The future of the Ice Art Festival, previously produced by the Northampton BID, has been in question for several months. “We didn’t want to see this special event fade away,” says Radio Group General Manager David Musante. “It brings people to town to stroll, shop, and dine. It creates great memories and keeps people coming back to downtown Northampton.” Musante goes on to note that “the enthusiastic assistance and institutional knowledge of Penny Burke from the Center for the Arts and former Northampton BID Director Natasha Yakovlev were key in putting this together on short notice.”
Featured ice artists come from diverse backgrounds with
different levels of experience and expertise. Several of them have participated
in all of the festivals, including professional ice carver Joe Almeida, painter/sculptor
Greg Stone, and Don Chapelle, founder of Boston’s “Brilliant Ice Sculpture” who
always creates a unique piece in front of Thornes Marketplace.
Mixed media master Peter Dellert makes a third appearance
this year. Versatile sculptors Tim de Christopher and Matt Evald Johnson return
as does installation artist Chris Nelson. The eclectic Sally Curcio debuts
along with wood carver Nathan Peterson and Royalston sculptor Tom Kellner. And yes—another V-One Ice Luge will grace the terrace
of the Eastside Grill. A map of artists and their installation sites will be
available at Arts Night Out locations.
Details are posted at www.nohoarts.org.