The 2023 Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk will be held through Feb. 5 in Downtown Lake Geneva as part of Winterfest.
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Meet the 15 snow sculpting teams competing during Lake Geneva Winterfest
Block 1: Alaska
Team name: AK Department of Snow Sculpture title: When Love Hurts Artist statement: Beware the beckoning beacon, the lustrous lure, the seductive siren! Consider pause, wariness, some examination … from a safe distance, of course … perhaps some doubt, perhaps some caution? Can you get another look? Ponder motives, those of others yes but especially yours … sniff for the sweet perfume of intoxicating ideals, enchantments, charms ... do you sense a spell? At the slightest whiff the wise would do well to tiptoe around impulse and reaction ... scan your desire, recognize the pull without succumbing ... can you swim out of its current? In the game of guile the shrewd and skittish are armed by their nature with a better perch, a larger perspective, an avenue of escape from an arena where the bold and forthright can easily get gobbled. Team members: Paul Hanis (captain), Patrick Boonstra, Tom Lewando. Fun facts: Being from Alaska, it may come as no surprise that the three team members are experienced ice and snow carvers — although Lewando, who has been carving ice since the 1990s, only recently started carving snow. When he’s not sculpting, Hanis lives off the grid in the Rangell Mountains.
Block 2: Illinois 1
Team name: Cave People from Space Sculpture title: Otterly Loud Artist statement: Sometimes it feels like everything is so loud right now. Some are loud because they really love what they have and want to share it, others are loud because they want to stand out and be noticed and some are loud because they have no idea what’s going on but they don’t want anyone to notice. These otters might genuinely want to share their music with these fish or they might be trying to drive these fish into the waiting mouth of their friends. Are the fish enjoying it or too suspicious? We don’t have the answers, sometimes pondering questions reveals enough ... although I am not sure the furry mouths and stubby fingers could produce the type of music I would want to listen to, but then again my hamster used to play a mean harmonica ... hmmmm. Team members: Kelly Madison (captain), Brian Hierstein, Kyle Wolfe. Fun facts: Madison is an elementary art teacher who has sculpted for 10 years, Heirstein is an artist and art educator, and Wolfe has been sculpting since 2000.
Block 3: Colorado
Team name: Snicecarvings Sculpture title: Koi Artist statement: The koi fish is a symbol of love and affection in Japan. It also represents perseverance. The ability to overcome. This world we live in needs more koi. Team members: Keith Martin (captain), Sean Spainhower, Cole Bellomo. Fun facts: A snow sculptor for 25 years, Martin is captain of Breckenridge International Snow Sculpting Team and owner of Snicecarvings.
Block 4: North Dakota
Team name: Jay Ray w/SnoKraft Sculpture title: The Nemean Lion Artist statement: The Nemean Lion, in Greek mythology, is the legendary monster that terrorized the region of Nemea, reducing it to a baron wasteland until the beast was bested by everyone’s favorite demigod, Hercules. The battle was commemorated by the Greek pantheon of deities by the creation of the constellation Leo. The epic battle between the two “invincible” beasts has been a muse to artists for centuries, with depictions in marble, paint, bronze and now snow. Team members: Jay Ray (captain), Mike Nelson, Josh Zeis. Fun facts: The members have won snow carving trophies in their home state. Nelson and Zeis are artists based in Fargo, North Dakota. Ray is a carpenter by day, power log sculptor by night.
Block 5: Vermont
Team name: The Pour Saps Sculpture title: Release Artist statement: Release began as a daydream. Our daydreamer has slipped away from wherever she sits to the interior infinite of the imagination. Here anything can happen, from fantastical feats of daring to otherworldly adventure. But here also is a refuge from a troubled world, even a worried heart. Here the limited self can release its pains and illusions and melt back into communion with all that is, all that was, and all that can be. Team members: Katie Runde (captain), Mugsy Logan, Tony Perham. Fun facts: Runde is a contemporary realist oil painter currently completing a commission for the Vermont State House of Alexander Twilight, the mid 19th Century educator/minister who was the first U.S. college graduate of African descent. Passionate about art and imagination, Logan will appear in the Lake Geneva competition for his fourth time. Perham, who was accustomed to sculpting ceramics before discovering huge snow art, has competed in five state qualifiers.
Block 6: Wisconsin 2
Team name: Up to Snow Good Sculpture title: Gracious Struggle Artist statement: Sea turtles have occupied our seas since the time of the dinosaurs. Six of the seven marine species are currently threatened with extinction. Only one of every one thousand hatchlings make it to adulthood. Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over exploitation. They also face habitat destruction and accidental capture — known as “bycatch” — in fishing gear. Team members: Mike Austin (captain), Jeffrey Shawhan, Jim Malkowskii. Fun facts: Austin is the executive director at Lighthouse Personal Development. Shawhan is an artist and a professor at Concordia University. Malkowskii, a retired small business owner, has sculpted many times at nationals and won state, national and international snow sculpting competition awards.
Block 7: New York
Team name: Team NY Sculpture title: Open Mind Artist statement: Our sculpture uses the poetry of Edward Lear (The Old Man With a Beard) as a jumping off point to describe fate, good fortune, and realizing our dreams. This composition uses the symbolism of birds (aim high, achieve your goals), owls (good fortune), and a nest (nurturing, growth) to share the idea that we can all be the best version of ourselves if we put our mind to it. Team members: Doug Schatz (captain), Evan Blondell, Stefaine Loomis. Fun facts: Schatz is a professor of art at SUNY Potsdam. Blondell is an architect.
