Winona State University will host St. Paul Artist John Njoes as he constructs an ice sculpture Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 21-22, outside the Science Laboratory Center.
Carving is scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m both days.
Njoes has carved in the St. Paul Winter Carnival and has won awards for his work. He will bring in a team from across the country to work on the piece. Funding for the project was donated by the Frozen River Film Festival, Boats and Bluegrass Festival, and Winona residents.
Njoes and his team will use power tools, hand grinders and an electric chainsaw. Njoes’s team will plan to complete the sculpture by late Jan. 22.
The ice sculpture will depict a whale, a ship captain and a boat railing in honor of Winona’s upcoming Rockwell Kent Celebration. Representatives from the Frozen River Film Festival and the Rockwell Kent Festival will be on hand to “light” the work.
The sculpture will be on display for the opening of the Frozen River Film Festival Wednesday, Jan. 23.
For more information, contact Thomas Fassbender at Tfassbender@winona.edu.
