Green Drinks and Ice in Greenwich

Green Drinks and Ice — that’s what Greenwich resident Mary Gibbons will discuss in a presentation about her work at Sweden’s world famous ICEHOTEL, located north of the Arctic Circle.

She will present the program at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the Bruce Museum. She’ll be introduced by the museum’s new Curator of Science, paleontologist and penguin expert, Dr. Daniel Ksepka.

Mary Gibbons is a Greenwich resident who has been involved with the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden since 2005. ICEHOTEL is located on the Torne River approximately 160 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is constructed entirely out of ice and snow.

Gibbons started out as a “snice girl” on the construction team and through the years has added project management, support team, designer, writer, and teacher to her list of accomplishments with ICEHOTEL.

“I loved snow storms as a child and couldn’t wait to get out there and build something/ anything! I have always loved going out for long distance walks on winter nights,” Gibbons said.

Gibbons studied architecture at SUNY Buffalo and spent a fair amount of time in Lake Placid trying out for the first women’s American Olympic Luge Team in 1976. Each location and experience fed her passion for ice and snow creations. Other ice/snow festivals and events have taken Gibbons to Norway, Finland and hopefully Russia in 2015.

Gibbons also hosted the Greenwich Harbor Arts International Symposium in the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in July 2012, co-wrote the book The Definitive Book About ICEHOTEL ART & DESIGN and is launching an online art magazine The Art Anthropologist on March 1, 2015.

There is a $10 suggested donation to cover wine and snacks. Bring your business card for a chance to win a free family membership to the Bruce Museum.

RSVP and questions: email Jessica Brockington at birdy06830@gmail.com

About Green Drinks Greenwich: A roving environmental conversation. Network and socialize about “green” at these monthly events. Green Drinks began in 1989 at the Slug and Lettuce, London, England. Now there are hundreds of these events all over the world!

Contributed photo from The Bruce Museum.