The 33rd Annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition was held February 6-9, 2019. The Pecatonica High School (PHS) team consisted of Madelyn (Maddie) Laage, Elayne Penkava, Julianna Mallo, Elizabeth Braun and advised by Jennifer Krantz (Art Teacher). The sculpture “The New Normal” is a young school girl, head bowed, crouched and shielding herself with a book as her school supplies lay spilled on the floor before her...The sculpture speaks to the significant impact that school shooters are having on our young generation and how these perpetrators rob our students of their innocence. The girl, frozen in time (literally and figuratively), emerges through extreme conditions, a small window of time, and with an inexperienced team, as Maddie is the only returning artist. The snow sculpting team is to be applauded for bringing social awareness through artistic expression and reminding us that working together, especially in difficult circumstances, for one common goal, can be rewarding, exhilarating, and powerful. Thank you for representing Pecatonica School District #321 with such heart and maturity.
