Evher Coronel was born into a family ice-sculpting business, but he’s found a home in Ottawa.
The artist has travelled 6,000 kilometres, chainsaw in hand, from Peru, where it’s the middle of summer, mostly to be a part of Winterlude’s ice-sculpting competition.
And he couldn’t be happier: There’s no better place to show off his artistry.
“I feel happy because the people can see the art for longer,” he said, adding that he loves watching the people’s reactions to his frozen work. “Compared to Peru (where) the art is displayed for a couple of hours … over here it is a couple of weeks.”
For most Canadians, enjoying maple taffy on snow, lemon and brown sugar beavertails in -30 C weather is a typical Winterlude day. But for Coronel, it’s a day to carve out a name for himself. He’s competing against artists from all over the world.
Evher Coronel from Lima Peru is competing in the ice sculpture competition on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015.
It isn’t the first time Coronel has competed, but his love for winter and working with his hands brought him to Canada permanently a couple of years ago.
“The ice chose me,” he said. This year, he is sculpting a mystical like fairy.
Suguru Kanbayashi, president of the Canadian Ice Carvers Society, said he is excited to see this year’s results because carvers are getting more ice than ever.
“Each competitor gets seven blocks of ice and 26 hours over the course of three days.”
Judging takes place Sunday and there are prizes up for grabs for the top five sculptures.
Matina Kalimeris and Yuki Hildebrandt, both from Ottawa, kicked off their winter festivities by enjoying free pancakes at city hall. Across the street at Confederation Park, the women were amazed by the ice sculptures.
“I am just blown away by the creativity. I am in awe,” said Kalimeris.
For them, seeing the sculptors in action is inspiring. “The imagination that they have and then the wherewithal to actually carve that out of a piece of ice, I don’t know how they do it. It’s amazing,” said Hildebrandt.
This year is also the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag. In light of this, visitors are skating with a plaid skirts on the Rideau Canal Skateway from Fifth Avenue to the NAC.
Winterlude will run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 16. There are other winter activities happening throughout the city and in Gatineau, such as the Festibière winter beer festival, a giant snowslide in Jacques-Cartier and outdoor photo exhibitions.
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A pack of skaters make their along the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
A lone triathlete skates along the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon as temperatures dipped to -24 degrees C (-32 with the wind chill) on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
Skaters make their along the Rideau Canal Skateway during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
A runner keeps warm before the start of the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon, as temperatures dipped to -24 degrees C (-32 with the wind chill), in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
Frost covers the face of triathlete Hakkon Solheim as he skis in the Arboretum during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon, as temperatures dipped to -24 degrees C (-32 with the wind chill) in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
A triathlete is covered with frost as he puts on his running shoes at the transition during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
Ice forms in the water jug at the feed station during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon on the Rideau Canal Skateway as temperatures dipped to -24 degrees C (-32 with the wind chill) in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
A triathlete skis in the Arboretum during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
Skaters make their along the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
A triathlete skis in the Arboretum during the during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
Steve Blaskie runs during the during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. The triathlon, comprising of an eight kilometre skate, five kilometre ski and five kilometre run, is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival.
Thousands of people enjoyed the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
Gabzy the busker entertains spectators during the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
Gabzy the busker entertains spectators during the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
A boy slides down the Chinook slide during the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
The Lane family enjoy the ice slide during the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
The weather made for great selfies during the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
Thousands of people enjoyed the ice slides during the opening day of Winterlude at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Saturday January 31, 2015.
