While many Prospect Heights residents were digging out from the blizzard, Jef Zaborski was carving out a snow sculpture on his street.
“I forgot about digging out the car, and I just started making a pile and then seeing what happened,” said Zaborski, who is an architect.
Zaborski said it took him about four hours to create the 5-foot human head. He said the original inspiration was his own father.
“[My father] definitely had a mustache, but I couldn’t quite get the cheeks,” said Zaborski. “So, once I lost the cheeks, then I said, ‘Alright. We’re going to move on.’”
He moved on but did not give up.
“I’ve just been saying [the snow sculpture] is St. John since we’re on St. John’s Place,” said Zaborski.
Regardless of who it was, Zaborski wanted to bring some positivity to St. John’s Place.
“It makes your street more interesting and more beautiful for people to notice when they’re walking by,” said Zaborski.
There were plenty of people walking by on Tuesday, many of whom stopped to look, snap a photo, or chat with Zaborski.
“I know everyone is, kind of, struggling with the blizzard. I mean, some people love it, and he’s making art and beauty out of it,” said Vicky Hinkle, of Prospect Heights.
“I can’t believe it,” laughed Lilly Manigault, of Prospect Heights. “It’s like a real person!”