Artful Ice Shanties
Presented by the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and Retreat Farm, the Artful Ice Shanties outdoor exhibit is a place-based celebration of artistic talent, creative ingenuity, and the rich history of ice fishing at the Retreat Meadows. The Artful Ice Shanties will be displayed in and around Farmhouse Square at Retreat Farm (45 Farmhouse Square, Brattleboro, Vermont) from Saturday, Feb. 19, through Sunday, Feb. 27.
Last winter, over 1,000 people attended the inaugural Artful Ice Shanties exhibit. They saw ice shanties shaped like a giant iridescent fish, a black die with moon-shaped dots, a seascape with a three-dimensional octopus, and more. They hiked and snowshoed on the Retreat Farm trails, visited Carlos the ox and other farm animals, went cross-country skiing, and skated on the Retreat Meadows. As weather and Covid conditions permit, this second iteration of the exhibit will include more outdoor events, activities, demonstrations, and performances. (See below for complete schedule of events.)
Join us on Saturday, February 26, at 2 p.m. for an Awards Ceremony, where a panel of local judges will give out an array of awards for ice shanties with notably artistic, inventive, or silly qualities.
View the photo gallery and watch the video from Artful Ice Shanties 2021.
Get a behind-the-scenes peek at three of the 2022 Artful Ice Shanties on our blog: Art Loves Company.
This project was inspired in part by Art Shanty Projects in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ADMISSION: Free
Generously sponsored by
DAILY SCHEDULE:
Saturday, February 12
9-12 Snow snake building workshop hosted by the Atowi Project (Registration required)
Sunday, February 13
1-4 Snow snake building workshop hosted by the Atowi Project (Registration required)
Saturday, February 19
Artful Ice Shanties open to the public, dawn to dusk, through February 27.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
100th anniversary of the Harris Hill Ski Jump
Sunday, February 20
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
100th anniversary of the Harris Hill Ski Jump
Monday, February 21
Hot cocoa served all day.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
2-5 Fire pit
Tuesday, February 22
Hot cocoa served all day.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
2-5 Fire pit
Wednesday, February 23
Hot cocoa served all day.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
2-5 Fire pit
Thursday, February 24
Hot cocoa served all day.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
12-3 Pop-Up Art with Robin
12-4 Snow shoe rental $10
2-5 Fire pit
3-6 Pop-up Beer Garden hosted by Thirsty Goat Bar
Friday, February 25
Hot cocoa served all day.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
2-5 Fire pit
12-4 Snow shoe rental $10
12-3 Pop-Up Art with Robin
3-6 Pop-up Beer Garden
Saturday, February 26
Hot cocoa served all day.
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
12-4 Snow shoe rental $10
6-3 Brattleboro’s Annual Ice Fishing Derby, Retreat Meadows, Registration starts at 5:30 a.m. on the ice.
9-12 Introduction to Ice Fishing clinics presented by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Registration required.
12-1:45 Drop-in snow snake workshop hosted by Gedakina
12-3 Pop-Up Art with Robin
12:15-3 Introduction to Ice Fishing clinic presented by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Registration required.
2-2:30 Artful Ice Shanties Awards Ceremony
2-5 Fire pit
3-6 Pop-up Beer Garden hosted by Thirsty Goat Bar
Sunday, February 27
Hot cocoa served all day
Ice skating on the Retreat Meadows (conditions permitting). Bring your own skates.
12-3 Pop-Up Art with Robin
12-3 Snow snake competition hosted by the Elnu Abenaki Band
12-4 Snow shoe rental $10
2-5 Fire pit
3-6 Pop-up Beer Garden hosted by Thirsty Goat Bar