Ice Statue Too Hot To Handle (Press, 27 January 1979)

In January 1979, controversy erupted at the winter carnival in Stowe, Vermont, over a provocative ice sculpture titled "Moonlight In Vermont." Designed by employees of the local Yodel Motel, the sculpture features a naked young man shown from behind, which drew significant backlash from the community. Carnival president Vincent Buananno announced that the sculpture would not be included in the snow sculpture contest due to the complaints raised by town residents, prompting officials to drape the statue and label it with a “censored” sign. The reaction was notably voiced by the Rev. Marcus Hall, an Episcopal minister, who condemned the sculpture as immoral, suggesting it reflected poorly on Stowe by implying it was a hub for immoral behaviour, describing it as proclaiming the town to be the "sodomy capital of the East." The motel owner, Paige Kier, expressed her shock at the scale of the community's disdain, asserting that the original purpose of the sculpture was to generate smiles rather than offence. To appease the townsfolk, Kier attempted to amend the situation by adding an ice dog to the sculpture, mimicking a popular suntan lotion advertisement featuring a young girl and a dog. Despite these efforts, the response from the community did not improve, leading to the decision to drape the sculpture entirely. The incident highlighted the tension between artistic expression and local sensibilities within the typically festive environment of the winter carnival.

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