Sculpting tradition at Primary Children’s Medical Center

Ice carvers create a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Luom Lam carves a reindeer sculpture for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The Santa Claus and his reindeer ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Marci Bollinger and her grandaughter Chloe Kindred watch ice carvers create a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

An ice carver works on the detail of a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Ice carvers create a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Luom Lam carves a sculpture of reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Ice carvers create a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Ice carvers create a sculpture of Santa Claus and his reindeer for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.

Bernhard Gotz carves a reindeer sculpture for patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Ice carvers start with chainsaws and 30 400-pound blocks of ice. The Santa Claus and his reindeer ice sculpture has been a holiday tradition at the medical center for 27 years.