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workshops and events. “Our Ice Mug Mak-ing
Workshop is a great way to bond with
friends or coworkers. You reserve a date
to come in with a group to our studio or we
can come to your office instead,” Okamoto
explained. “First, we spend 15 minutes in-troducing
you to the process of ice carving,
as well as how to keep things safe and fun.
Next, you are given a block of ice along with
tools to chip and shape the icy beer mug
of your dreams.”
Ice is of the moment; it’s fleeting and
ephemeral but embodies the “here and now.”
And sculpted ice has that glam wow factor.
It’s all about celebration, so it’s perfect for
a wide range of events, from birthdays and
office parties to weddings, anniversaries and
one-of-a-kind celebrations. It’s even great for
public installations in NYC, which Okamoto
has greatly enjoyed.
As a working material, ice’s capacity
for last-minute, large-scale production
also makes it very cost-effective and
time-efficient, according to the ice king,
who said his diverse clients ask for a
wide range of designs. “We have had the
pleasure of working with exciting clients
like Reebok, HBO, the NY Yankees and
Uber,” he noted.
“We recently collaborated with Coors Light
and CNN to create a mini-documentary clip
where we capture the essence of summer
within blocks of ice.”
Ice is nice but what’s behind Okamoto’s
passion for it?
“Ice is one of the most interesting mediums
to work with. There’s something poignant
about creating something that will disap-pear
without a trace in a matter of hours,”
he explained.
30 SEPTEMBER 2019 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
/www.qns.com
/www.qns.com
