COMMON THREAD - Art in the making

TEAM USA COLORADO AT THE WORLD SNOW FESTIVAL,

INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE CONTEST

 AT GRINDELWALD, SWITZERLAND

January 2006

 

THE BLOCK STANDS SILENT

The giant block of snow awaits, surrounded by the mountain trio of "Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau," on the northern side of the Swiss Alps.

This huge chunk of frozen h20 will soon become the "Common Thread" at the hands of Tim, Steve, Tim & Randy.

 

THE FIRST STEPS

If you think this is a laborious process - you're right!

The team helps the first figure find its place.

 

SNOW FALLING ON SCULPTURE

Snow started to fall after the first day's work. Steve says "Good Night" and promises to keep us updated.

 

DAY TWO - EMERGING FIGURES

Day two brought some warm weather, and the team spent most of the day with their coats off.

The figures, Cain, Eve, Adam, Harry, and Abel started to show themselves.  “Harry who?”  It’s none other than Harry Houdini, and he’s looking for a way to get out of the block!

By the end of the day a lot of progress was made.

 

DAY THREE - IN THE FALLING SNOW

And it's a snowy one!  Huge flakes dumping heavy, very wet snow for the past 24 hours and counting.

 

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

 

  As far as the sculpture, it’s coming along for “a piece that can't be done.”  As some of the spectators have been over heard saying: "Steve has still got 10 fingers and 10 toes."  Cain & Abel are behaving themselves and starting to emerge from each side of the piece.  Tim rounded out the sphere and the snow is moving fairly easily.  Pray for cold weather.

 

DAY FOUR - OUT OF DARKNESS INTO LIGHT

In hopes that the temperature would fall, Team USA worked late last night.  The snow finally let up and they left the sculpture in an eerie fog.  By this morning the clouds started to lift and the sun came out.

These photos are from this morning as the piece was bathed in sunlight.  The figures are no longer silent.  In fact, they seem to be singing!

This shot shows the scale of the project.  The Team will take a well deserved break from carving this morning and get back to work this afternoon.

 

DAY 5 - THE HOMESTRETCH 

The team went back out last night and worked until 2am. 

The weather was colder and the figures are really starting to take shape all the way around. 

The figures stand quietly waiting for the sun to go down so their creators can start the final stretch to 11am Saturday morning.

Steve writes: "The next photos we send will be of the finished piece.  Wish us luck!"

 

DAY 6 - FINISHED!

This morning at 11am Team USA completed work on the "Common Thread." Their combined passion helped maintain the energy throughout the final day. They worked Friday night and into early Saturday, returning a couple of hours later to buff and shine their work.

The public is also impressed with the work. All the sculptures turned out great and the judges have their work cut out for them. Meanwhile, the team is resting and waiting for the awards presentation.

The Team photo L-R Tim Curry, Randy Amys, Steve Mercia and Tim Schwander

(click on Team photo for a larger view)

 

 

 

 

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

 

	CANADA	FRANCE	GERMANY	GREAT BRITAIN	NETHERLANDS	UNITED STATES
[click on thumbnail for larger image]
JURY'S CHOICE			First Place	Third Place	Second Place
PEOPLE'S CHOICE	Third Place	Second Place				First Place
ARTIST'S CHOICE		First Place	Second Place		Third Place

 

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