyer of Harrison, Ohio. All entries in 2004 are to be of the IceFest sculptures, sculptors or any activities taking place during IceFest. Cash prizes totaling $500 are offered. A special best black and white photo of show is awarded in memory of Dr. Edward Kezur, in recognition of his dedication, expertise and support of photography as an art form. Entries must be submitted by February 16, 2004 and turned in at the Fitton Center along with a completed entry form. Winners are to be announced February 20, 2004, and winning photos will be exhibited in downtown Hamilton for approximately one month after the winners are chosen. Entry forms with rules for the competition will be available beginning the week of 2004 through January 23 at Fitton Center, 101 South Monument Avenue, Fifth Third Bank in downtown Hamilton, and photo-processing retail stores in the Hamilton-Fairfield area.

The competition is open to amateur photographers of any age and each entrant may submit no more than two photographs. The photograph must be in print form only, and 8 x 10 or 8 x 12, mounted and matted with the overall size being 11 x 14, with no frame. Color or black and white prints will be accepted but if the image is digitally manipulated, it must be stated on the Entry Form. Entrants may not enter photographs taken by other people, or photographs that have won prizes in other photography competitions. By entering the contest, entrant gives Hamilton, Ohio City of Sculpture the rights to publish the image free of reproduction fees. Entrant will be credited as the photographer and the copyright remains with the photographer. For more information, contact Bill Hartford at 513-863-3385.

Soap Sculpture Competition Open to Junior High 8^th or 9^th Grade Students
This competition, now in its 3rd year has been open to any 8th or 9th grade student and has continued to grow as more students participate and many art educators are using the soap sculpture as an element of curriculum. This year, more than 450 students have participated from area schools including Badin, Garfield, George Washington, Queen of Peace, Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, St. Peter in Chains, and Wilson. This number of students is more than double the number of participating students in 2003. The Icefest committee distributed 900 bars of soaps to students, 600 of which were donated by Proctor and Gamble.

With the 2004 highlighted category of “Around the World in Ice", other categories include Animal/Bird, Sport/Game/University, Design/Abstract, People/Cartoon, Original & more! “The students are becoming increasing creative with this project. Last year we had a student carve a computer complete with its mouse. This year, a student has fabricated an amazingly intricate tea service set.” stated Kathi Hunter, chair of this Icefest activity. “For Icefest 2004, more than 200 entries were received from Garfield Jr. High alone. Shannon Frey, art teacher at Garfield, along with other area educators are to be commended by our committee for the enthusiasm put towards this project.”

Division winning soap sculptures will be on display at Key Bank on High Street from the week of January 24, 2004 through the Icefest event weekend. Entries were accepted until December 19, 2003. Winners of this student project will be announced at noon on Saturday, January 24 during Icefest 2004.

IceFest is presented by Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc.
Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc., which has worked with the City of Hamilton and private donors to install several new pieces of sculpture in Hamilton since the City of Sculpture organization was formed in 2000, presents IceFest. City of Sculpture chose to bring IceFest to Hamilton in 2001, the year after Governor Bob Taft formally recognized Hamilton as the "City of Sculpture". On August 16, 2000, Hamilton received the Governor's recognition, and since then more than 10 sculptures of well-known sculptors have been installed in Hamilton demonstrating that community members and other organizations are becoming increasingly energized through this vision. According to Trudy Marcum, President of Hamilton, Ohio, City of Sculpture, Inc. "The mission of IceFest is to raise funds for continuing our quest to make Hamilton known worldwide as the City of Sculpture and to create economic impact through promoting awareness of the arts in Hamilton.

Directions: From I-75, take exit 24 (State Route 129) westbound into Hamilton. At the end of the highway, continue straight onto High Street. Travel several blocks to Butler County Courthouse and Journal Squares.

Contact Information:

Trudy Marcum, City of Sculpture President

513-895-3934 or hamiltonohiocityofsculpture@fuse.net

Artic Diamond, Inc.: Jeff Stahl

513-742-4921 or articdiamond@fuse.net

Great Miami Valley YMCA Sled Race: Dave Schirmer

513-863-1145 or DHSchirmer@aol.com

Amateur Photo Contest: Bill Hartford

513-863-3385

Soap Carving Competition: Kathi Hunter

513-896-9962 or soapcarvers@aol.com

Sponsorship: Patti Froelke

513-868-3013 or pattifroelke@aol.com

Lane Library: Carrie Hyatt

513-894-1409

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park: Christina Waddell

513-868-8336

Greater Hamilton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Debra Fescina Rulon, Executive Director
One Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton! OH  45011
513-844-8080 or Toll Free 1-800-311-5353
Fax:  513-785-4062
debbie@hamilton-cvb.com
www.hamilton-cvb.com