Frozen dinosaurs took over the Grace Plaza earlier this week in an ice exhibit called Grace-ful Ice: Dinosaurs.
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The fifth annual free exhibit was part of Arts Brookfield’s holiday events. People gathered on December 14-15 in front of the Grace Plaza near Bryant Park to watch ice carvers from Okamoto Studio, a New York City-based artist collective, create dinosaurs from blocks of ice.
![]() He uses a chainsaw to shave away the excess ice. |
Using chainsaws and chisels, the artists sculpted dinosaurs at different times of the day. At one point, someone from Okamoto Studio was carving out the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex’s head.
![]() The ice mold now resembles a T-rex bust, but now needs to be detailed. |
This year’s winter has been exceptionally warm, so as he was chiseling through the block of ice in 60-degree weather at noontime, it started to melt a bit. The ice creations from the night before melted as well, unfortunately. “It’s the perfect day to sculpt ice, right?” he joked with the crowd of bystanders.
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![]() The T-rex receives a face lift. |
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In about an hour, the artist was able to create the bust of a T-rex. The most tedious part was chiseling the dinosaur’s rows of pointed teeth in order to make them look realistic and threatening.
![]() Now, the dinosaur receives dental work to ensure that his teeth are sharp enough! |
The ice carver also shared with his audience that they use agitated water to get the air out, which is why the creations look crystal clear.
![]() The ice sculptor smooths out the harsh edges. |
Arts Brookfield, a global art initiative, is hosting other holiday events, such as a light display called Luminaries, an ice skating rink, and the Museum of Feelings—all of which can be found at Brookfield Place in Battery Park City.
![]() Et voilà, the final product! |
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