World Ice Art Championships 2015
"Fighter" by ice sculptors Junichi Nakamura, Shinichi Sawamura, Chan Kitburi and Dean Murray (of Japan and the U.S.), which won first place in the multi-block/realistic category at the 2015 World Ice Art Championship in Fairbanks, Ala.
The annual event is a race to see who can carve the biggest, baddest, most beautiful ice sculptures … all with the countdown clock ticking.
Buddha
The race is grueling. Each team works 18-20 hours a day to carve 20 tons of ice. Temperatures can drop to 50 below zero.
Buddy Rasmussen
The massive ice blocks, harvested near the Arctic Circle, are known as Arctic Diamonds -- so clear you can read a newspaper through them.
"It'll get clearer and clearer as time goes by," said Buddy Rasmussen of the ice. "It will slowly evaporate as the winds hit it, and it'll just look like glass."
"Peace in Spite of Evil"
"Peace in Spite of Evil," an entry by ice sculptors Manu Songsri, Sithichai Sutapan, Jaggapong Poungthong, and Anusorn "Heidi" Songsri from Thailand, won forth place in the multi-block/abstract category.
"Spirits of the Magic Dance"
"Spirits of the Magic Dance," created by the team of Ivan Zuev and Eduard Ponomarenko, of Russia, and Julio Martinez, of Mexico.
In the multi-block competition, teams of two to four sculptors are given 10 blocks of ice, each measuring approximately 4' x 6' x 3'. Heavy equipment is provided to help lift and position the blocks.
They must complete their work in 132 hours, with many teams working around the clock.
"Spirits of the Magic Dance"
"Spirits of the Magic Dance" (Russia/Mexico) won first place in the multi-block/abstract category.
"Dancing Lessons"
"Dancing Lessons," by Stephan Koch, Michael Koch, Luba Petrash and Mowafak Nema, of the U.S. and Iraq, was tied for the Ivalie Cox Artists Choice Award (voted on by the sculptors themselves).
"Fire and Ice"
"Fire and Ice," by Stan Kolonko, Jerry Perun, Wei Sen Liang and Brittany Cunningham of the U.S., was tied for the Ivalie Cox Artists Choice Award (voted on by the sculptors themselves).
"To The Rescue"
"To The Rescue," featuring a collection of superheroes, by the husband-and-wife team of Steve and Heather Brice, won third place in the multi-block/realistic category.
"Super Bowl"
Vitaly Lednev (Russia), Mario Amegee (Monaco), and Dorjsuren Lkhagvadorj and Ganbaatar Enkh-Erdene (Mongolia) constructing "Super Bowl."
"Super Bowl"
The finished "Super Bowl."
Reverend Butter
One ice sculptor from Houston is so smooth at slicing ice they call him Reverend Butter.
"We're all put here for a reason," he told CBS News' Lee Cowan. "This is my call and this is my reason."
"Octopussy"
"Octopussy" by Buddy Rasmussen, Reverend Butter, Dean DeMarais and Aaric Kendall (U.S.A.), won second place in the multi-block/realistic category.
"Flying Leo"
In addition to the multi-block competition, there is a single-block contest. Teams of two sculptors are each given one block of ice measuring 5' x 8' x 3'. They have 60 hours to complete their artwork.
Left: "Flying Leo" by Zhe An, of China, and Jun Wang, of the United States.
"Love's Kiss"
"Love's Kiss" by John Rodrigues of the U.S.
"A Long Time Ago..."
A "Star Wars" tribute by American sculptors Mark Chapin and Paul Pharr.
"Got It!"
A Mongolian team led by Dorjsuren Lkhagvadorj won fourth place in the single-block/realistic category for "Got It!"
"Mother"
"Mother" by Sergei Zinner and Alex Glushko of Russia won the Artists Choice Award in the realistic category.
"Encore"
"Encore" by American sculptors Tom Lewando and Gina Eaton.
"Follow Me"
"Follow Me" by Tian Zuo Wei and Da Cheng Liu of China.
"Think Outside The Can"
"Think Outside The Can" by Charlie Neff and Linda Heck of the U.S.
"Carnival Costume"
A detail from "Carnival Costume" by Junko Yanagida Ledneva and Shinichi Sawamura of Japan.
"Silly Bird"
A detail from "Silly Bird" by Stan Kolonko and Jerry Perun of the U.S.
"Sail Away"
"Sail Away" by Brian Connors and Edwin Hutchison of the U.S.
"Adversaries"
"Adversaries" by Manu Songsri and Sithichai Sutapan of Thailand.
"Two Become One"
"Two Become One" by Jaggapong Poungthong, of Thailand, and Hannah Foss, of the U.S.
"Opposing Views"
"Opposing Views," by Americans Aurora Firth and Silas Firth, won fifth place in the single-block/realistic category.
"H Two O"
Ronald Daanen and Ina Timlng (of the Netherlands and Germany) won fifth place in single-block/abstract for "H Two O."
"Together Forever"
"Together Forever" by Cheng Lin Wang and Zeng Liang Liu of China.
"Loving Tides"
"Loving Tides" by Angelito Baban and Jess Parrish of the U.S.
"Ancient Protector"
The first place prize for single-block/abstract went to "Ancient Protector” by Ivan Zuev and Eduard Ponomarenko of Russia.
"Swan Lake"
Dean Murray and Mario Amegee (of the United States and Monaco) won second place, single-block/realistic, for "Swan Lake."
"Fragrance"
Aaron and Sarah Costic of the U.S. won fifth place, single-blocks/abstract, for "Fragrance."
Mark Chapin
The downside to all this strenuous artistry, of course, is that the results will eventually melt away.
Alaska native Mark Chapin looks at that reality philosophically:
"It will go back into the ground and eventually get back into the water source. You're essentially carving from previous ice carvings," he told Lee Cowan.
"Sunday Morning"
For more info:
2015 World Ice Art Championships, Fairbanks, Aka.
icecarvingsecrets.com (Ice sculptures by Junichi Nakamura)
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan