Barneys NY x Okamoto Studio “Ice Carvers” Holiday ’15 Windows

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Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Okamoto Studio Carves Out Holiday Fun In Barneys’ Holiday Windows.

We take a closer look at the renowned ice sculptors of the Okamoto Studio artist collective, who are bring a chilly live performance element to Barneys’ Chillin’ Out holiday windows.

The following is from Barneys NY:

Chain saws, chisels, drills…these may not be the elements that come immediately to mind when one envisions a typical holiday window, but when it comes to our partnership with the world-renowned ice carvers of Queens-based Okamoto Studio, these tools of the trade are are integral parts of the creation of something wonderfully unexpected.

As part of our Chillin’ Out holiday windows, Barneys’ visual team—led by creative director Dennis Freedman—paired with Shintaro Okamoto and the other artists of his namesake studio to create “The Ice Carvers,” the title of the window at our Madison Avenue flagship. Okamoto and his fellow carvers are presenting live performances of their craft, transforming blocks of ice into winter-themed creations as crowds look on. “We want to celebrate and glorify the craft, but also the sense of beauty and performance that I think works so well with Barneys’ aesthetic,” Shintaro told us. “People can see the process start to finish, beginning with the raw blocks of ice.”

To make this amazing feat possible, the Barneys team worked to transform the window into a custom-built, fully functioning 35-foot-long ice locker. The walk-in freezer maintains the perfect temp for ice—between 3 and 15 degrees—and serves as a stylized satellite studio for the Okamoto team, putting their craft on display with multiple performances each day. The window also acts as a gallery for their completed pieces, which rotate as new sculptures are created.

The all-metallic freezer components are echoed not only in the freshly chromed tools the carvers use, but also in the silver-themed clothing they wear, all custom designed by Thom Browne for Moncler Gamme Bleu. Along with their silver blazers, vests, and jumpsuits, carvers are also outfitted with silver cashmere gloves, beanies, neck warmers, and scarves, all exclusively available at Barneys this season.

“The Ice Carvers” featuring Okamoto Studio is on display now through December 31, and will feature new sculptures daily. Check back over the coming days for more details about the partnerships behind our other amazing holiday windows, but in the meantime, be sure to head to Barneys to see this amazing work up being done at the following times:

Monday-Wednesday: Noon-7:30PM

Thursday-Saturday: Noon-8:30PM

Sunday: Noon-6:00PM

There will be no performances on Christmas Day.

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