Middlebury students snow their stuff

Author: Andrew Throdahl

Are snowmen and igloos the limits of snow's artistic horizons? Did you never think of a winged pig could be crafted from the harvest of winter? 2008's Winter Carnival witnessed the reinstitution of the Snow Sculpting Competition, enabling Middlebury students to see their wildest artistic visions constructed, and then shortly thereafter tragically destroyed. The Middlebury Campus gets in touch with this year's sculptors, hopefully not too frostbit.

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With adherence to tradition on the minds of 2008's Winter Carnival organizers, led by Nicolas Sohl '10, the popular snow sculpting competition was reinstated.

"The snow sculpting compeatition used to be a fun and important part of the Carnival and for the first time in many years we successfully brought this event back," says Sohl. "It allowed students to put on their gloves and winter jackets, and really get out in the snow and have a good time."

The competing teams, each representing different commons, were judged by the Winter Carnival Committee. Wonnacott Commons won gold with their complex, life-sized depiction of a beirut game. Ross Commons came in second for a sculpture of a wolf, and Brainerd Commons in third for "enlarged" snow flakes.

Cook Commons created a flying pig inspired by African fertility wood carvings. Ekow Edzie '10 explained the sculpture. "My design drew inspiration from the Cook Commons mascot hence the pig with the wings, but also because of "Let's Talk About Sex" month I sort of integrated a bit of Ghanaian fertility art, which is why the pig has six enormous boobs and a very large posterior," said Edzie. "Overall I was kind of shooting for a totem pole feel."

Wonnacott Commons teamleader Alexander Benepe '09 was just happy to be there despite his sculpture's victorious virtuosity.

"I had never done a large scale sculpture in any medium before," said Benepe. "All five of us were there about five hours a day. We made the beirut table because we thought it was a social, interactive symbol of a universal game that would resonate with almost any student. I also felt honored to be part of an event that was taking place in the first time for 23 years - it felt like a throwback to the college experiences of yesteryear that are so rare today with increasing workloads and electronic entertainment."

Alexander's team was comprised of sophomores Matthew Labunka, Kristen Faiferlick, Scott Zolkos and Kate Lupo.

"We also had some help from Tenzing Sherpa '10, Sarah Elkayat '09.5 and Avery Finch '09.5," Benepe added. "Overall the real person who deserves a prize though is Nick Sohl. Sohl has seriously restored Winter Carnival to its former glory in a single weekend."