Snowscapes: The Art of Sculpting Snow, taking place Jan. 19 through 24, is now the official Idaho State Snow Sculpting Championship.
DRIGGS, Idaho — It’s doubtful that Lisa Simmons ever imagined getting trained on a snowmaking machine. But harvesting snow is the Downtown Driggs Association’s (DDA) executive director’s newest skill, and she’s awestruck over modern weather-making mechanics.
Simmons felt nothing but relief going into one of the organization’s flagship events this week; regardless of snow on the ground, there was snow for sculpting, and it will stay that way from here on out.
“We all felt a huge weight lifted off our chests when the snow machine arrived, knowing that Snowscapes was secured for years to come,” she told Buckrail.
The decision to purchase the polecat SMI Snowmakers only came about at the beginning of December, when winter was clearly not responding to Teton Valley’s request for a prompt arrival. With previous years under her belt of rescheduling and even canceling events due to Jack Frost’s fickle nature, Simmons made a decision to sustain the program even if it meant potentially going over budget. And although DDA needs to raise another $8,000 to cover the purchase, the relief of knowing the event will never have to face Mother Nature’s increasing capriciousness was more than enough justification to pick up the polecat.
“This investment opens up a new world of creative placemaking for Driggs,” Simmons wrote in the event’s press release. “Beyond guaranteeing an abundance of perfect sculpting snow for the Idaho State Championship, it unlocks the ability to dream bigger — think downtown sledding hills, additional sculptures throughout the winter, rail jams, and other playful snow-based installations,” she continued.
Construction for Snowscapes began Jan. 9, when Mills Concrete installed 10 cubes measuring 8 feet across on Driggs Plaza, along with six smaller Quick Sculpt forms. On Jan. 14, Driggs Public Works, MD Landscaping, DDA staff, and dedicated community volunteers filled the forms with roughly 50 tons of snow produced by the snowmaking machine.
An additional sculpture created by Team Wyoming of Laramie in collaboration with local artists at Grand Targhee Resort was carved between Jan. 12 and 16 at the ‘Ghee.
After a brief settling period over the weekend, the forms were removed, revealing the solid blocks that become each team’s sculpting canvas. Sculpting is officially underway as of Monday, and continues through Friday, Jan. 23, when the final bell rings at 5 p.m. and all tools must be set down. Simmons said one of the best parts of Snowscapes is experiencing all of the steps of the event, and seeing how the blocks progress into sculpture. She encourages people to pass through more than once leading up to the Final Frost.
The polecat isn’t the only update to this year’s Snowscapes — the event’s moniker has been officially updated to the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Championship.
Simmons said with the “former McCall competition no longer operating, Snowscapes now carries forward this statewide artistic tradition.” Ten teams in total will compete, with artists traveling from Montana, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
On a phone call, Simmons said she thinks the name change contributed to the diverse origins on this year’s roster.
The format for this year’s event is also shifting. Instead of a separate evening gala following the voting and community party during the day, efforts have been combined for the last day of the competition, now dubbed “The Final Frost.” The all-day community party on Saturday, Jan. 24, will start at 10 a.m. and run until 7 p.m. on Driggs Plaza.
Vote for the best sculptor, drop a name suggestion for the polecat, try carving and take in the wonder of truly wild public art. A former sculpting team is carving out an ice bar for the occasion.
With live music by The Rock Skis, food trucks and winter doings for all ages, the event is set to welcome over 2,000 people, an estimate based on the number of submitted votes in previous years. The event is free to attend but DDA asks attendees to make a suggested $5 donation.
Families and art fans can warm up by fire barrels, zoom down a snow slide and even try their luck inside the Teton Valley Welcome Center to see what booty can be scored in the raffle and silent auction.
After its first job is complete, the SMI polecat is scheduled for its second hydrology job: a community sledding hill in Driggs. Watch for that to be located west of the pickleball courts at Primrose Park, not far from the Tributary entrance.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Jan. 22 to reflect the current fundraising status to cover the cost of the snowmaking machine.
