“Jaws” of Winter: Great White Snow Shark Amazes Locals
Carlos Maldonado, an artist from Iowa City, Iowa has transformed a snow day into an art display by sculpting a 20-foot-long great white shark. The giant snowy sculpture has been attracting numerous visitors to visit, admire, and use for photo opportunities.
By Beth Snider · January 17, 2024
In winter storms and snow-covered landscapes, one Iowa City artist has turned a mundane snow day into a spectacular display of creativity. Carlos Maldonado, sculptor and owner of Carlos Maldonado Artwork, has taken snow sculpting to a whole new level by crafting a jaw-dropping 20-foot-long great white shark in his front yard.
His inspiration struck when he decided to veer away from the ordinary snowman and explore the realm of intricate snow sculptures.
I looked up snow sculptures; I didn't really want to do anything plain, when I saw a shark online, I figured I could do that. So, I gave it a shot, and this is what we ended up with.
With the assistance of his two sons, Maldonado dedicated approximately 4 1/2 hours to sculpting the massive shark. The following day, an additional hour and a half was spent coloring the sculpture with watered-down acrylic paint. The result is a 5.5-foot-tall great white shark with back fins reaching heights of 4.5 feet.
The unveiling didn’t just stop at his front yard, photos of the impressive snow shark posted online quickly caught the attention of the community and beyond, leading to a surge of visitors eager to witness the life-size frozen legend in person.
One of the intrigued visitors expressed her admiration for the snowy creation. “My fiancé had seen this online on Facebook, and we just thought it was a really good idea to bring our kids out to be able to see what creativity and what they can really do with snow,” she shared. “It will be a very good memory for my kids.”
The shark aptly named “Great White Shark,” has become a winter attraction in Iowa City, drawing visitors to marvel at its sheer size and attention to detail. Maldonado generously shared the shark’s location on social media, allowing the community to join in the winter wonder. As winter storms continue to blanket the region, the colossal snow shark stands in the face of blizzards and white-out conditions adding to its mystique.