Of the festivities available for folks who attended the 103rd annual Winter Carnival, few, if any, turn heads like the series of ice sculptures displayed along Main Street during the carnival’s opening night. 

Spectators watched Friday, Jan 31. as ice sculptors lined the streets, meticulously carving figures and scenes into 10-by-20-by-40-inch blocks of ice within a matter of hours.

Sculptor Robert Markey, of Ashfield, said he had always carved wood and marble, but became involved with ice sculpting roughly 10 years ago when he was inspired by the Winter Carnival’s ice sculptures in Greenfield. Markey said he has carved a sculpture for every Winter Carnival since. 

“I was in Greenfield when they did their first ice sculpture thing, I saw it and thought ‘let me try this,’” Markey said. “It amazed me, because in one day, I did a sculpture, which would have taken me two months to do in marble.”

Markey carved a representation of the Buddha for this year’s Winter Carnival, a choice that he said coincides with one of the common themes in his work – a message of care and compassion. He referenced his last sculpture, the “Magic Woman,” of a woman holding two hearts, symbolic of “sending love to the universe.”

Although he uses a small electric chainsaw to carve out large portions of ice blocks, Markey added that he prefers to use chisels for his work. 

“A lot of my art over the years has a lot of it is focused on social and political issues, you know, making things better for people in the world. I did a lot of work years ago on violence against women, and then child trafficking and now I just want to do work — more work — about making things better in the world,” Markey said. “I got into Buddhism, many years ago and it’s really about compassion, kindness and peace.”

Mark Bosworth, of Athol, won first place for his ice sculpture of a knight wielding a sword. He said he anticipated carving some sort of winged creature, but typically likes to sculpt something “out of his head” when he looks at the ice block.

Bosworth began carving wood sculptures more than 30 years ago, and started doing chainsaw work and experimenting with ice sculpting in 2013 after he was laid off from his job. For the last 20 years, he has created ice sculptures for Orange’s Starry Starry Night New Years Eve event. Bosworth explained that working with a medium like ice brings unique challenges, as the sculpture’s survival is entirely dependent on the weather.  

“If it’s up in the near 30 [degrees] and above, the sculptures will melt. If they’re in the sun, it’ll really soften the ice tremendously, so it makes it difficult," Bosworth said. “I take that all into consideration when I'm creating something to make it structurally sound in hopes that it will last.”

Although his sculpture placed first in this year’s carnival, Bosworth said he does not sculpt to win, but to put a smile on the faces of those who see his work.

“I've done many things with wings, from lions with wings to dinosaurs with wings to dragons with a knight on it. I did an angel last year … you can add a little more flair when you carve something with feathered wings," Bosworth said. “I really enjoyed doing it and creating something that people can enjoy. That’s what I enjoy most, the reaction and doing something that’s inspirational for others.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.