VermontSnows.com Blog » Updates

A week from today I will be tackling the block

michael — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:01:43 +0000

We leave for Breckenridge on Sunday, and have a day and a half to kick it, get the model and the associated tools ready, and get acclimated to the altitude. But a week from today we will be out there facing a 10 foot by 10 foot, 12 foot high, 20 ton block of snow.

Its a big block. I remember the first time we tackled the 6X6 foot block here in Burlington and I thought is was pretty huge… the one out there is almost 4 times the mass. It is a daunting feeling knowing that you have to transform it into a beautiful work of art on par with some of the best sculptors of the world in five days. Add to that the fact that we will be hungover, ill-slept, and getting used to how we all work together as a team, and you have the makings for complete chaos.

Usually we get through it pretty easily though. At some point we take a break and get an early beer – that usually helps – and then we go on and tackle that block some more.

I actually have a fairly good idea of how to de-bulk the block to make the snow sculpture this year. I have gone through the process of making a secondary model, a de-bulking snow sculpture model, and will use that to get to the point of being able to start carving more intricate shapes then just blocks – which is what it will look like for the first two days.

We will be uploading camera phone pics and blogging as time allows, so stay tuned!

Coin Drop and Model Suspension

michael — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:59:19 +0000

So I am applying to do a coin drop in Burlington – we’ll see what happens. Its hard to get anyone from the city to really acknowledge me since I organize a bike ride every year that is seen as somewhat radical, and seem to be on the radar for that project rather than this project – but we’ll see. Getting five guys to Colorado ain’t cheap though – so we need to do something…

I was think that in order to get the sculpture model to look like we need it to look like we might need to build a little frame to hang the guy model up from some suspension – and then underlay the supporting items – instead of what we were doing the other day, which was trying out different poses for the supports and then resting the guy on top.

This weekend we will probably do nothing – as there is a big bike ride! It’s not the bike ride that is seen as radical – it’s another one. I’ll try to post a picture early next week!

Snow Sculpture Process – Early in the game

michael — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:31:25 +0000

Well – here is my cell phone pic of the first draft of the model. We got togther at Brooke’s studio and sat around the table drinking beers and listening to The Radiator – Burlington’s local radio – which inspired us to no end. The model is hard to work with because – well – the guy is sort of floating – so he kept on falling over. Clay in general doesn’t really hold up to what we put through – but we got a good start and that is what we were after.

Anatomy of the process

michael — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:35:25 +0000

So – Snow Sculpture is mostly about the artistic process – so I thought it would be cool to detail the process as best I could in this dealio.

Many people ask us where we get the ideas from. Usually its Adrian, Brooke and I just bouncing ideas off each other. Last year in Breckenridge one of our lliasons, Emily, was hanging out rooting us on and asked us that very question. So we told her, but we also asked her what she thought would make a good snow sculpture. She responded with “A person getting blown by the wind.”

Adrian and I both lit right up – “Hey – that is a good idea…”

The next submission we needed was Breck ’09 – so we talked about what to include in the sketch.

Then Adrian and Brooke drove up from Beantown together and they met me at the Flatbreads and this sketch was pretty much done – Adrian finalized it last time he and the fam were up and we were having coffee.

I then scanned it, took it apart and manipulated it slightly, raising the guy up in the air a bit in the front. I believe once we start the modeling phase the dynamics will insist on him being higher in the front… but we’ll see…

So that’s how it starts. We need to make a model now – a scale model (1 inch on the sculpture equals 1 foot on the model) – and then see how it changes from the sketch. We are supposed to stay pretty close! But again… we’ll see…

First Model Making Meeting Succesfully Blown Off

michael — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:20:39 +0000

It had to happen. The first time we could have gotten together to work on the model for Colorado we blew it off in favor of having fun. Oh well. It will get done. We did build a miniature golf course out of recycled materials – ran it for a couple of days during the South End Art Hop – then tore it all down – so there was some work getting done in the impermanent mediums department…. but to me this symbolizes a wonderful landmark in the year – where we blow off making models in lieu of drinking beers and having fun doing something else.

Acceptance and mini-golf

michael — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:26:24 +0000

We should here about being accepted in Colorado any day now. They shoot for the end of August – but with Labor Day I am sure things get kooky – lord know things are kooky arounf here – we are all involved building a 9 hole miniature golf course out of recycled materials for the South End Art Hop – which should be cool – and we hope you all will come down and play a round! Mention the site and I’ll give you a deep discount!

New Gallery Coming Soon – 2009 apps submitted

michael — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:36:10 +0000

Hey everyone – thanks for checking in. I’ve been taking some time and reorganizing the site – did you know that this was the first site I built way back when? Usually I barely maintain the gallery – but I have installed an awesome gallery component and am making headway renaming and re-commenting on the over 200 photos I have to share – and everyone will be able to comment on them… all coming soon!

This blog has a snearch feature – once it gets filled up with stuff you will be able to snearch the whole thing!

Also – we submitted our first 2009 application! That is always a sign of the rush thats takes place with a new season! I’ve got some other surprises for you too – so stay tuned!