THUNDER BAY -- With winter being a way of life in Northwestern Ontario, Walter Kuch figures he better make good use of it.
Kuch is one of the artists who have constructed elaborate mythological snow sculptures on display at Prince Arthur’s Landing for the city’s annual Winterfest event.
“It’s about making the kids happy and giving them a taste of excitement,” he said while standing beside his sculpture of a dragon and a wizard.
There are about a dozen massive sculptures all over the marina area, each conforming to the theme of fantasy and fairy tales.
The meaning and interpretation of Kuch’s creation is up to the eye of the beholder.
“It’s what I call the essence of fairy tales. Every good fairy tale has a mythical beast, like a dragon, and some magic, and there’s a wizard,” he said.
“You’re not sure if the dragon is friendly and he’s going to eat you and you’re not sure if the wizard is on your side or not but they could be.”
Kuch estimates he spent between 20 and 25 hours working on the sculpture, and was adding some refining touches on Monday.
He starts with a vision and then systematically works away at the snow until he reaches his finished product.
“I do drawings and sketches and then I grid it off so I have a block of one foot squares. Then I just take away everything that’s white and leave everything that’s supposed to be the dragon and the wizard,” he said.
The sculptures received universally positive reviews from those in the crowd.
Melissa Merilainen and Greg Carr went to Winterfest with their one-and-a-half year old daughter Abby, who was bundled up for the Family Day afternoon.
She was fascinated by all of the sculptures.
“It reminds her of Frozen,” Carr said. “She likes big ice sculptures and things like that.”
Laura Montgomery, a recreation and culture programmer with the City of Thunder Bay, said last year’s event saw 5,000 people come down to the waterfront. She is hoping for similar numbers this year for the third annual event.
Outdoor activities include traditional pastimes such as skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing but also less conventional pursuits such as kick sledding and fat biking.
“It’s really a commitment to animating public spaces in Thunder Bay and giving people the opportunity to get out to enjoy being active,” Montgomery said.
There were also a number of indoor activities to give people a break from the chilly weather.
The day of activities concludes in the evening with a fireworks display.
