Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures makes artistic fun of ice at Downers Grove Ice Festival

By Maureen Callahan | Photos by 726 Visuals

If you’ve ever visited the Downers Grove Ice Festival, you’ve seen Jim Nadeau’s dream solidified – at least until the sun has its say. Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures in Forest Park began almost four and a half decades ago. They are the oldest and most well-known name in ice sculpting in the U.S.

Every unique creation is made to order. Each February, Downers Grove residents have the pleasure of seeing their unique creations dot the downtown business district during Ice Festival weekend. Ice carvers hold live demonstrations on the south side of the Main Street train station. They start with a block of raw ice and finish with a work of art.

Each result is truly a one-of-a-kind creation. Each is sponsored by a Downers Grove business. The artistic ice carvers take the creative process very seriously – they once made a 100-foot-long ice train for a Nabisco holiday party in New Jersey! It was 84 feet long and filled with Oreo cookies. Nadeau’s loves a challenge, and they encourage clients to be creative with their requests.

When Jim Nadeau founded Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures in 1980, he likely had no idea that one day, it would grow to become the country’s last word in ice sculpting. For a long while, he was a one-man band. He learned the craft from a chef in Boston. His vision has evolved into a team of artists who carve blocks of ice into works of art at their huge operation in Forest Park. They can also come to your event and carve your request as guests watch – always a crowd pleaser.

Part of the fascination of ice sculpting is watching it happen. This type of artistry requires heavy tools, such as chainsaws, die grinders, chisels, saws, drills, and more. “You name a carving instrument, and we pretty much have a use for it,” said the current owner, Max Barajas. Each sculpture is a testament to the wide range of tools and fine artistic motor skills required to bring out such intricate details. “You would think tool companies would love us, but it’s the opposite because ice carvers always seem to want tools that get discontinued. We’re the ones who actually have a use for what they’re doing away with.”

On average, a block of ice takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to carve. If it’s a large bar, it often requires 2 or 3 team members working together to create the end result. Precise shapes and forms are calculated using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) – a computerized mill that makes exact 2D cuts into the ice. CNC also controls the color added to the ice and dictates precision.

Barajas bought the company a little over a decade ago. He knows every angle – pardon the pun – of the business at this point. “I was introduced to ice carving through a friend,” he said. “I started out as a seasonal carver during college, then moved up to CNC Director. After that, I became the General Manager.”

When asked how he learned the ins and outs of ice carving, Barajas relayed, “I don’t know of any other way to learn this artistic skill other than just by doing it. Like working with any other material, if you can’t readily practice a craft, there isn’t much learning you can do.” The closest mediums to which he likens carving ice are wood and soap.

So, where do they find ice blocks big enough to carve their sculptures? As Barajas pointed out, “ice this size, outside of winter lake ice, is not easy to find.” Nadeau’s makes about 50 blocks per week in-house and uses almost all of it. The company also sells dry ice for the next time your freezer goes out or for shipping needs. Dry ice is also great for adding low-lying levels of special effects for holiday displays.

Fees are figured per block based on the average costs and difficulty, including the amount of material required. Transporting the sculptures usually happens in insulated boxes and bags and is easier than one might think. The firm makes every effort to be green with respect to packaging.

If you’ve ever seen the huge ice statues at Lincoln Park Zoo Lights or a professional sporting event or fundraiser, they likely came from Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures. You can make a statement at your next party or fundraiser with one of their sculptures. They’re the last word in ice carving.Be sure to check out the work of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures at the Downtown Downers Grove Ice Festival the weekend of Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2025. Visit DowntownDG.org for more information.