Winter has come with a twist for New Brighton residents, as they witness the unveiling of a gigantic snow sculpture that would make even the most jaded resident stop and stare. Minnesota's Bartz Brothers have once again proven their artistry topping previous years with a 21-foot-tall, 48-foot-long seal, lovingly named "Sparky the Seal." According to FOX 9, the snowy behemoth is now the pride of the place at Brightwood Hills Golf Course, where it dominates the landscape as part of the city's "Brave the Brr" celebration.
Despite the whimsical result, the road to Sparky's creation was fraught with challenges – a saga of weather woes if there ever was one. "It was super challenging. Usually, we... start piling whenever we get snow and this year resulted in us just waiting," Connor Bartz revealed to FOX 9. The Bartz brothers enlisted help from the city, which provided a snowmaker, and went on a snow scavenger hunt, sourcing white stuff from any available nook and cranny, including donations from the Winter Carnival and local parking lots.
Meanwhile, over at KARE 11, Austin Bartz detailed the logistics behind the sculpture's construction in this less-than-ideal weather, saying, "We're taking sleds of snow from outside on the pond, we're sledding it inside, bringing it around this way and into the snow factory." The Bartz Brothers' ingenuity extended to warming up the snow with heaters to achieve the right sculpting texture.
Snow may be in short supply, but community spirit isn't. The colossal statue isn't just a feast for the eyes – it's a call to action. "Sparky" isn't only the name of the sculpture but also a sea lion from Como Zoo in Saint Paul, a detail that lends a personal touch to the towering creation. The Bartz Brothers are accepting donations for WorldVision, a nonprofit dedicated to providing clean water to those in need. This display of creativity entwined with charity captures the essence of the sculpture and the Bartz brothers' spirit, in true New Brighton fashion. The icy attraction is free to visit, standing as a testament to what community, determination, and a bit of frost can accomplish.
