密歇根新闻广播 世界冠军冰雕办公室

 

For most of us, working in subzero temperatures doesn't sound like the dream job. But the cold doesn't seem to bother World Championship ice carver Tajana Raukar.

Raukar is the owner of Ice Dreams Sculptures in Plymouth. It's cold in her studio, and she's wearing full on winter gear.

"There's lots of layers. It's very cold so you definitely have to have your snow suit on, and your turtle neck of course, and heavy boots, gloves, and ear protection because working with the chainsaw and grinder and heavy tools which are noisy," she said.

All around there are big clear blocks of ice, each roughly 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Two rows of giant ice makers¹ and two large freezers fill the warehouse².

"This is where I carve. This is inside the freezer, I store my blocks of ice inside. I can carve, I have my tools in here. I carve in 9 degrees. Yes, so this last week, it was warmer in my freezer than outdoors."

Raukar says she left her home country of Croatia to find a better life in Michigan. But ice carving³ wasn't her first dream. She says she studied to be a chef. That's where she discovered the art of carving small pieces of fruits and vegetables.

"Many times you don't think you can make little baskets from lemons, you don't think you can make flowers from tomatoes and watermelons and all these can be part of art. And then, I saw these big blocks of ice, and I say 'Whoa, I need to carve these.'"

There are all kinds of sculptures her freezer, ones with orchids⁴ inside, some with fruits. There are swans, a seahorse, and even a Buddha⁵.

Usually, Raukar starts with a sketch⁶ and transfers her drawing to the ice block, but she prefers just taking her chainsaw and using her imagination. She says if you can imagine it, she can carve it.

"We majority do the ice carvings⁷ for the corporate⁸ and for birthdays, for bar mitzvahs, for weddings, which are very popular. Any kind of parties you know, wherever there is some sort of commotion⁹ going on, there can be an ice carving. And they can even be the small ice cubes in your shot glasses from ice. Or the big ice bars and the larger creations like the 13 foot Eiffel Tower, or right in the middle of your dance floor."

Raukar has won a ton of awards, some in Michigan, Ohio, and nearby states. She's won seven championships in Alaska, one for her 25-foot frozen giraffe. She also competes internationally.

"You get a chance to be creative. It's different. I don't mind just carving, spending long hours in the freezer is just what I do every day."

She's also one of the very few women carving ice professionally.

"No, not many women carving unfortunately. It's fun though. I don't know why. A little harder, but it's fun, so I try to, you know, do the best I can no matter what you are."

If you live in the area, you can see some of Raukar's ice sculptures at the Plymouth Ice Festival this weekend.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

3 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

4 orchids   

n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She breeds orchids in her greenhouse. 她在温室里培育兰花。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

6 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

7 carvings   

n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物

参考例句：

• The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town. 贝雕是该城的特产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

9 commotion   

n.骚动，动乱

参考例句：

• They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。
• Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。