There may be snow on the ground during Rhode Island winters... but the folks at Bowen’s Wharf want even more. Every year, associated with Newport's Winter Festival, Bowen's Wharf sponsors ice sculpting and snowman building contests.

The 2003 Bowen's Wharf Ice Sculpting Contest was kicked off with an ice carving demonstration by the previous year’s Ice Sculpting Contest winner, Lyle Morse, chef at Pronto, in Newport. Stationed near the flagpole at Bowen’s Wharf on America’s Cup Avenue, Mr. Morse worked from almost 5 hours, creating a spectacular ice castle, reaching a height of sixteen feet by sixteen feet wide and ten feet deep. This sculpture's grand scale used around eighty 300-pound blocks of ice.

"I always wanted to do something this large," Morse said. "Usually you don’t see an ice sculpture in this state that reaches these dimensions."

The castle was complete with seven turrets, sculpted by Morse and placed by an entourage of assitant ice sculptors. After dark, the castle was lighted, creating a magical effect with the shine of lights in the ice.

Bart Dunbar, President of Bowen’s Wharf Company, says, "We are thrilled with Lyle Morse’s vision to create such a magnificent castle on Friday; it should prove to be a stunning work. On Saturday we have sculptors coming from all over Southern New England to compete. The contest is a wonderful family event."

Ice sculpture (Photo by Larry Havrylik)

The Saturday ice sculpting competition began at 9AM, when sculptors claimed their ice blocks, wielded their chisels, chain saws, power sanders, blow dryers and tools and set to work. The sculptors vied for prizes in the "single block" of ice as well as "multi-block" and "best of theme" competitions.

The ice sculptures are judged on artistic achievement and strength of design, craftsmanship, finished appearance, originality, and presentation of the Winter Festival theme.

Lyle Morse carved a "circus styled" sculpture with a lion and a trainer with a ring. Prior to judging, Mr. Morse set fire to the trainer’s ring. The sculpture proved to be quite a crowd-pleaser, making Morse the overall winner of the ice sculpting contest for two years in a row.

Other winners included Jeff Scarpa from Camp Sloane YMCA, Peter Sanchez from the Newport Marriott, and Karen Bouchard from Newport Vineyards.

Later on Saturday, ten tons of snow were trucked to Bowen’s Wharf for the annual snowman building contest.

Teams of four children each, ranging in age from eight to ten years old built snowmen and decorated them with items they brought along. This year’s teams were from Coggeshall School, Boys & Girls Club, Sullivan School, Emmanuel Church, and St. Michael's Country Day School.

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Teams received scoring based on artistic achievement, craftsmanship, finished appearance, originality, creative use of props and teamwork. Members of Project One judged the contest.

"Bowen’s Wharf is proud to offer traditional family fun," said Dunbar. "We want people to be comfortable while they watch the Snowman Building Contest, so we built a four foot by four foot bonfire so folks can keep warm. We also opened a kiosk where people can buy hot cocoa, coffee and desserts. The event is good fun for the whole family."

Bowen’s Wharf’s brick walks, granite quays and 18th century commercial wharf buildings are reminiscent of Bowen’s Wharf’s beginnings as a thriving port in one of the finest natural harbors in New England. Trading with all corners of the world, then and now, Bowen’s Wharf is central to the city’s commerce and culture. Bowen’s Wharf incorporates one-of-a-kind shops and artisans alcoves.

Distinctive and locally crafted scrimshaw, pottery, hand-blown glass, and furniture mingle with the finest Irish imports, art galleries, jewelry and fashion. International flavor is provided by a wide range of eateries that offer an option for every appetite; from an elegant dinner to a casual snack, indoors or out.

Annual events at Bowen’s Wharf include the Ice Sculpting Contest (February), Snowman Building Contest (February), Bowen’s Wharf in Bloom (May), Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival (October), and Bowen’s Wharf Christmas Tree Lighting (December).

Information about shops, restaurants and events can be found on www.BowensWharf.com.

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