Although the unusual amount of snowfall is keeping many at home across the Midwest and Northeast, some are using this opportunity to polish up on their creativity.

In Ely, Minn. dozens of artists have come together for a snow sculpting symposium.

More than 50 artists from Minnesota, Michigan and Canada are carving some spectacular sculptures from huge blocks of compressed snow.

One local artist, Wade Pharr, moved to Ely 10 years ago and has been sculpting ever since.

"I like the challenge," he said. "My biggest push is to see how much snow I can get off the ground and still have it standing up."

"It's fun to watch the kids, you know, come up and see and get excited about it," Phar added. "Adults and stuff too are really bonding to it and enjoying it. I enjoy it enough where if she went to negative 30 I would still be out there. It's a lot of fun"

The festival began last week and runs through Valentine's Day.