Sculptors worked around the clock last week to complete their works of art at the Illinois Snow Sculpting contest at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford.

This year, 17 teams competed for the state championship and a trip to the 2005 snow sculpting national championship in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Using picks, flat chisels and a wide assortment of other tools, teams worked rapidly to whittle their visions from a block of snow measuring 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 10 feet high.

NIU alumni Jeff Nuckles, Paul Dobias and Deb Hendrick created “Arrrgh, Matey!,” a sculpture of two pirates digging for treasure, over a span of three and a half days.

“We have fun with it and try to win an award if we can,” Nuckles said. “Fifty thousand people drive through and see our work. How often can you say that?”

This was the team’s fourth year competing in the event. Outside of the state event, the team does not spend much time constructing figures in snow.

The team created a smaller version of “Arrrgh, Matey!” earlier this winter to practice but did not work on other snow projects.

“We reserve our energy for this,” Hendrick said. “It’s pretty taxing.”

The team did not win an award at this year’s event. “Progress,” a sculpture of a laborer kneeling in front of an industrial tool, took first place.

Sinnissippi Park also hosts an international exhibition, with teams coming from the United States and Mexico.

Team Mexico carved a fallen angel.

“It’s about innocence,” team member Ivette Tejero said. “We try to express something – it’s not just an image. [A team member] made this sculpture in wood and I really liked it, so we decided to do it.”

Though the sculpture will melt in days or weeks, Team Mexico is not disappointed. “Not a chance,” Tejero said. “We love the snow. Usually, we work with wood. It would be impossible to work with wood at this scale.”

Team U.S.A.’s “The Kiss,” depicting two frogs kissing on a lily pad with an underwater scene beneath them, won the People’s Choice Award in the international exhibition.

Rockford-area high schools also created sculptures for the park.

The sculptures are lighted for viewing at night and will remain as long as the weather permits. Admission is free, but a donation of $1 per car is suggested.