James Shay works on displaying pieces of his ice art outside at his home in Groton on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. 

Shay, an artist who sculpts and paints, works full time in the restaurant industry and started the pieces when he had more free time than normal this winter. 

"It's a mix of cold and COVID," he joked of the art. 

He spent the recent below-freezing temperatures working on frozen pieces. Some had photographs he'd taken inside, some were scuplted with a chainsaw or chisel, some had prints or scraps, others were just pieces made of snow.  A few broke the second they touched the pavement. 

"This first snowstorm (this winter) I had to do something creative with it so I didn't resent all the shoveling," he said of how he got started with this project.  Since them he's looked forward to the cold and snow as they give him an opportunity to work on his pieces. 

Some frozen prints sat on snow sculptures he made along the fence, geometrical snow shapes sat in the tree, ice pieces hung from a wire and even more were delicately placed on display in his driveway.

"I miss art galleries, I miss art shows," he said of his decision to put the pieces up in his yard, providing a safe opportunity to enjoy art.  He notices neighbors frequently walking by and cars slow down to look. He will cover most of them before Monday's storm so they don't get lost in the snow.

"It's awesome to make them, but the real beauty is in watching how they melt," he said.  He's been documenting the process, taking photos at all diferent stages of the pieces.

The sculpture pieces and frozen photographs and art prints will be on display outside his home on Depot Road until they melt.