Snow

Laughing Hands Studio was honored to bring ‘Patrick the Penguin’ to life at Keystone Resort, in Keystone, CO. As one of the early season sculptures, we were extremely thankful for the snow crew who delivered snow after our forms were built and ready to be filled. Once the snow is dumped, it’s pertinent to make sure the snow is PACKED as firmly as possible, demanding one of the most intense stomping, dancing and shovel wacking sessions you can imagine. After that the snow is left in the forms overnight (sometimes for days) to cure and soon thereafter you can release the forms and start unveiling the magic.

Our crew included myself, Keith Martin and Katharine Nelson. Even though we had a vision of what Patrick was to look like, we didn’t have him named until our last day. Keith told us ‘Patrick’ came to him in his dream the night prior, but Katharine and I weren’t sold on it. Later that afternoon, I asked the first set of kids that came to visit what they thought his name should be… and without any hesitation the first girl who spoke up said, “Patrick”… so there you have it. Meet Patrick!