International Ice Book Collaborations

During the COVID pandemic Irland collaborated virtually with people around the world to create their own Ice Books, thus establishing connections with various watersheds and initiating restorative actions that address local ecological problems. Over 40 individuals and groups from 10 different countries spanning the globe contributed to the project.

name: Chrissie Orr

location: La Villita, New Mexico, U.S. Río Grande

materials used: Río Grande water, locally collected seeds (native grass, willow, and curly dock)

project information: This Ice book was created as an offering of respect and gratitude to this sacred river and her unique bosque habitat that are threatened by continued drought.

name: Jin Lipeng with approx. 30 participants including children, their parents, and teachers

location: Chongqing, China. Yangtze River at Jialing River

materials used: local riparian seeds

project information: After a three-day workshop, 13 Ice Books were launched at the historic and ecologically significant confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers. As the ice slowly melted and released the seeds into the river, the books sowed the seeds of ecological wisdom and compassion.

name: Carlos Huitzilo

location: Mexico City, Mexico. Canal Apatlaco

materials used: cempasúchil (flower of the Mexican marigold, Tagetes erecta), apapatla (fragrant water lily, Nymphaea odorata)

project information: These plants are important to the ancient Lake Xochimilco.

name: Peterson Yazzie with his three children (shown)

location: Navajo Nation, New Mexico, U.S.

materials used: traditional corn kernels

project information: “Tó bee iiná” translates to “Water with Life” in Diné, the traditional Navajo language. Water is necessary for our planet, and this project allowed us to be a part of the message.

name: Antonio José García Cano

location: Murcia, Spain. Acequia Beniscornia

materials used: almez (European nettle tree, Celtis australis)

project information: The acequia (irrigation) system has a long and important history in Spain.

name: Basilios Papaioannou

location: Sydney, Australia. Parramatta River at Glades Bay

materials used: grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)

project information: Grey mangroves are an integral part of the local marine ecology and historically played a key role in the lives of the Indigenous Wallumedegal people who lived in the area.

names: Carol Flueckiger (shown), Jeanea Blair, Sara Drescher

location: Paonia, Colorado, U.S. North Fork Gunnison River

materials used: native wildflowers (Rocky Mountain blue columbine, penstemons, others), native melon and herb

project information: The Ice Book project was one of the workshops for the Art, Environment, Sustainability residency in Colorado. They spent time with and discussed the importance of the Gunnison River.

names: Susan Shantz, Rachel Broussard, Leif Shantz

location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. South Saskatchewan River

materials used: rose hips, snowberries, wild liquorice, cottonwood, Manitoba maple

project information: The day of our launch into the Saskatchewan River temperatures were in the deep freeze zone (- 35 C, with wind chill of -45!) so it was easy to freeze the ice blocks in the back yard!

⇧ back to top