Turtle ice sculptures for First Night recognize aquarium's rehabilitation work in Boston

BOSTON - First Night preparations are in full swing in Boston, with artists busy crafting intricate ice sculptures outside the New England Aquarium. One of the standout pieces features Kemps Ridley sea turtles, an endangered species that the aquarium works diligently to rehabilitate.

Lindsay Lory, the rescue and rehabilitation manager, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the Kemps Ridley, noting that they represent 90% of the turtles the aquarium cares for in Quincy. "Every one does count," she stated, highlighting the aquarium's commitment to conservation.

Donald Chapelle, celebrating his 44th year participating in First Night, and his team are also hard at work on various sculptures. One of their creations portrays a woman releasing turtles amidst a backdrop of seaweed and swimming fish, including cod and haddock.

Despite the warmer weather on Sunday, Chapelle is accustomed to these conditions. He prepared by purchasing 250 pounds of dry ice to help preserve the sculptures through a forecasted rainstorm. "We’ll double wrap and triple wrap them to ensure they last," he explained.

Families like the Wolfsens from Vermont enjoyed watching the sculpting process, with 11-year-old Julian expressing his admiration for the artistic details. Chapelle also plans to create additional ice pieces for display at the Harbor Walk in the Seaport on New Year's Eve, noting that Boston locals appreciate the fleeting beauty of these temporary artworks.