Ice Will Fly at the Museum of Industry

Ice will fly on Saturday, July 15, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., when the Museum of Industry in Stellarton officially opens its feature exhibit Ice Plant Art Work, by Cynthia Phillips.

Visitors can expect cool live music, iced tea and a demonstration of ice sculpting by master carver, Howard Forrest. Mr. Forrest will transform a 300-pound block of ice into a replica of the Samson, Canada's oldest surviving steam locomotive.

As a carver, Mr. Forrest has 35 years experience in producing ice sculptures and once obtained his blocks of ice from the Nova Scotia Ice Plant in Halifax.

The new exhibit tells the story of workers at this plant and demonstrates the technology of ice making. Using dramatic, black and white photographs the artist, Ms. Phillips, combines her keen understanding and photographic talent to document the story of these men in their workplace. The exhibit also commemorates the final days of this Halifax manufacturer.

Born in Nova Scotia, Ms. Phillips photographs her surroundings with a map-makers eye for detail. She chooses photography as a tool for recording the social landscape and people, often portraying a disappearing world around us. Her thoughtful eye for beauty in subjects can provoke the viewer to take a second look around, at what might otherwise be thought as commonplace or overlooked.

At the opening, visitors can meet the artist and experience this exhibit, discovering why there was an industry devoted to making and selling ice. The exhibit is on display from Saturday, July 15, to Saturday, Sept. 2.