BLOCK #14 | WISCONSIN 4
TEAM NAME:
Up To Snow Good
SCULPTURE TITLE:
K'inich Ahau and Ixchel (The Sun God and the Moon Goddess)
ARTIST STATEMENT:
The significance of the Maya lies in their advanced achievements in writing, mathematics astronomy, and architecture,They developed a sophisticated hieroglyphic writing system, the concept of zero, and an intricate calendar system that was more accurate than the Julien calendar. Their scientific and mathemataic knowledge is evident in the monumental architecture they created and their ability to track celestial events, which still informs modern astronomical studies and reflects a deep spiritual and cultural worldview.
Team Members:
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Mike Austin (Captain): Mike Austin, 68, lives in Burlington on Browns Lake with his wife, Debbie and their Chesapeake Bay Retriever, "Scout". Mike is a master craftsman woodworker and avid outdoorsman, and is executive director of Lighthouse Personal Development Project, a non-profit that mentors teen boys. He is also a trainer for Tentmakers Ministries, based in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He began ice sculpting in 2008, and snow sculpting in 2014, and has earned multiple awards in both media.
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Jeff Shawhan: Jeff Shawhan is a snow sculptor from Racine, Wisconsin. He has an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a BA in Art from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. He is currently a Professor of Art at Concordia University-Wisconsin and has been there for 30years. He has been fortunate to win awards at International/National/State level competitions. He enjoys the process the most… starting with a giant block of snow and transforming it into an ephemeral work of art, created in a public space to share the “maker” process with others.
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Fran Volz: Fran Volz, 67, lives in Rockford IL. He’s a self-taught sculptor in bronze & other materials. Fran began snow sculpting in 1985 in his Front yard. A few years later he entered the IL. State Snow competition and went on to the. Nationals in lake Geneva. In order to bring the art of snow sculpting closer to Chicago, Fran formed his own competition called “Snow Days”. It started in the Chicago Suburbs. When Chicago City Hall got wind of it they contacted him and moved the event downtown to Lake Shore Drive, with skyscrapers all around. They made it truly an International Event, with teams from Germany, China, Canada, Russia, etc. Then they moved the event to Navy Pier. Eventually Fran retired from organizing and continues to this day sculpting mainly in the larger competitions, like Breckenridge and Lake Geneva.
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