Two years ago Nancy Riggs moved from Montclair New Jersey to Ridgefield. Along with her family, Riggs brought a passion for creating snow masterpieces to her new home.
“2013 was one of those years that kept hitting us with huge snowstorms- confining us indoors. In an effort to make lemonade out of lemons, I began to make snow sculptures,” says Ridgefield resident, Nancy Riggs.
Soon after moving to Ridgefield, Riggs befriended fellow resident and creative enthusiast, Jamie Steckler and the duo quickly bonded over snow art. “We both just like to build stuff and make art. I asked if she might like to build snow art sometime; perhaps we could make it on the lake or other public space and involve others,” explains Riggs.
While Steckler was all over the snow-art opportunity, Riggs says that a year went by without a significant storm preventing the new friends to hit the town with their creative minds and glove-encased hands.
But then, last week happened. Viola! Finally, some fresh power to roll, mold, and pack. “This last snow, I sent her the following text: Looks like 30 degrees at 8am and then the temp rises... if we can make something and get it packed before it hits 36, it should keep for a couple of days if not in direct sun... You a morning person?”
Steckler was so in.
“The next morning , we scouted locations and decided on the library,” says Riggs, who adds, “The library is one of our favorite places and one of the reasons we moved here.”
Before hitting the snow, Riggs and Steckler asked Ridgefield Library staff member Trevor Galdwin if it was OK to use the library grounds for their cool creation. “Trevor said, This is a new request- what are you making?" We let him know that we had no particular thing in mind,” says Riggs.
The library staff gave the two snow buddies the nod. “Jamie and I assembled the material and just decided to go with a head since that's kind of what I do - and she knows them and likes them. So we just kind of moved around and owned different features- ears, eyes, chin, nose, etc. with our shared understanding of proportion and scaling,” explains Riggs.
For the past week locals traveling Main Street have marveled over the snow masterpiece.