Every winter, residents of Western Massachusetts eagerly awaited the magical snow sculptures that David Rothstein would create in his front yard - towering mooses, sly foxes, and impressive 8-foot lanterns crafted from nothing more than packed snow and endless patience. However, this winter marks a somber change, as the beloved artist's creations will no longer grace the snowy landscape following his sudden death on November 11 at age 57.
Rothstein, who lived in Florence, Massachusetts, was remembered in his obituary as "a gentle soul who made friends readily, connecting with people from all walks of life." The tribute described him as "attentive, empathic, and truly kind, generous with hugs," noting that "he made people feel heard, seen and appreciated." Friends from around the world have taken to social media to share their memories of the artist, calling him "a light in this chaotic world."
One of Rothstein's most significant collaborations came in 2016 with multimedia artist Soren Mason Temple, whom he met at a World War II trivia night in Northampton. Despite working in vastly different artistic mediums, their partnership brought them international Instagram fame. Rothstein was fascinated by Temple's work, which incorporated paint, drawing, collage, yarn, and fabric, and he believed a time-lapse video would perfectly showcase her creative process. "In many respects, Soren's work is the opposite of mine," Rothstein told MassLive in 2016. "That intrigued me. And I wanted to better understand how such vivid portraits could emerge onto a piece of paper."
The collaboration resulted in a video that garnered millions of views and was featured by Instagram as part of its weekend hashtag project. Temple fondly remembered Rothstein's collaborative spirit, writing, "A thing I admire and love so much about him was that for every one of his projects, he brought other people into them and every time the world was thrilled by something he'd made, he gave all the credit and thanks to the community around him. Community and friends were everything to him." Their friendship extended beyond art, with Temple recalling how Rothstein helped her during a months-long illness when she couldn't leave her house.
Rothstein's most famous creation was perhaps his 2015 igloo speakeasy, built on the front lawn of his Florence Street home. The impressive structure featured 9-foot high ceilings and served both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to visitors. Over two weekends, the igloo attracted 60 to 70 people each night, with as many as 18 people crammed inside on one occasion. When asked why he opened his creation to the public, Rothstein simply replied, "It seemed a shame to let it go to waste, with only me enjoying it." The igloo speakeasy remains a widely discussed topic nearly a decade later.
Recognizing the need for better communication among snow sculptors, Rothstein created a Facebook group about three years ago dedicated to the art form. The group has since grown to more than 1,100 members from around the world, representing various skill levels and providing a platform for sculptors to stay connected without relying on email exchanges during meet-ups.
Rothstein's snow sculpting expertise reached international acclaim in 2024 when he and his team representing Mexico swept all 11 other countries' teams at the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado, marking the second time in his career he brought home the gold. Rothstein, who called Breckenridge "the crown jewel of the snow sculpting world," applied for invitations every four to five years. His 2024 teammates included Carlos Miguel Ramirez Pereyra, Israel Magaña Rodriguez, and Adam Turner.
Team Mexico's winning sculpture, titled "The Beggar," was carved from a massive 16-foot-tall, 25-ton manmade block of snow. The artwork depicted a gaunt man in a loincloth squatting on a cube, his expressive face showing wide-eyed exasperation as he attempted to grip a Bitcoin between his legs while more coins tumbled below his feet. Rothstein explained the sculpture's deeper meaning: "The message was centered around the idea that without a rich heart, wealth is a hungry beggar. It doesn't matter how much money you have in the world; if you don't have a soul and you don't have friends and you don't have warmth, you're incomplete."
Rothstein's artistic journey began more than 25 years ago while living in Alaska, but his creativity extended far beyond snow sculpting. In 2024, he attempted to break a world record by riding in a 1,024-pound pumpkin down the Connecticut River. He was also an accomplished photographer, printmaker, and illustrator who sometimes worked with fruits and vegetables or created chalk art on sidewalks. His installations at Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton, including sculptures made from hay, left a lasting impression. Board members of Art in the Orchard wrote on Facebook, "The mark he has made at Art in the Orchard through his clever and whimsical installations is deep and will last forever. We are honored to have been a part of his wonderful life."
Beyond his artistic pursuits, Rothstein was also a mint farmer who partnered with local food producers and spent years working as an attorney after studying law at Northeastern University. Throughout his legal career, he devoted himself to environmental protection, working for the EPA in Boston and the U.S. Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley. His final position as Land Protection Specialist with Mass Audubon utilized both his professional expertise and people skills to secure open space throughout the state.
As MassLive previously noted, "It would be impossible to encapsulate Rothstein into just one title." His obituary captured the essence of his full life: "David did not live long enough, but he lived his life to the fullest, pursued dreams and touched so many people, animals and places that bear his mark." Whether creating a simple snowman or an intricately designed 10-foot sculpture, Rothstein saw possibility in every snowfall and hoped others would share his vision. "Everyone has an inner snow sculptor in them," he told MassLive in 2021. "You just have to find it." This winter, his inspiring legacy encourages others to discover their own creative potential and continue his tradition of bringing communities together through art.
