The 2012 Saint Paul Winter Carnival Ice Carving Contest winners were announced Sunday afternoon.
The sculptures, on display in St. Paul’s Rice Park for the Winter Carnival, which runs through Feb. 5, were judged on creativity and originality, technical difficulty, initial impact, attention to detail, use of ice and other criteria.
Winners in the multiblock competition are:
— First place ($2,000 prize): “Das Wintermachenmachine,” a Dr. Suess Winter Making Machine, from Rob Grams of Minneapolis, Terry Reis of Iowa, and Tom Schiller of Hastings
— Second ($1,000): “Pride,” depicting a lion family, by Greg Schmotzer of Hastings and Chris Swarbrick of Hudson.
— Third ($500): “Free at Last,” dedicated to a former carving team member who lost his battle to cancer, by Deneena and Paul Hughes of Eden Prairie, Shannon Erkenbrack and John Knipp.
Winners in the Individual Block Competition’s professional division are:
— First Place ($750): “Dream Catcher,” by Greg Schmotzer
— Second Place ($500): “Swordfish,” by Tom Schiller
— Third Place ($250): “Bird of Prey,” by Chris Swarbrick
Artisan Division:
— First Place ($100): “Vulcan Fire Vane,” by Chad Peterson
— Second Place ($75): “Flying Eagle,” by Eric Baker, Plymouth
— Third Place ($50): “Glacial Grace,” by Jim Zupfer of Woodbury
In the Multi Block Competition, teams are given 20 blocks of ice, sized about 40 by 20 by 10 inches, and 48 hours to complete their work. In the Individual Block Competition, artists receive two 10-by-20-by-40 blocks of ice and five hours to carve.
Copyright 2012 Pioneer Press.
