Why Team USA’s Snow Sculpture Was Disqualified In Stillwater

A snow sculpture from Team USA was recently removed from where it was displayed in downtown Stillwater over a rules violation that was noticed after judging was completed in the World Snow Celebration. A release from the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced the infraction and the removal of the statue from Lowell Park yesterday afternoon.

Team USA Sculpture Removed Due To Rules Violation

According to a statement from the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the snow sculpture produced by Team USA was removed from Lowell Park yesterday after it was determined that a rule was broken.

Here is the full statement from the online post:

The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Foundation is proud to host the World Snow Celebration and World Snow Sculpting Championship as a welcoming, family-friendly, and internationally respected cultural event that celebrates creativity, cultural exchange, and artistic expression.

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 to ensure fairness and consistency for all participating teams.

Following the conclusion of judging and after awards had been presented, event organizers became aware that a portion of the USA team’s sculpture included hand gestures that did not align with these pre-established rules and policy. Because the sculpture remained on public view after the competition, organizers decided to remove the sculpture. This action was procedural in nature, unrelated to judging outcomes, and did not involve penalties or sanctions against the artists. The USA team did not place in the competition.

We recognize that conversations about artistic expression and free speech matter deeply to many people. The Foundation respects the importance of open expression and creative exploration, while also carrying responsibility for maintaining a public event that is welcoming and appropriate for the broad community it serves.

We remain grateful to all participating artists for their talent and creativity, and we remain committed to celebrating artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and community engagement in a way that respects both creative freedom and the shared public space in which this event takes place.

I Didn’t Notice Anything While Looking At The Sculpture

I had the opportunity to visit the snow sculptures the morning after judging, and didn’t notice anything that stood out about the Team USA sculpture. Maybe there was something ‘written’ out in sign language?

What was clear while I was admiring the art was the skill and time it takes to create these large works of art, out of snow, in what were very cold conditions.

Second Snow Sculpture Controversy In As Many Days

This morning, it was noted online that a snow sculpture from the Winter Carnival was disqualified from the competition after it displayed the words “Ice Out MN” on a woman’s face, to go along with a large whistle.