ice village

The ice fishing village is a unique phenomenon of American culture. It challenges the conventional notions of property and boundaries as it exists on temporary land. The ice villages are ephemeral communities where one takes possession of their space simply by being there. The villages behave cyclically, appearing with the onset of the winter months and disappearing with the arrival of the spring. The villages operate with an unusual attitude towards public space, as each fisher locates as close or as far as they like to their fellow fishers. Each fishing shack is a modest structure that satisfies the basic needs of shelter and is small enough to be pulled by a vehicle.