"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we might have a winter carnival in
Fairbanks?" These are the famous words Kay Hufman uttered early in 1934.
Kay and her friend, Clara Murray West, stirred up enough enthusiasm
to get the whole town behind them. March 8th, 9th and 10th were full
of activities: music, dancing, parades, sporting events and dog races
dominated the scene. The small northern community of Fairbanks (pop.
2,500) pulled together and started a spring celebration that grew in
size and grandeur every year.
The 1934 celebration was called the Fairbanks Winter Carnival. By 1938
the now four day celebration was officially called the Ice Carnival
and Dog Derby. Dog races were a major feature of the celebration and
the Ice Carnival was the other.
Something of seemingly insignificant importance was happening as the
Carnival grew. The ice thrones were becoming more complex and significant
every year. The purpose of the early sculptures was to stage the crowning
of the Carnival Queen and King. The sculpted thrones were a place to
meet and celebrate. A focal point for the Carnival activities. This
was the embryonic beginning of the event that we celebrate to this day.
The thrones became more intricate, larger and complex. The first throne
in 1934 was built to be functional. Water frozen over a frame to serve
as a backdrop. It was nice but not at all elaborate. This simple but
significant structure was created by one of Fairbanks' earliest recorded
ice sculptors, Piestro Vigna. He went on year after year building increasingly
more complex and detailed structures: like the 1938 sculpture of an
Eskimo with a spear, and nearby were several seals. He also engineered
and built the 1939 "Four Igloo Ice Throne." The throne was surrounded
by a transplanted forest just for the esthetic effect.
Another well known artist, Ted Lambert built a beautiful ice cabin for
the 1934 celebration. It was a realistic looking 12 foot square "bush
style" cabin made of ice. There was even a food cache put up nearby.
When it was illuminated by powerful carbon vapor lights the locals referred
to it as an Ice Palace. They would dress in traditional bush garb and
pose for pictures. Ted Lambert also built a striking Ice Castle for
the 1938 Ice Carnival and designed a commemorative stamp in celebration
of the event. These early ice sculpting pioneers set the stage for the
future and today's sculptors are carrying on this tradition with enthusiasm.
