There was plenty of artistry in evidence last weekend for the sixth annual Fire and Ice Festival at Alton Mill. Blacksmith Ray Schindler was hard at work in the forge.
Photos by Bill Rea

Orangeville resident Jim Menken was demonstrating his ice-carving skills.

Mackenzie Arseneau, 7, of Shelburne was contributing to a collective word “mandala,” a circular design made up entirely of written words, inspired by Mill artist CJ Shelton.

Artist Paul Morin was giving demonstrations of sapin art.

One of the highlights of the weekend came with the ignition of this fire sculpture. It was created by Brian Oates, who was seen here setting it alight. The creation was set on top of an ice dome with wood underneath, and as the ice melted, the sculpture caught fire. He said the dome represents a circle with is used for many symbolic and sacred things, like cathedral domes or sweat lodges. The top represented a seed.