The Art Shanty Project is “an artist driven temporary community exploring the ways in which relatively unregulated public spaces can be used as new and challenging artistic environments to expand notions of what art can be.” What are art shanties? On their surface, they are ice houses  – something dedicated Northerners do to be able to fish when our waters are covered in ice. During the month of February this year, the Shanties are open on the weekends to come, enjoy, and participate.

I was late this year, coming at closing time, so I only got to see the inside of a few, but I wanted to share a few photos. How did I know I was close to the Shanties? I saw Elvis driving an art car. The pompadour probably helped keep his head warm. Here’s a selection of pictures to get a taste. You could pedal a polar bear, dance in the dance shanty, sit in the self reflection chair in front of a tipi, puzzle together a shanty, or try curling. Click on any photo to see it larger.

This was the fourth year of Art Shanties. I missed the first year, but I do have pictures from 2010 and 2012.