Every winter about this time Daugherty Johnson gets the itch to dance with Mama Nature. They have a deal. She brings the snow—just the right amount, just the right consistency—and he turns it into something that makes her laugh with joy.
Daugherty, like Mama Nature herself, creates for his own reasons and shares with an open hand. His studio is the whole North Country, his gallery an open space in Eastport, on the south side of M-88, just east of Kruse’s. His fans are devoted. The whole enterprise feels like something he does just for us. No press releases. No admission fees. No grant awards.
The photos are not a patch on the real thing. If you are from Around Here you owe it to yourself to stop by and see the work for yourself. Wind and sun and snow and sleet and changing temperatures will all insist on collaborating with Daugherty. It’s OK with him. Everything, after all, is temporary. Everything changes.
Special thanks to Bob Hicks of Northern Michigan Web Design, who left me a message that the sculpture was finished. If he hadn’t done that, I would have managed to forget to get to that particular spot, and I might have missed the whole thing. That would have been unbearable.
You can see photos of earlier sculptures by Daugherty Johnson here:
Torch Lake Views 
Saul
February 3, 2011
We look forward to Daugherty’s work every winter. He is truly an artist.
Gerry
February 3, 2011
Me too, me too! Pass the word . . . the 2011 Daugherty Johnson installation is up at the M-88 Gallery.
P.j. grath
February 3, 2011
WOW! This went way beyond my expectations!
Gerry
February 3, 2011
Isn’t it nice to have expectations exceeded? I like that in a piece of art.
Fee
February 3, 2011
This is fantastic. What an amazing talent!
Gerry
February 3, 2011
Thank you, Fee. Daugherty is amazing indeed.
uphilldowndale
February 3, 2011
Fantastic, how do you get such a sense of movement in a lump of snow!!
Gerry the photos are great.
Gerry
February 3, 2011
Thank you, Mrs. Uhdd. I think Daugherty is a very observant person. He understands the properties of snow the way a good baker understands the properties of flour. Believe me, the sense of movement is far greater when you are there, circling the hunters with your camera, or just with your own two eyes, jaw dropped, fingers freezing inside your mittens. How does he do it???
kiwidutch
February 3, 2011
That’s amazing! he has talent ! (but you know THAT already LOL) !
It’s very much one thing to make a structure like a snowman where the snow is solid, more or less in a lump and not extending out “on it’s own” but to craft tusks, trunks, arms and legs takes special skill. Bravo!
Proportion of both man and beast is also MUCH harder to get right that you might think.. here it is spot on… Daugherty is a gifted artist! I can only hope that he extends his talents to artworks more permanent once the snow and ice is gone .
Please pass on my compliments!
Gerry
February 3, 2011
Daugherty is very much appreciated around here. He does many things besides sculpt snow, but in the winter, when the snow is right . . . it is something he likes to do. A man of character and resolve.
Preston
February 3, 2011
These truly are some very nice sculptures. Thanks for sharing them.
Gerry
February 3, 2011
My pleasure.
Carsten
February 3, 2011
Sitting here in front of the fire on a wet, windy and dark winter evening. Enjoying your well-chosen words expressing what Daugherty Johnson is doing, nicely illustrated by your pictures.
That feels good.
-But I’d like seeing it for myself!
Gerry
February 3, 2011
Thank you Carsten. You really would like seeing it for yourself. And here it’s a sunny afternoon! Cold, though.
Val Erde
February 3, 2011
That’s great fun, thanks for sharing!
🙂
Last winter when we had a lot of snow (we’re in Wales, UK), my husband made an ice folly and, thankfully, we took a lot of photos of it. One day I will remember to post some to my blog! (One of the things he did was, at night, he put a colour-changing candle in it – it was so mysterious looking, enchanting and spooky at the same time)
Gerry
February 3, 2011
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Val! When I was taking the photos I thought that it would be wonderful to have flickering torches at night. Except I’d probably blunder into something, or topple a torch onto a hunter and melt him. Maybe I could sit quietly in one spot while everyone else planted torches. I believe I’ll suggest it to Katherine.
Karma
February 3, 2011
Wow, really cool! Amazing is a better word, but I can’t seem to stop myself from using “cool” this winter! 😉
Gerry
February 4, 2011
Katherine and I say cool.
Nye
February 3, 2011
Thanks for sharing Gerry, it looks amazing. The only thing that I see from my part of town is snowman created by young artist. 🙂
Gerry
February 4, 2011
Just think, with the proper encouragement, and a front loader, one of those youngsters might grow up to be an artist like Daugherty.
katherine
February 4, 2011
I’m in for that. I love the expression “ice folly” too.
Gerry
February 4, 2011
We could make an ice folly. I’m pretty sure we could. A small one.
Scott Thomas Photography
February 4, 2011
Reminds me of the book, The Mammoth Hunters, by Jean Auel. I like that he did not get too detailed so each person can fill that in when viewing his work. The photos may not be as good as being there, Gerry, but you certainly gave me a hint of the work. Thank you!
Gerry
February 4, 2011
My pleasure, Scott. The reason it works is that Katherine and I were there at different times, capturing different perspectives . . . all of a sudden there were scenes in a deadly drama! I love collaboration.
flandrumhill
February 4, 2011
Very cool. I know all ice/snow sculptures are cool but you know what I mean. I especially like the use of icicles as weapons.
Gerry
February 4, 2011
I do know what you mean. I was very taken with the icicles, too. I’m keeping a big one in reserve at my house in case the sun comes out again and melts the hunter’s spears away.
Giiid
February 4, 2011
So fascinating, beautifully made, I would love to try to make a snow sculpture. The snow we have had this winter, haven´t been good for this, unfortunately. I noticed the ice weapon too. Very creative. Why don´t YOU make a snowman? Or something else, I am sure you have plenty of ideas.
Gerry
February 4, 2011
Our snow hasn’t really been very packy either. Daugherty has the advantage of heavy equipment to help him! I wish I’d gotten over there for the start of the process. Maybe next year.
I’m not so good at making objects. I did have a little idea earlier in the season . . . might still do it. Who knows?
isathreadsoflife
February 6, 2011
It is like entering into another world ! Your images are so great to show the movement. A wonderful sculptor indeed. Thank you Gerry.
Gerry
February 6, 2011
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It didn’t work until I got Katherine’s photos, and then, suddenly, it just flowed.
artistatexit0
July 11, 2011
Thank you for the link to Daugherty’s snow sculpture. The mammoth hunt is awesome and I can appreciate that he does this without fanfare. Every community should have artists and I see that Torch Lake has theirs. My wife and her family are UPers…is your town north or south of the bridge?
Gerry
July 11, 2011
Our Torch Lake Township–there are two in Michigan–is an hour and a half south of the Bridge in Antrim County. It’s a narrow strip of green between the blues of Grand Traverse Bay and Torch Lake. You’d like it.