Snow sculpture workshop
Text :Tiina Männistö
Summary
In the Stories about Snow workshop, the students shared their experiences of the nature of Utsjoki and their relationship with it by storytelling. The purpose of the workshop was to reflect on one’s own relationship with nature and express thoughts through snow sculpting art.
The pupils had interviewed their parents beforehand about their experiences: what nature means to parents, what kind of changes they have seen in nature, and what they have learned about nature. The pupils shared with each other what they had heard from their parents as well as their own experiences. This made it possible to reflect one’s own relationship with nature over time and generations. Myths, everyday things, northern knowledge and traditions, as well as concerns about climate change, came up in the discussions. The relationship between the children and young people of Utsjoki and nature was mainly described as an everyday and natural thing.
“Nature means everything to me. It is a livelihood, a friend and a teacher. That’s where I calm down and the coffee tastes better.”
Students planned and implemented their own story in the snow in groups: what they wanted to express about their relationship with winter in the moment.
Outdoors, the designs were sculpted in ready-made snow moulds. The students were eager to start working on the snow, and it was great to see the cooperation. For many, snow sculpting tools were a new experience. The joy of working and immersion in it were visible to everyone.
“I have heard the old people say that if you hear the cuckoo fall, you can count the number of years you live, and that the Northern Lights dance in the sky while the spirits of warriors ride in the night.”
The end results showed a great development from the drawing-like images of the lower grades to the bolder artistic expression and snow design of upper secondary school students. However, the most important thing in this workshop was the process and the opportunity to try snow as a material for art expression, not the artistic result.
“How do you know where it is safe to drive a snowmobile on the river ice in winter? Well, you just know.”
