Hemet geometry teacher set to compete in Alaskan ice art competition

HEMET, Calif. (KABC) -- A Hemet high school geometry teacher turns ice into works of art in his spare time.

John Rodrigues can spend hours chiseling and carving away on a single block of ice.

After hours of teaching, he can usually be found in his garage with an ice saw.

He created a 300-pounds practice piece for Valentine's Day. He is getting ready to compete in the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska later this month.

There, he'll be dealing with nearly four-and-a-half tons of ice. He'll also be competing for $50,000 in cash and prizes.

"I think it's like, for me, it's like competing in the Super Bowl because it's the international teams. You're under the American flag when you compete," he said.

It is said art is not what you see, but what you make other see, and Rodrigues is taking that saying to heart. He is not revealing what he plans to design at the competition.

Instead, he wants people to check-in using the competition's webcam and see what unfolds.

"I like people to not know, to see it and maybe guess as the piece develops," he said.

Despite the time and care he takes to create each masterpiece, they are only fleeting works of art.

"The beauty of it is that it's only going to be around for a while so you have to appreciate it while it's there," he said.