SHELBURNE FALLS — The artist behind the snow sculptures that appeared Monday of two people sitting on a bench is Hannah French, a teacher at Rowe Elementary.
French, who moved to Shelburne Falls in June, uses her snow days to craft sculptures on benches for residents to enjoy. This season, French has crafted sculptures in the village in November and on Monday.
Monday’s snow was the “right kind,” for snow sculpting, French said. “I was really excited … the sun had been shining for a couple hours. I went out to the bridge and started sculpting.”
The Rowe teacher learned to make snow and sand sculptures as a youth. Her father, Robert French, who passed away from cancer when she was nine, helped teach her how to craft sculptures from snow when she was a child.
“He used to take me and my siblings outside and do all kinds of nature stuff with us – fishing, calling owls, snow building,” French said.
Other family members influenced French’s love of art as she grew up, she said. And while she took the teaching track, she said, French’s love of art filters into her life and work all the time. On Fridays, for example, French takes her students outside for lessons and free play. Sometimes, she helps her students make different sculptures from snow.
“I just love that imaginative kind of play. We can make anything,” French said.
Reach Grace Bird at gbird@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 280.