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Snow provides cool sculpting material
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| BDN file photo Spectators at last year's Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition view one of the sculptures made of snow. This year the competition is set for Jan. 19 - 22. |
By Jessie Waldheim
Daily News staff writer
Sinnissippi Park to host artist ready to chisel chilly statues
ROCKFORD - Snow sculptors and those who admire the art form should get ready for the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition set for Jan. 19 - 22 at Sinnissippi Park.
With this week's heavy snowfall, there should be more than enough white sculpting material to get the 19th annual competition going.
Last year the event began on time even though the area had only 2 to 3 inches of snow. The snow for the competition is gathered from the Greater Rockford Airport, explained Vance Barrie, spokesman for the Rockford Park District.
"It's like a giant parking lot. They clear all the runways and pile it on the sides," Barrie said.
Piling the snow allows it to last through warmer weather, which may come after this week's snow. Rain, however can be detrimental to the snow piles.
"So the only thing that will hurt us is if we get a lot of rain," Barrie said.
The blocks of snow will be built a week prior to when teams can begin working on their masterpieces Jan. 19.
Sixteen teams will compete to be the Illinois snow sculpting champions. They include local teams captained by Curt Knipprath of Machesney Park and Hans Schumacher of Roscoe.
In addition, 14 high school teams will be competing, including teams from Hononegah and Harlem high schools. Hononegah students and art department head Joyce Fridlund plan a sculpture called "Welcome Home!" The Harlem team, headed by art teacher Alison Gregory, will carve a piece titled "Gaozu's Ascent."
Spectators are invited to watch the sculptures emerge, and the event has drawn between 20,000 and 50,000 visitors, Barrie said.
The snowy creations will be judged Jan. 22. Ballots will be collected from spectators 8:30 - 11 a.m. for People's Choice awards. Competitors will be judging each other's creations after 10 a.m. to determine the Illinois state champion team.
In the early years, other artists would judge the sculptures. But organizers soon found a painter wouldn't always know how to interpret the creations.
"It's not like regular sculpting because it can collapse easily," Barrie said. "The only people that really understand (snow sculpting) are the sculptors themselves."
The winning teams get awards made of glass and the first place team gets its travel expenses to the 2006 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition covered.
Last year's winning team, the Skupien Brothers, have been invited back to carve a demonstration piece and compete against international teams for a People's Choice Award. Then they are scheduled to represent Illinois at the 2005 U.S. Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wis., Feb. 2-6.
Organizers of the national competition won't need to hope for more snowfall. The competition snow already has been made by the Grand Geneva Resort.
"It's a very good snow," George Hennerly, vice president of Lake Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce.
The nationals will have 15 teams competing for the right to represent the country on the international snow sculpting scene.
Although sculpting starts Feb. 2 and is judged Feb. 6, the full weekend will be eventful. The city's Winterfest, held Feb. 6 and 7, coincides with the competition. About 30,000 to 60,000 people are expected between the festival and competition.
Entertainment will be provided, including helicopter and hay rides if weather permits, Hennerly said.
"It's a real nice way to spend the day," he said.
No admission is charged for spectators at either snow sculpting event.
ROCKFORD - Snow sculptors and those who admire the art form should get ready for the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition set for Jan. 19 - 22 at Sinnissippi Park.
With this week's heavy snowfall, there should be more than enough white sculpting material to get the 19th annual competition going.
Last year the event began on time even though the area had only 2 to 3 inches of snow. The snow for the competition is gathered from the Greater Rockford Airport, explained Vance Barrie, spokesman for the Rockford Park District.
"It's like a giant parking lot. They clear all the runways and pile it on the sides," Barrie said.
Piling the snow allows it to last through warmer weather, which may come after this week's snow. Rain, however can be detrimental to the snow piles.
"So the only thing that will hurt us is if we get a lot of rain," Barrie said.
The blocks of snow will be built a week prior to when teams can begin working on their masterpieces Jan. 19.
Sixteen teams will compete to be the Illinois snow sculpting champions. They include local teams captained by Curt Knipprath of Machesney Park and Hans Schumacher of Roscoe.
In addition, 14 high school teams will be competing, including teams from Hononegah and Harlem high schools. Hononegah students and art department head Joyce Fridlund plan a sculpture called "Welcome Home!" The Harlem team, headed by art teacher Alison Gregory, will carve a piece titled "Gaozu's Ascent."
Spectators are invited to watch the sculptures emerge, and the event has drawn between 20,000 and 50,000 visitors, Barrie said.
The snowy creations will be judged Jan. 22. Ballots will be collected from spectators 8:30 - 11 a.m. for People's Choice awards. Competitors will be judging each other's creations after 10 a.m. to determine the Illinois state champion team.
In the early years, other artists would judge the sculptures. But organizers soon found a painter wouldn't always know how to interpret the creations.
"It's not like regular sculpting because it can collapse easily," Barrie said. "The only people that really understand (snow sculpting) are the sculptors themselves."
The winning teams get awards made of glass and the first place team gets its travel expenses to the 2006 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition covered.
Last year's winning team, the Skupien Brothers, have been invited back to carve a demonstration piece and compete against international teams for a People's Choice Award. Then they are scheduled to represent Illinois at the 2005 U.S. Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wis., Feb. 2-6.
Organizers of the national competition won't need to hope for more snowfall. The competition snow already has been made by the Grand Geneva Resort.
"It's a very good snow," George Hennerly, vice president of Lake Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce.
The nationals will have 15 teams competing for the right to represent the country on the international snow sculpting scene.
Although sculpting starts Feb. 2 and is judged Feb. 6, the full weekend will be eventful. The city's Winterfest, held Feb. 6 and 7, coincides with the competition. About 30,000 to 60,000 people are expected between the festival and competition.
Entertainment will be provided, including helicopter and hay rides if weather permits, Hennerly said.
"It's a real nice way to spend the day," he said.
No admission is charged for spectators at either snow sculpting event.
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