To celebrate the recent onset of frigidly cold weather in many parts of the US, Americans in Anchorage, AK are hosting FREEZE, a multi-faceted celebration of the cold and the north. Featuring architectural designs, contests, movie screenings, and more, FREEZE is a month-long event that attempts to open everyone’s minds to the possibilities of what the north has to offer.

FREEZE is the brain-child of Julie Drecker, PhD, who admired the way Scandinavians celebrated the north (one such celebration, Yule, coincides with the winter solstice and celebrates the return of light to the high latitudes), and she wondered if Alaskans, with Alaska’s high latitudes and cold winters, could do the same. Since coming up with the idea in 2007, Drecker has worked with the Alaska Design Center, the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, and the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center to bring together a collection of artists, performers, and architects to create her own celebration of the north.

FREEZE kicked off on December 31, 2008, with a New Year’s party at the Anchorage Museum. The slate for the rest of the month is filled with events that appeal to everyone: there are film screenings, a “snowperson” building contest, presentations on life in the north, creative writing readings, and even an 80s-themed party. Lectures and fairs provide relevant information to the public.

The “Health, Safety, and the Outdoors” fair explains how to stay warm and healthy in the cold, wintery atmosphere, and “The Changing North” describes how the climate of the north is changing and what that means for Alaskan lifestyles. The main attraction of FREEZE began on January 10, when the Delaney Park Strip opened up to display “interactive installations featuring snow, ice, and light,” designed by architects and artists to display the spirit of the north.

FREEZE is unlike anything the United States has seen before. There is no single most important aspect to it; instead, it combines all different artistic mediums with all different types of artists. Some artists whom Drecker contacted were experienced with working in the north, while others had no association with it.

Among the installations are creations such as “Nature Out of Context,” in which Hal Gage and Bruce Farnsworth moved natural ice formations to the Delaney Park Strip, and “Snow Drifts,” a piece by 4 Letter Word that will change continuously as the exhibit is displayed, but only through the forces of nature.

In a statement to the press, Drecker explains, “I wanted teams for whom working in the north was second nature as well as those who might find it a novelty…For years I’ve wanted to see if it would be possible to start some kind of northern ‘Biennale’—a large-scale, unconventional art exhibition that would bring in people from around the world.”

FREEZE will continue through January 30, 2009, when it will close with “Anti-FREEZE,” a night of music, art, and dance. Many of FREEZE’s events are free to the public, but some require a small admission fee. Check out the calendar for specific details.