Miracle created from ice

VILNIUS - An ice sculpture theme park was created for the first time in
Vilnius' just before the end of 2000. On Dec. 29 local artists in
Vilnius Cathedral Square created some 20 ice sculptures, which became
one of the main attractions in the Lithuanian capital during Yuletide.

The advertising agency MIA organized the theme park and Winterfresh,
the chewing gum producer, was the main sponsor.

A special commission of sculptors voted the Ice Dinosaur, carved by
Kestutis Musteikis, the most beautiful sculpture on display. The same
opinion was expressed by visitors in a ballot on the theme park's
Internet home page. Musteikis received a 4,000 litas ($1,000) prize
for his entry. He said that the idea to create a dinosaur was
inspired by the Chinese Year of the Dragon. "The dinosaur and the
dragon are relatives anyway," said Musteikis. His creation was the
most realistic sculpture among the abstract ice constructions by
other artists.

Another of the more realistic ice sculptures in Vilnius stood on
Vokieciu Street, not in Cathedral Square. It was a 3.7-meter high
bottle of Absolut Madrin vodka, also created by Musteikis.

"We didn't want to advertise alcohol in Cathedral Square," Marius
Jovaisa, director of MIA, told The Baltic Times. He said that he is
thinking about turning the ice park into an annual tradition.

"Maybe we'll create one huge sculpture instead of 20. Maybe we'll
choose another place in Vilnius and not New Year," Jovaisa said.

The last comment was in reference to events on New Year's Eve.
Celebrating crowds of young people partially destroyed the theme park
after drinking too much champagne and other potent concoctions.
Organizers initially planned for the park to stay open until Jan. 6,
but it was dismantled on Jan. 3.

"The sculptures became dangerous to visitors. Lots of children were
coming. We didn't need any accidents," Jovaisa explained.