MEAD, Wash. – A Mead man has crafted some mesmerizing artwork out of ice.
Dave Olson is showcasing some colorful frozen tiki torches in his front yard this year. He said he has been working on the project for about a month now.
It took three weeks for the water to freeze before a 30-hour sculpting and assembly process, Olson said. He has worked in construction throughout his life and said he has a knack and skill for building things.
The tikis are six, eight and 12 feet in height and almost two feet in diameter. The ice, which is illuminated by LED project lights, weighs about 390 pounds per cylinder, Olson said.
Olson said he realizes many people are sick of the snow and winter weather, so he thought it would be a good idea to be make the best of what Mother Nature has been throwing our way.
"It's not every day you see an ice sculpture and so it's something I thought would be really fun, like I say for the winter time to keep some positive energy going in to put some smiles on some peoples faces," he said. "It is a hobby. I don't know if I would call myself an artist, but I like to be highly creative."
Olson told KREM that the chilled artwork has not attracted many visitors yet, but he hopes people will come enjoy it before the projects melt.
This is not the first year Olson has made art out of ice. He also sent KREM photos of previous projects – one from 2017 – resembling sparkling crystals.
Take a look at Olson's work below:
