Artist Patricia Leguen adds some of the final touches to her snow sculpture of a bison, Saturday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Artistic creation

Majestic bison emerges in artist’s snow sculpture project

Feb 21, 2021 | 4:00 PM

A magnificent bison sculpture has emerged outside the Allen Sapp Gallery this weekend from what started as just a heaping pile of snow seven days ago.

Saskatoon-based artist Patricia Leguen put some of the final touches on her snow sculpture creation Saturday and planned to finish the project Sunday.

She said many people stopped by to admire the project.

This is the fifth snow sculpture Leguen has created this winter in the region.

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The finely detailed design features a large hoof print at the front.

As the weather warmed to about minus 4 degrees Celsius on Feb. 20 and a high of 3 degrees Sunday, it created some challenges for the project as the snow started to soften in spots.

“Yesterday [Feb. 19] one of the horns fell down because the snow is too soft. The sun hits right behind and compromises the snow,” Leguen said. “So I built it up. I mixed a little bit of snow with a little bit of water with a trowel, just like plasterwork.”

Artist Patricia Leguen with her snow sculpture outside the Allen Sapp Gallery. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

Leguen said the temperatures drop significantly overnight, which will keep the sculpture intact for quite a while over the winter.

“It should stay for a long time because it is very massive,” she said. “Then, it will start to weather, but it will stay for a long [while].”

A passerby on Saturday was taken by the beauty of the carving and stopped to take a photo.

“I love it,” she said. “Whether it’s impromptu or otherwise the more art we can have the better for everybody.”

City of North Battleford curator and manager of galleries Leah Garven is thrilled with the project.

“It is wonderful to have something new around us taking shape, and drawing a lot of attention from passersby,” she said. “The bison has a strong connection in the community, and there seems to be a real appreciation for that representation.”

Garven said about 50 people came by Saturday during the day to admire the sculpture.

As well, the gallery saw a good turnout of about 25 visitors in total throughout the afternoon, as people were out taking advantage of the milder weather.

“[That is] quite high, even in tourist season,” Garven said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @OCoureurDesBois