never a dull day in London (unless you’re talking weather of course) and today was no different. 
across the docks at Canary Wharf
With any number of events and things to do, I chose to visit Canary Wharf to view and enjoy the London Ice Sculpting Festival that is currently being held there.
London Ice Sculpting Festival 13-15 January 2011 Canary Wharf
The festival started yesterday Thursday 13th from about 3.30 pm and will continue till about 5pm on Saturday 15th, with the prize-giving at 3pm on Saturday when the Public Choice winners receive their medals and a specially commissioned glass trophy.
What a fun event. With international ice sculptors from as far afield as Spain, Italy, France and the Netherlands and including the UK carving out dramatic, large-scale works of art in two metre high blocks of ice - against the clock; you cannot but be amazed at the wonders they create. An ice penguin struts proudly,
a wee penguin
a polar bear growls menacingly
a polar bear!!
and Mr Plod keeps an eye on proceedings.
Mr Plod...keeping an eye on proceedings
The sculptors use a number of different tools from chisels to electric-powered saws (that sound a bit like a dentist’s drill). Fascinating to watch them at work as they slice and saw, carve and chisel their massive blocks of ice into delightful characters that charm the eye.
weilding their tools like weapons, the ice-sculptors create magic
Besides the competitors, you can also have a go at creating your own work of art on a small block of ice by signing up for a supervised 20 minute masterclass.
sign up for a masterclass and give it a go yourself
There are three venues Canada Square Park,
Canada Square Park
Jubilee Place and Canada Place – with live carving demonstrations.
The final day is Saturday 15th January from 11am – 5pm, so be sure to hurry along. The nearest tube station is Canary Wharf and folks around there will direct you if needed.
Canary Wharf Underground Station - Jubilee Line
Canary Wharf is on the Jubilee Line and DLR (Docklands Light Railway).
A fascinating area to visit on any day, you will find a conglomeration of fabulous skyscrapers beautifully designed modern architecture of steel and glass.
steel and glass skyscrapers - Canary Wharf
Sculptures abound, open spaces and green feng-sui style gardens lend an air of tranquility to what is a bustling business district.
a touch of feng-sui at Canary Wharf
a wee bit of history: Until the mid 1960′s, Canary Wharf was a cargo warehouse at the centre of West India Docks at the heart of Docklands. With the exception of the buildings at West India Quay all the original warehouses on the Isle of Dogs have been removed. by December 2007 the Working population was approximately 93,000. Today, Canary Wharf is a thriving and vibrant business district featuring a wide range of shops, restaurants, pubs, wine bars, as well as healthcare and leisure facilities and an extensive arts and events programme. In design terms, Canary Wharf is one of the most highly specified urban areas in the world. For attention to details both on buildings and in the streetscape, it is virtually impossible to find a contemporary comparison. http://www.canarywharf.com/mainfrm1.asp
