As ice sculptor Mike Rondeau carved a replica of the Suffield Alight trolley topped with a holly sprig, he held the curiosity of onlookers with his attention to detail and fluid movement.
Ice sculptor Mike Rondeau is also a third-generation owner of Rondeau’s Dairy Barn in Palmer,Mass. where he sells homemade ice cream from March through October.
The Palmer, Mass. resident worked at a makeshift studio on the Town Green during Suffield Alight on December 6th.
First, he grabbed an electric chain saw for rough cuts, then a hand chisel for finer work. Next came a router for detail and lettering, then a blow torch for smoothing and eliminating imperfections. He used an ordinary clothes iron to melt the joining surfaces, where he attached the holly sprig to the top of the trolley. Then, he doused the joint with water to ensure a solid bond upon freezing.
Moving like a choreographed dancer, precise and confident, he stood back, scrutinizing his cuts before advancing with another tool to touch up or move on.
With such passion and skill, it’s no wonder Suffield Director of Community Services, Peter LeClerc, has asked Rondeau to return four years running.
“He truly is an ‘Ice Artist’ and is very accommodating in making ice sculptures that fit our theme each year,” said LeClerc.
A Start at the Big E
Rondeau became hooked on ice sculpting after viewing a demonstration at the Big E in 1996. He took a culinary arts course for carving and later apprenticed for a couple of seasons with internationally acclaimed ice sculptor Steve Rose, whose New Year’s creations adorned Boston for over 35 years. “I would leave the day after Christmas, and I’d either stay at his house or his office or whatever, and it was like 10 or 12 of us that used to go down there and do all the ice carvings for New Year’s Eve,” said Rondeau.
Later, Rondeau outfitted a 48’ refrigerated trailer truck with an 8’ x 12’ studio to work on site. He uses the trailer to transport ice blocks from East Bay Ice Company in East Providence.
In addition to his work at Suffield Alight this season, Rondeau said he’ll create about a dozen other sculptures in surrounding areas like Palmer and West Brookfield, Mass. and Storrowton Village in West Springfield.
He’s also made ice sculptures for corporate events and weddings. He finds company logos the most difficult to craft due to their intricacies, including accurate font reproduction.
Whatever the challenge, he’s sure to captivate the crowds.
As LeClerc remarked about the Suffield Alight event, “It is really nice to watch everyone’s reactions while he works and see them gather around for a family picture when it is completed.”