NAPOLEON — Chad Hartson was attending culinary school when he was given an
opportunity to learn how to ice sculpture. He enjoyed it so much he began to do
it as a side job. This Saturday, Hartson will bring his sculpting skills to
Pandora when he does a sand sculpture in the park.
“We were engaged at the time,” said his wife Mancey. Chad accepted the
opportunity to stay after class and learn how to do ice sculpture including
learning how to draw templates, use chain saws to carve the ice and also how to
use finer tools on the ice.
Sixteen years ago, The Hartsons started their own business “Ice Creations,”
in Napoleon. Over the years they have expanded into also doing sand sculptures,
chalk drawings, and 3-D pumpkin carvings. The business does work for festivals,
weddings, organizations, and private functions.
“We’ve done a lot of unique ice sculptures,” said Mancey. Examples she gave
included doing a full-size piano for Barry Manilow, a full size car and a full
size bar.
Ice Creations has refrigerated trucks and a semi to haul their creations.
“It’s more about the packaging when we deliver an ice creation,” Mancey said.
She said they give their customers special tips to keep their sculptures
frozen.
Unusual mediums they have used for carving have also included doing a road
salt sculpture for Cargill, butter sculptures, tallow sculptures and sculptures
using different fruit and vegetables.
One block of ice used for sculpting includes 40 gallons of water and weighs
250 pounds according to Mancey. “We create a special mixture that freezes and
will stay frozen,” explained Mancey. She said they also use a special filtration
system so the water stays clear.
Mancey said they know how to put anything a person wants inside an ice
sculpture. They also have the ability to make full-size curtains and can put
personalized logos on the ice sculptures.
“We have a computerized router program we use to do logos on the ice,” Mancey
said.
Chad has competed in the World Ice Arts Championship competition in
Fairbanks, Alaska, and won in different categories. The contest features artists
from all over the world.
The Hartsons will be bringing five tons of sand to Pandora to do their
sculpture. It will be done north of the tennis courts in the park along
SR12.
“This is just one of many events we do throughout the year,” Mancey said. “We
do 17 winter festivals in four states every year.”
They are already booked for upcoming ice festivals in Toledo, Perrysburg, and
at the Toledo Art Museum.
Mancey said at some festivals they have brought along a sandbox filled with
sand to show children how to do sand sculpting.
“We have several employees with different backgrounds,” Mancey said. “They
also have artistic skills and Chad has taught them how to do sculpting.”
One employee, Jay Leahy, is currently carving two trees in the Pandora Park.
One will be a Pandora-Gilboa Rocket and the other will be a bear carved into a
tree.
While supporting her husband with his carving business, Mancey has started
her own business “The Better Half,” that will be next door to Ice Creations. She
will be offering wine and canvas painting, wine glass painting, various craft
projects, 3D pumpkin carving and stained glass creation classes among other
things.
TED FEST SCHEDULE
PANDORA — This Saturday’s Ted Fest 2014 in the Pandora Park will feature a
world renowned sculpture doing a sand sculpture in the afternoon. Chad Hartson
with Ice Creations in Napoleon will be bringing four tons of sand to the park to
do a fish sculpture for the festival In addition to the sand sculpture Ted Fest
2014 will feature radio-controlled demonstrations, ATV stunt daredevil shows,
live bands and food served throughout the afternoon.
The celebration will begin at 2 p.m. with the sand sculpture near the tennis
courts and bingo and 50/50 in the bus garage
Ted Sigler, owner of Ted’s Market, will begin serving hamburgers and pulled
pork sandwiches at 3 p.m.
Kids’ games inflatables will begin at 4 p.m.
Serving of Ted and Don’s Barbeque Chicken dinners, served by Gilboa Fire
Department, will also begin at 4 p.m. and will continue until 6 p.m.
The radio-controlled demonstrations will be underway from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on
the ball fields.
ATV Stunt Daredevil shows by Henry “Pitbull” Rife will be given at 5:45 p.m.,
6:45 p.m., and 7:45 p.m.
The band “Brother Believe Me” will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Nashville Crush will follow at 9 p.m.
Fireworks will be shot off at dusk.
Immediately after the fireworks the car and gun raffle along with the Boy
Scout 50/50 drawing will be held