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Ice sculptor puts on Thanksgiving show
by Staff Sgt. Annette B. Andrews
18th Fires Bde. PAO
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photo by Staff Sgt. Annette B. Andrews/18th Fires Bde. PAO
Spc. Andrew Armstrong, 54th Forward Support Company, 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, puts on an ice sculpting exhibition outside the 18th Fires Brigade Dining Facility on Thanksgiving Day. |
Thanksgiving morning started out chilly and overcast, but it was perfect weather, for Spc. Andrew Armstrong, from the 54th Forward Support Company, 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.
Armstrong, with chainsaw in hand, began ice sculpting about two weeks ago. On Thanksgiving Day, the native of Albany, New York, cautioned onlookers to keep a safe distance and proceeded to display his artistic talents with a 90-minute ice sculpting exhibition outside the 18th Fires Brigade dining facility.
“Once I get started, I don’t know who’s watching because when I’m working, I’m in the zone,” Armstrong stated. “I have to concentrate on what I’m doing and the exact location of the blades for each tool I’m using. It’s a beautiful art, but it can be dangerous, too.”
And that’s why members of the 18th Fires Bde. dining facility took turns acting as Armstrong’s safety patrol. They kept the crowd at a safe distance and answered questions from curious onlookers.
“These blocks of ice have to be taken from the freezer hours ahead of time,” said Spc. Javier Muniz, of the 135th FSC, 3rd Bn., 27th FAR. Muniz is also skilled in ice carving. It’s a skill both Soldiers learned at the Fort Bragg Culinary Arts Lab. “After the ice has been out about three hours, it’s considered tempered; then we can start carving on it.”
Tempered ice produces a crystal clear appearance.
“If we were to start carving on it right away, the sculpture would have a foggy, non-translucent look,” Muniz said.
After the three-hour wait, Armstrong, who has been in the Army for 10 years, started up his chainsaw. Without a template he began slicing away chunks of ice from the 300-pound block of ice. Next, he applied a special drill to carve specific details on the base of his masterpiece. The fine details were achieved with a chisel.
“I spray water on the sculpture to clean out the grooves and add definition to the piece,” Armstrong said. “The water bottle is invaluable when working with ice.
“These sculptures will last a few hours in this weather. Just enough time for everyone eating here today to see them and appreciate them,” said Armstrong.
Inside the dining facility, the decor was a combination of Year of the Noncommissioned Officer and Disney characters themes. The Disney aspect explained the glass slippers Armstrong made from the 20 by 40 inch ice blocks displayed on the lawn in front of the dining facility. Maybe Armstrong wanted to give his wife an extra special present for carrying his first child through this holiday season.
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