Art That Gives Chills

"The ice is melting, the piece is melting, and climate change is a reality for all of us," said Ball. So Swedish water is not only of better quality than American water, it is high-concept.

"It was like carving butter," Ball told reporters. "We're hoping it will last about three days. But since this is my first ice sculpture, I'm not positive."

The ice underwent an arduous journey to Washington. After it was harvested 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the spring of 2006, Icehotel founder and CEO Yngve Bergqvist stored the ice until a month ago, at which point he packed it into a refrigerated truck and sent it to port to be shipped across the Atlantic. The ice made it to Baltimore on March 27, where it was trucked in a chilled container to the House of Sweden.

Minutes before the reception began, Bergqvist emerged from a back room after finishing his task -- he was responsible for constructing the ice bar -- dressed in a fleece jacket and baseball cap. "I will go now and undress," he said. "It's hard work, with ice, but very fun."

Bergqvist even melted some of the ice, so guests could taste for themselves what they were missing by not living in Sweden.

"If I have only one thing to complain about in Washington," he said, "it's the water. It's not too good."

But Lund, ever the diplomat, saw the water as a unifying force, since the sculptures will ultimately pour into Washington's waterways: "When it melts, it will melt into the Potomac, and so in that way Sweden and America will meet."

Except for Ball's artwork. She's taking her water with her, driving the sculpture's remains to New York for use in liquid form in a Colorado art installation. So Coloradans, too, can experience the pristine glory of Lapland's water.