News
Wednesday 16 January 2008
N-ice one! Students claim silver at international snow sculpture festival
An intricate design based on an English hedgerow has earned a Nottingham Trent University team second place in the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition in Northeast China. The quartet – the only UK team in the competition – braved temperatures touching almost -30°C as they took on 20 teams of skilful sculptors from across the globe.
Team members Elaine Bunfield, Laura Taylor, Ottis Sturmey and Sam Read-Jones, used chisels, shovels and even sandpaper to carve an inanimate 15ft block of snow into their detailed award-winning design. The finished product, which even included leaves, brambles, bugs and snails, took almost four days to finish.
The sculptors, who received a glass trophy, a silver medal each and a cash prize, were judged on theme, artistic expression, creativity and technical skill. It is the second year the university has entered a team in the event, which is one of the largest ice and snow sculpture festivals in the world. Last year, with no real snow sculpting experience, the team stunned onlookers when they came home with a commemorative prize.
Team Leader and BA (Hons) Decorative Arts student Elaine Bunfield said: “We went out there hoping to improve on last year’s result so are obviously delighted. When they read out the teams with a commemorative award, and then the third place team, our heads dropped and we thought we had missed out completely. Then they announced that we had finished joint-second with a team from Russia and we were absolutely gobsmacked.”
She added: “The standard was extremely high, and we were even competing against teams of professional snow sculptors which really added to our sense of achievement.”
First prize was awarded to Russia, with the Nottingham Trent University team and another Russian team joint second, and a Canada/US team and a team from Japan, joint third.
The Nottingham Trent University team were supported by partner institution, Harbin Engineering University (HEU) who offered hospitality during the event.
ENDS
Notes for editors: The Nottingham Trent University team, three students and one graduate, are all from the university’s School of Art and Design: Elaine Bunfield (BA Hons Decorative Arts) Laura Taylor (BA Hons Fine Art graduate) Ottis Sturmey (MA Fine Art) Sam Read-Jones (BA Hons Fine Art).
Press enquiries please contact: Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: 0115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: 0115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
