Il Festival delle sculture di ghiaccio di Harbin

Il Festival Internazionale Cinese del Ghiaccio e Neve - “Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival” - si svolge fin dal 1984 nella città di Harbin, sita nella provincia orientale del Heilongjiang, confinante con la Siberia.
Dal 1984 il Festival della Neve e del Ghiaccio porta in città i migliori scultori del ghiaccio che su una superficie di 750 mila metri quadrati, con 180 mila metri cubi di ghiaccio e 150 mila di neve creano palazzi, ponti, strade, pagode, che formano un'intera città lucente dalla bellezza surreale.
Ogni anno si realizzano sculture di ghiaccio che tendono a riprodurre una intera città, creando un'atmosfera incantata grazie anche a giochi di luce. Durante il Festival sono previste gare di scultura di ghiaccio e neve che attirano centinaia di artisti da tutto il mondo. Ufficialmente il festival ha inizio il 5 gennaio e si conclude dopo un mese, ma in realtà la manifestazione dura fino a quando le condizioni meteo lo permettono: è infatti l'arrivo della primavera, e del conseguente innalzamento della temperatura, a decretare lo sciogliersi delle sculture.

Jean Abrie, 1962 | Figurative / Wildlife painter

South African painter Jean Abrie was born in the former Eastern Transvaal and in his early years grew up in Zimbabwe.

There he developed a great love for wildlife.

Upon returning to South African he completed his secondary schooling and graduated at the University of Pretoria.

Jean prefers to work in oils and capture the many facets and mystical qualities of African wilderness in a photo realistic style on large canvasses.

Ralph Grady James ~ Wildlife painter

In the Piedmont area of North Carolina Ralph Grady James spends his days in creative pursuits. Nestled at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, the Piedmont not only gives quick access to the culturally rich mountains but is also close to North Carolina's picturesque Outer Banks. Together, these areas provide him with a wealth of inspiration and subject matter for his work.
Ralph attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in high school and later Indiana University to major in music. 

Peter Miller | Vintage Car painter

British painter* Peter Miller (1939-2014) has been inspired by the early motoring scene and the evocation of the Golden Era which it personifies. The key subject matter in this has been the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Car, particularly the cars of the 1920s and 1930s. Painted with genuine feeling and creative intensity, his sole aim was to create a good painting not just a picture of a motor car. The series was originally planned as a thematic series of twenty works which eventually developed into a total of 108 oil paintings, of which eighty two were recently displayed at Gibson Moore Fine Art gallery in London. Peter Miller has exhibited at many solo exhibitions and mixed and group exhibitions.

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo | Baroque painter

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.

Although he is best known for his religious works, Murillo also produced a considerable number of paintings of contemporary women and children.

These lively realistic portraits of flower girls, street urchins, and beggars constitute an extensive and appealing record of the everyday life of his times.

He also painted two self-portraits, one in the Frick Collection portraying him in his 30s, and one in London's National Gallery portraying him about 20 years later.

In 2017–18, the two museums held an exhibition of them.