NORTH DAKOTA | Block #7
Team Name: Team North Dakota
Sculpture Title: Some Things in Life Deserve a Good Long Look
Artist Statement: The hard part is recognizing those things while they're happening.
Team Members:
- Jay Ray (Captain) - Home remodeling contractor by day and sculptor by night. I primarily sculpt in wood (i.e. "chainsaw carving") but also use other mediums like concrete, Styrofoam, and fiberglass. We have competed in the National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wi the past 2 seasons. We placed 3rd in 2022 and took first place along with the People's Choice Award in 2023. I have competed in a local snow sculpting competition known as "Frostival" which is held each winter. I carve solo at this event and compete against my teammates which is a fun way to push each other to improve our skills.
- Mike Nelson - Mike is a multi-disciplined artist based out of Fargo North Dakota. Mike is co-owner of Mothership Workshop an artist studio specializing in custom furniture design, sculpture, 2D art, Ceramics, and more. Mike has been a part of team ND at the national level for the last 2 years, as well as representing the USA at internationals in 2024 with his teammates from North Dakota.
- Joshua Zeis - Joshua is a sculptor based out of Fargo, ND. As a soldier in the US Army, he began studying art while being deployed in 2007. Since his return in 2008, he has earned his MFA and started an artist workshop called Mothership Workshop that focuses on large-scale commissioned sculptural work. He has taken part in many local, national, and international snow sculpture opportunities since his first one in 2010. BFA North Dakota State University 2008-2011 MFA George Washington University 2012-2014 Co-Owner of Mothership Workshop 2017-Present Ceramics Instructor - Plains Art Museum 2016-Present.
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