Giant Dumbo snow sculpture takes over Winnipeg yard
A little bit of Disney magic combined with some Winnipeg whimsy now graces the lawn of a city home.
It comes in the form of a Dumbo snow sculpture and the talented work of two local carvers.
“He looks good in white,” said Madeleine Vrignon who created the piece along with Gary Tessier.
The piece is one in a series of snow sculptures that have appeared on the front yard of Gail Asper’s house since 2006.
Over the years they have ranged from characters like Oscar the Grouch and Spongebob Squarepants to the whole Simpsons crew on a couch. The sculptures must both be recognizable and fun to people.
“Last year we did Winnie the Pooh cause I’m a big Winnie the Pooh fan and I’m very proud of his roots to Winnipeg and it was a huge hit,” said Asper.
Asper said Dumbo decision was made in collaboration with both Vrignon and Tessier, who let the size of the snow block help guide who will appear.
A lack humidity in the snow block this year has proven challenging to the carvers because it makes the snow soft and delicate. This results in having to make less aggressive cuts and working progressively into the block to preserve the shape.
Another challenge was the sculpture’s height. Vrignon said once you get up on top it is OK, but she leaves the up and downs to Tessier.
All told they estimate it took them about 30 hours and five days days to complete, with a necessary wintery weather break in between.
“It’s just a question of getting up off the couch when it’s really cold and moving despite the winter,” said Vrignon.
“I just love it when families come by and they want to take their pictures and marvel at how incredibly lifelike it is,” said Asper.
As for next year Asper said the inspiration depends on what is popular, but don’t count out the classics either.
One thing is guaranteed. It has to be big.
“So that if you have a melt, and some years it can go to five or six degrees above, and suddenly you’re going to lose your sculpture,” Asper said.
“It brightens up the neighbourhood and we’re glad cause it lasts a couple of months,” Tessier said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.