Team Sweden/USA: Eva Hild, Stan Wagon, Dan Schwalbe, Richard Seeley; assistant: Beth Seeley.
After seeing the work of Eva Hild (Sweden) in a math and art journal, I wrote her asking if she would like to work in snow for a week. She agreed. It was a fantastic week as we successfully sculpted a complex shape.
We started by studying Eva’s ceramic model, which was shipped to me from Sweden.I construct a 5-foot high snow block at my house and we practice on it before the event begins.The rough shape at the 5-foot scale.Eva and her first work in snow.The blocks. They are very much compacted and have 50% the density of ice. Very sharp tools are needed.Rich Seeley and I worked out a coordinate system and that is used to mark up the block.After 11 years Dan and I figured out how to make a single thin chain that can be used to cut off a ton or more of snow with a straight cut.Five tons of snow lopped off in a few minutes. Satisfying.Our first cut with the new saw was a success.Eva was an excellent worker and partner in the venture.Very rough form.The finish work is very satisfying.This is from our first entry in 1999.Beth, Rich, Eva, Stan, Dan.The program for the following year, just as in several prior years, featured out work on the cover.
