Villa Park artist brings his 'cool' skills to Carol Stream's holiday festival

With a chain saw ripping and a chisel breaking blocks of ice away, Dan Rebholz works as hard at his art as artists who use more traditional media. But it's doubtful many of those artists do so while Metallica blares on their iPods.

Rebholz has been chipping and ripping ice blocks as an ice sculptor since he graduated from Fenton High School in 1985. It has never bothered him to be a part of a discipline that he says some “so-called professional artists” consider “rude and crude.”

In fact, ice sculpting is something that has become a part of Rebholz.

“This is my life, it's what I do,” said the 43-year-old owner of Villa Park's World Class Ice Sculpture. “It's just like anybody: you have to be into what you do if you're going to succeed.”

And Rebholz has succeeded. He competes in national and international competitions and puts on demonstrations at several area festivals.

On Friday, Nov. 26, he will attend Carol Stream's tree-lighting ceremony and work in front of a crowd. He said he is not yet sure what he will create; sometimes it comes to him at the venue.

Last year, he took two large blocks of ice and transformed them into a sculpture of Santa Claus on a sleigh.

The ceremony starts at 6:15 p.m. at Town Center, on the corner of Lies Road and Gary Avenue. The Jay Stream Middle School Choir will perform carols and the park district will offer free hayrides.

Santa makes his much-heralded arrival at 6:30 p.m. and Rebholz expects to begin his work about 10 minutes later.

He said working in front of a crowd of children has an immediate payoff.

“There really is nothing better than when I get out there, break out the chain saw, snow starts flying and the kids start screaming,” he said. “That's when you know you have got it, as an artist. When someone appreciates what you have made, that's what an artist is looking for.”

During culinary school at Joliet Junior College, Rebholz watched a chef's ice-carving demonstration. Not long after that, he started working at an Oak Brook hotel and the chef let him create weekly artworks to accompany breakfast.

That soon led to a partnership and, in 2000, he set out on his own and two years ago moved his business to Villa Park.

In the days leading up to festivals, Rebholz talks to organizers to see if they have any specific pieces of art in mind for the night.

He said he is not sure what he will make during his second straight appearance in Carol Stream.

Whatever he decides, however, Carol Stream Park District Community Relations Manager Kelly Carbon said she is excited to watch him work again.

“It was absolutely amazing to see how talented he could be with a chain saw,” she said. “It was fascinating. It really drew your attention. He really was a showstopper.”

As his business jumps into the cold season, Rebholz said he and fellow ice carvers have turned the industry on its head in the past decade or so.

“It's unique and it has a funny allure,” he said. “That's how I got drawn into it myself. Years ago, people would compliment me because it was so unique. We have pushed it into an art form. In the past, legitimate, so-called professional artists would not consider it an art form because we were rude and crude. Now, we're pretty refined and it's going to go mainstream.”

<p><b>Carol Stream's tree-lighting ceremony</b></p>

<p>Where: Town Center, southwest corner of Lies Road and Gary Avenue</p>

<p>When: Ceremony starts at about 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26</p>

<p>Info: Jay Stream Middle School Choir at 6:15 p.m., tree-lighting at 6:20 p.m., Santa Claus visits at 6:30 p.m., ice carving demonstration at 6:40 p.m. Hayrides throughout the evening. Also features children's holiday activities with the Carol Stream Youth Council.</p>