MISHICOT, Wis. (WFRV) – After decades of carving massive sculptures around the world, Mishicot artist Mike Sponholtz says his latest appearance at the Olympic Arts Festival will be his last time competing in snow sculpting.
Sponholtz recently returned from Italy, where his team earned a bronze finish during cultural events connected to the Olympics, the second Olympic-related bronze of his career after an earlier podium finish in Japan.
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Reflecting on the moment, Sponholtz said the weight of the experience is still sinking in.
“I was a skinny little kid. I mean, going into high school, I weighed 114 pounds. I am a world champion. It’s hitting me now,” he said.
The team’s sculpture, titled Zenith, featured three figures raising an Olympic flame and was completed under intense time pressure. Sponholtz said artists had just three days to transform a massive block of snow into a finished piece.
“In Italy we only had three days and then a ten by ten by ten block. You got 17 tons of snow. We removed at least 80 percent all by hand,” he said.
For Sponholtz, the trip also marked the end of an era. After more than four decades of international competitions and more than 260 sculptures worldwide, he confirmed he is stepping away from snow sculpting, though he plans to continue working in wood sculpture and painting.
“Now with the legacy we built, I broke down in Italy. Because it’s the last one,” he said.
Known for treating snow carving as serious fine art, Sponholtz said collaboration has always been at the core of the work.
“Tom and Mike started on an idea, and then they sent me pictures, and I had a few comments. I like this, I didn’t like that. And we were really good at collaborating together,” he said.
Despite retiring from snow carving, Sponholtz says he hopes his story encourages younger artists across Northeast Wisconsin to chase opportunities beyond their hometowns.
“I want these kids to know, don’t let where you are from define you. I never did,” he said.
