Mark’s homage to the courtyard at Christkindlmarkt

-Posted by Mark Demko, ArtsQuest’s Asst. Director of Editorial Services and chainsaw art devotee.

When it comes to Christkindlmarkt, there are so many different ways to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays. If you love to shop, you’ll find rows and rows of handmade works by artisans from 15 different states. We’re talking thousands of handmade decorations and gift items by 100 artists each weekend! Then there are the sounds of the holidays, served up live by performers from throughout the region. 

One of the coolest (or hottest) ways to enjoy Christkindlmarkt, depending where you’re standing, is in the outdoor courtyard. Not only is it home to the 20-foot-tall Christkindlmarkt Tree, trimmed with beautiful decorations and more than 1,000 lights, it’s also the home base of two awesome groups of artists.

On one side of the courtyard, you’ll find Sculpted Ice Works from Lakeville, Pa. These guys are artisans after my own heart, as they transform big blocks of ice into incredibly beautiful and detailed works of art. Take it from me, ice sculpting isn’t art for the faint of heart. But if you’re like me and you love the whirr of chainsaws, the soothing holiday hum of power drills and the melodious rhythms of picks and chisels (what can I say? In another life, I used to be a carpenter), this is the place to be!  It’s awe inspiring to see how these men start with a rough and raw block of ice and carve, chop and chisel their way into delicate angels, sensational Santas and other wonderful holiday figures.

Just yards away from Sculpted Ice Works is an entirely different art form. Every hour of every day that Christkindlmarkt’s open, you’ll find the artists of ArtsQuest’s glass studio at the Banana Factory hard at work making gorgeous glass art. If the ice carvers’ work is cool – literally and figuratively – then the glass guys’ art is incredibly hot, literally and figuratively. Why? Well, let’s start with the fact that their medium is molten glass! Then consider that one of their main tools is a 2,200-degree furnace and you’re talking some scorchin’ arts action!

One of the neatest things about watching the glass guys at work is that they explain everything they are doing. Take a seat on one of the benches and you’ll learn how they shape the glass, add color and create a wonderful work of art in an amazingly short amount of time.  PS: While you’re there, check out the glass studio’s new line of holiday ornaments and decorations available for home or gift giving. You’ll find everything from ornaments and candles to snowmen and Christmas trees, all made of glass, of course!

While some may feel the Christkindlmarkt courtyard is a breezeway from one tent to the other, it’s also the place for some incredibly interesting artwork. I encourage you to take the time, take a seat and enjoy the awesome artistic action!