Montana Tech students carve nostalgic vintage Christmas scene for Butte Ice Carving Contest
Two Montana Technological University students participated in the 24th annual Butte Ice Carving Contest held December 14, 2024.
Mechanical engineering senior Ethan Heggem and biological sciences senior Aubrey Teller carved their creation in front of Steele’s Furniture. Heggem has been carving for six years, and Aubrey joined in about three years ago.
“This year, we carved a vintage pickup truck hauling a Christmas tree in the bed,” Heggem said. “The inspiration of this piece came from the rustic art commonly associated with the holidays. This art usually depicts the simpler times of the past, showing warm fireplaces, glowing cabin windows, or vintage vehicles driving down a snowy path towards home. Although we were not around during these times, this art often invokes a sense of nostalgia and comfort during the holiday season.”
Heggem said sometimes ice carving can be challenging.
“The hardest part of ice carving is dealing with the ice itself,” Heggem said. “Whether it cracks, chips, melts, or has cloudy spots under the surface, there is always something that pops up while trying to carve the sculpture. This adds another level of complexity to ice carving, as the medium can be unpredictable, and you must adapt to those changes to finish the sculpture.”
While the pair did not place, they enjoyed the process.
“I enjoy the process of taking the ice block, which is just a simple rectangle, and carving and refining its edges and faces into a completely new shape that no longer resembles the simple block I started with,” Heggem said. “It’s a very satisfying and fun experience!”
“I enjoy ice carving because we are able to take a boring block of ice and turn it into something amazing to enjoy,” Aubrey said. “It’s something that gets me into the Christmas spirit. I also enjoy it because I can do it with my boyfriend, Ethan.”
Heggem expressed his gratitude for those who make the event possible.
“I would just like to share my thankfulness for the community for putting on the ice sculpting contest every year!” Heggem said. “It is such a unique experience, and seeing all of the creative and mind-blowing ways that people create their sculptures is something very special.”