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Artful ice shanties at Retreat Farm

By Staff Report
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Most New Englanders have seen ice shanties on frozen lakes, but few, if any, have seen an ice shanty shaped like a fish — not to mention a stovepipe hat, a wishing well or a wedge of cheese. The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and Retreat Farm present all this and more in the inaugural Artful Ice Shanties Design-Build Competition, an outdoor celebration of the delightful possibilities of winter.

More than a dozen artistic and ingenious ice shanties will be on view at Retreat Farm Feb. 13-28. Visitors are encouraged to check them out anytime between dawn and dusk, and to pair their visit with ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting) or walking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing on the trails at Retreat Farm. All activities are free and open to the public. Masks and social distancing are required. Museum staff will be on hand and serving complimentary hot cocoa, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Among those who have constructed shanties for the event are sculptor Bruce Campbell, artist Myles Danaher, avid ice fisherman Stephen Haisley, Charlie Konkowski, elementary school teacher Rachel Mangean, muralist Craig Roach (in collaboration with Peter Poanessa of Signworx), Slipstream Farm and Winchester Design. Grafton Village Cheese will present a cheese-shaped shanty.

A panel of local judges will bestow a variety of light-hearted awards at an outdoor Award Ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at Retreat Farm.

The Artful Ice Shanties Design-Build Competition showcases the artistic talent and creative ingenuity of the Brattleboro region and honors the enduring tradition of ice fishing at the Retreat Meadows. It is presented in connection with two BMAC exhibits on view through March 6, “Ice Shanties: Fishing, People & Culture” and “Erik Hoffner: Ice Visions.”

“This is something we’ve been thinking about doing for a long time,” said Danny Lichtenfeld, BMAC director. “Years ago, we learned of a similar event that takes place every winter in Minnesota, and we began thinking about how we might adapt it for Brattleboro. Now, with the pandemic driving us outdoors and two ice-fishing exhibits on view at the museum, the timing seemed right. We’re very grateful that the team at Retreat Farm was willing to give it a go.”

Go online tobrattleboromuseum.orgfor more information or call (802) 257-0124.

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