Team USA’s Sculpture Removed From World Snow Sculpting Championship Over Anti-ICE Design

Team USA’s sculpture from the recent World Snow Sculpting Championship in Minnesota was removed for featuring anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hand gestures in its entry.

In a Jan. 28 statement, the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce said that a portion of Team USA’s sculpture “did not align with these pre-established rules and policy.” Team USA did not place in the competition, and the sculpture, which remained on display after the event, was removed by organizers. The removal of the sculpture was strictly “procedural,” “unrelated to judging outcomes” and “did not involve penalties or sanctions against the artists,” according to the statement.

“Like many public art exhibitions and international competitions, the event operates under clearly defined participation guidelines that all teams receive in advance and that are publicly posted on the World Snow Celebration website. These guidelines are not intended to limit artistic voice or viewpoint, but to establish shared standards for sculptures displayed in a public, all-ages environment and ensure fairness and consistency for all participating teams,” the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce said.

Team USA’s entry for the competition is titled, “A Call to Arms,” according to the World Snow Celebration’s website. The sculpture features messages in American Sign Language (ASL) that include, “ICE out,” “love,” “unity,” and “resist,” Pioneer Press reported. (RELATED: ICE Reportedly Orders Agents To Avoid Minnesota ‘Agitators,’ Hunt Down Worst Illegal Aliens)

Team Captain Dusty Thune said he and his team hadn’t originally intended to include any anti-ICE hand gestures in their sculpture, but altered their entry following the death of Renee Good on Jan. 7.

“Upon digging into the snow block, we found the snow pack to be so poorly packed and full of debris that the outstretched arms we were carving kept crumbling and falling off. We made the choice to focus on bigger hands and shorter arms to try and salvage our piece. Sometimes the medium (snow) decides the way a piece is going to be created. Sometimes external events also have a hand in shaping what a piece will become,” Thune told the outlet.

Robin Anthony-Evenson, president of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and Foundation, Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski, and Sara Jespersen, the event’s co-chair, wrote a letter to Thune labeling the sculpture’s messaging as “unnecessary and divisive.”

The trio also claimed the sculpture negatively affected the relationship with a nonprofit sponsor, the outlet reported.

Team Canada won first prize in the event, which featured participation from 16 countries, Pioneer Press reported.