The Art Tourist tours the Breckenridge Snow Sculptures 2007

Art for the Masses and Buddy Passers

by Terry Talty

Jan 29, 2007

Breckenridge, Colorado – I'm an art fanatic and travel the world on a pilgrimage for my vision, granting civilization the power to draw the frame around what I allow myself to see in the persona of the Art Tourist. I look at things presented to me as art and then deconstruct to usefulness or lack of usefulness in a way I hope The Man on the Street can use for insight. The International Snow Sculpture Competition in Breckenridge is one of those pedestrian art events where one sees a lot of Men and Women on the Street and they say things like "Oh it's an Origami Squirrel," after reading the title, and this was helpful because the hands and head of the squirrel lacked true origami-ness.

The public was at a bit of a loss for words at a sculpture called "Rock and Roll" made by one of the few non North American teams participating in an ever-less International event due to, we are told, visa problems.

The Swiss made R&R by carving four round bottom cones that were in various points of tipping off their base.

Titles help. At least that title helped me think about the potential energy in this sculpture. I wish I'd come up with it. Instead, Ihad the distinct pleasure of suggesting the name for the piece called "Suspense."

Does it help you understand this piece that you see here? I could have called it "Wow," because that is what people said when they walked around it. One side was open, the others less revealing of the stack of snowballs that were suspended above the earth. Use the mouse to see two of the views.

Obviously I like this piece of monumental, temporary sculpture. It makes me feel connected to many years of snow sculpture with its fluid side, its hard edge wall, cartoony texture and various opportunities to see inside and cast shadows. I like that it fell like a precarious snowman by the end of the day it was finished. I like the guys that made it.

Please think of me as the anonymous art tourist, who writes contemporary art criticism in a postmodern world where anything could be good, and often is when we are too close to it.