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November 23 to December 12, Équiterre, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada), invites you to an event as part of the magnificent Polar Bear on Thin Ice project.
On November 23, Inuit artist Peter Ittukalak will be carving a life-size polar bear out of ice. The huge sculpture will be on display in front of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Montreal until December 12, and aims to raise awareness about climate changes affecting the Far North. Come and see this phenomenal sculpture, which will change every day according to the outside temperature.
Julien Doré will be helping Peter carve the huge 10-ton block of ice, which takes two months to prepare as ice is placed over a polar bear skeleton, layer by layer. This bronze skeleton is then gradually revealed as the ice melts.
Click here for more information on the Polar Bear on Thin Ice project (in French only).
In addition to hosting the ice sculpture, the Centre for Sustainable Development will also hold a conference, L’Arctique se réchauffe : conséquences sur les espèces et les communautés [Arctic warming: the impact on wildlife and communities] on November 25, at midday. Paul Crowley (WWF-Canada) and Lisa Koperqualuk (Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau Québec), who are intimately familiar with the arctic environment, will be talking about the impact of global warming.
Peter Ittukalak
Peter lives in Puvirnituq, on the east coast of Hudson Bay. Born into a family of sculptors, Peter-Boy began sculpting at age eight, encouraged by his father and grandfather. He and his older brother Juanasi are the nephews of renowned sculptors Levi and Inukpuk Qumaluk. Peter's sculptures are known for their fluid lines; the figures and animals—often in dramatic positions—truly come alive. This is the third time Peter has participated in the polar bear ice sculpture.
Julien Doré
One day, a teacher offered Julien time off school if he would participate in an ice sculpture competition. Julien won the competition and a passion was born. A few years later in 1998, his passion turned into a career when Julien founded Blizzart Sculpture in Montreal to fill a gap in the market. The company now produces most of the ice sculptures created in Quebec throughout the year, taking part in all major events in Montreal.
Photo : Bill Ivy
