The answers to your snow sculpting questions
True, the sculptures rising from blocks of snow at Randhurst Shopping Center in Mount Prospect tend to leave people speechless.
But when we approached people Friday to see if they had any questions for the sculptors, they started moving those dropped jaws.
We asked people what questions they would pose to participants in the fourth-annual Snow Sculpting Contest. Then, we got the answers from the sculptors.
Here's what they wanted to know:
Q. Where did all the snow come from? -- Kathy Solon of Schaumburg
A. Arlington Heights resident Fran Volz, who runs the annual event, rented a "snowgun" from a snowboard shop in Algonquin. It took three weeks to make the snow. Then, a few days before the contest began Wednesday, they dumped the snow in wood blocks 10 feet tall and 6 feet square. They stepped on it to pack it down -- continuing until the blocks were ready. Think of Lucy and Ethel stomping on the grapes in that classic "I Love Lucy" episode -- without the stains.
Q. Can you explain the process? -- Nelle Hanley of Schaumburg
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A. According to Michael Martino, who traveled to Mount Prospect from La Crosse, Wis., it starts with a sketch. Then, you make a scale model, called a maquette, to put in a gridbox. Each inch square of the box equals a square foot. From there, the sculpting begins. Carving and scraping snow is unlike the bronze works that Martino has sculpted. Since you can just pack the snow back on, a bad cut is hardly disastrous. "Snow is one of the more forgiving mediums," Martino said.
Q. How do you handle the weather if it's sunny (like Friday) to keep the snow from melting? -- Jin and Sam Yoo of Mount Prospect
A. Tom Wall, 17, one of the high school sculptors and a Fremd student, says they place a tarp over the sculpture, propping it on a ladder to block the sun's rays.
Q. How long does it take from start to finish? -- Robert and Laurel Anderson of Wheeling
A. Stephen Bateman of Eau Claire, Wis., and his team started Wednesday. They had just returned from a snow contest in Italy, where they nabbed first place. They will spend at least 36 hours on the sculpture.
Q. For optimum sculpting, is it better to have hard snow or soft snow? -- Jean Staffa of Arlington Heights
A. Patricia Elsakker, who is with a team from the Netherlands, says "the more frozen it is, the better."
Event schedule
The fourth annual Snow Sculpting Contest by Snow Visions is taking place at Randhurst Shopping Center along Elmhurst Road in Mount Prospect. The event is free, with donation boxes on site.
TODAY
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Full day of events
10 a.m. Sculpting stops and voting begins. Professional teams judge high school competition; public picks their favorite professional entry.
1 p.m. Public voting ends
3-4 p.m. Awards ceremony inside mall, next to Steve and Barry's
4-10 p.m. Sculptures on display
SUNDAY
8 a.m. Open to public viewing
9 a.m. St. Bernard dogs stroll grounds
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Siberian Huskies
10 p.m. Site closes