Block 8: Iowa 2
Team name: The Driftless Snow Sculptors Sculpture title: Backwater Shenanigans Artist statement: While out for an afternoon float in the pond, Tad and his pal Hopper get the surprise of their lifetime as their canoe is thrust out of the water and precariously suspended in the air. Only Tad is aware of the true source of this dilemma as he spies Zippy the turtle emerging from below. Meanwhile, Hopper finds the turbulent ride entertaining and chooses to revel in the moment. However, he’s not the only pond critter enjoying himself, as it appears Zippy the turtle only wants to join the frogs on their afternoon excursion in the pond. The story depicted represents a variation of the age old phrase, “when life gives you lemons...” To summarize, life may be full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and many bumps in the road, but it is how we choose to observe and address these obstacles that shapes and defines our life. We can either enjoy the ride or stress over the details. Team members: Hugh McCarron (captain), Wayne McDermott, Rachel Spurling. Fun facts: McCarron designs projects for the City of Dubuque Engineering Department and owns a blacksmith shop. McDermott has been creating and maintaining exhibits at the National Mississippi River and Aquarium in Dubuque for 38 years.
Block 9: Wisconsin 1
Team name: Sculptora Borealis Sculpture title: You Are Not Alone Artist statement: Battles are fought within all of us every day — even the strongest people shoulder a heavy sword — but we must realize that we do not need to fight alone. Team members: Joshua Jakubowski (captain), Robert Lechtenberg, Michael Lechtenberg. Fun facts: The team won first place in last year’s championship with “Deeper Connections.” Michael and Robert Lechtenberg are father and son, respectively.
Block 10: Illinois 2
Team name: Two Blondes and a Brunette Sculpture title: The Quest for Bachelorette #3 Artist statement: We had originally been thinking about doing a piece with a dragon and knight. Most of our snow sculptures have included a creature of some kind and what better creature is there to sculpt than a dragon? George came up with the idea to add a beefier knight to hold the shield and be able to hold up weight better. He suggested using Shrek since there was a scene in the movie with him as a knight and a fire-breathing dragon. We all love movies and thought kids/people would enjoy seeing a recognizable character. Team members: Danica Rogers (captain), Mark Rogers, George Burnette. Fun facts: Mark and Danica are father and daughter, respectively. Danica started snow sculpting in 2017, taking first with a team in the Illinois State Championship.
Block 11: New Hampshire
Team name: Granite State Snow Sculptors Sculpture title: One Bear Band Artist statement: Music is a medium that helps to transport us. When we are down it lifts us up, when we need inspiration it can inspire, and when we need to connect with our memories it will help to remind us. The goal of this piece is to help relay this connection to the audience. Team members: John Woodard (captain), Jeff Brown, Glenn Woodard. Fun facts: John Woodard has won awards for sculpting sand, snow and pumpkins. Glenn and John are cousins. Brown is a 3-D artist and professional pumpkin carver who has competed on Food Network’s “Halloween Wars.”
Block 12: Minnesota 2
Team name: Sno Van Gogh Sculpture title: Becoming Björn Artist statement: Björn, Nordic word for bear. In order to hunt the bear, you have to think like a bear, steel yourself against the elements like a bear, and track your prey like a bear. To hunt him … you must become him. Team members: Bill Wegwerth (captain), Weston Johnson, Dan Ross. Fun facts: Wegwerth is a retired firefighter of 31 years. Both Johnson and Ross coach in children’s sports activities.
Block 13: Michigan
Team name: Team Michigan Sculpture title: Over the Moon Artist statement: “Over the moon,” the cow jumping over the moon, symbolizes being delighted, thrilled and extremely happy. No matter what curve ball life throws at us, we all strive to maintain an attitude of delighted, thrilled and extremely happy. Team members: Adam Dennison (captain), Mathew Doyle, Tom Ward. Fun facts: Dennison has been carving the longest of the three. He also hosts a pumpkin carving contest. He carves with a chainsaw and, in addition to snow, carves sand.
Block 14: Iowa 1
Team name: Burch St. Carvers Sculpture title: Lizard Habitat Artist statement: Frilled lizard in its natural habitat. Showing a lizard blending into a natural environment. And defending himself. Team members: John White (captain), Dave Young, Diwn Ingersoll. Fun fact: White has been a snow and ice carver for 40 years.
Block 15: Minnesota 1
Team name: Team Kwe Sculpture title: Nigig Nibi Ganawendan (Otter Water Protector) Artist statement: The otter is one of the great mediators in Ojibwe culture and the messenger who brings rituals to the Ojibwe as Otter has the ability to travel over land and through water. A prominent Manitou figure, Otter finds its presence on the spiritually significant Ojibwe Birchbark Scrolls. One scroll song about Otter states: “I bring life to the people.” As Team Kwe, the only all indigenous snow sculpting team, we honor our Anishinaabe heritage and Otter’s spirit to protect the water of which we sculpt, play and live, and honor our tradition as women, too, are the keepers and protectors of the water. Team members: Heather Friedli (captain), Maggie Thompson, Juliana Welter. Fun facts: Friedli through-hiked the Appalachin Trail in 2010 and premiered on the Disney+ show “Best in Show” with Tituss Burgess and Kermit the Frog. Her sister, Welter, won people’s choice in 2021 and third in artist’s place last year during the state competition. Thompson is a textile artist and designer deriving inspiration from her Ojibwe heritage, exploring family history and themes and subject matter from the broader Native American experience.
