Navy Pier’s Snow Days Chicago 2014
Navy Pier’s Snow Days Chicago 2014 the three words I would use to describe the snow sculpting competition are clever, entertaining, and artistic.
Teams of artists from across the Midwest and around the world arrived at Navy Pier’s Gateway Park on February 5th to begin four days of shaping snow and ice into fascinating, eye-catching works of art.
Creating exquisite statues out of mounds of snow and ice is no easy task; yet these outdoor artisans rose to the challenge with Lake Michigan in the background and wind whipping off the lake, dropping the thermometer below zero for several days leading up to the public exhibit.
Participants (who traveled from as far away as Argentina, Norway, and the Czech Republic) challenged themselves and others during this annual mid-winter extravaganza that delighted thousands of visitors over the weekend. After sundown, features and angles of each statue were highlighted by multi-colored lights, while rotating and shining different color schemes every five seconds. Not to be overlooked were the outstanding efforts of students representing 12 area high schools, whose sculptures were all on display in a separate area right across the street from Navy Pier’s main entrance.
The pinnacle of the five-day event took place at the awards ceremony on Sat., Feb. 8th (at 6:00 P.M.) inside Navy Pier at the Family Pavilion stage, where the talent of the sculptors was acknowledged with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors. Remarkable twists and curves featured in the number 14 statue entitled “Tongue Twister” resulted in the trio from Kristiansand, Norway winning 1st place and $1,500. Garnering 2nd place and a lot of attention from the spectators was “Death Moth,” an imaginative piece created by a group from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. “Carabao Serenade,” (a tropical-themed sculpture) depicting a guitarist sitting on a cow under a palm tree received notable 3rd place honors along with a $500 prize.
The popular People’s Choice award was deservedly given to “Crystal Eyezed,” boasting many intricate carvings, while the team from Argentina was bestowed the distinguished Team Spirit award for their unique “Sisterhood” creation.
Navy Pier’s Snow Days Chicago 2014 surely did warm the afternoons and captured the imagination of all visitors who attended this marvelous event during these blustery February days… We can’t wait to see Snow Days 2015! Happy Valentine’s Day!
