Giant Super Mario emerges from big pile of snow in Caraquet - Action News
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New Brunswick

Giant Super Mario emerges from big pile of snow in Caraquet

When the snowbanks got too high for Caraquet barista Jean Pascal Brideau, he did something about it: he began sculpting colourful characters from movies and video games.

Barista Jean Pascal Brideau brightens up the landscape with chain-saw sculptures of pop culture favourites

Jean Pascal Brideau says he began making snow sculptures last year when the snowbanks became too high to manage. He started with the yellow Minions from Despicable Me. (Jean Pascal Brideau/Submitted)

When the snowbanks in Caraquet got too high for Jean Pascal Brideau, he did something about it: he began sculpting colourful characters from movies and video games.

The artistic barista started this winter entertainment last year, creating the quirky yellow Minions from the hit movie franchiseDespicable Me.

"The kids liked it," Brideautold Shift NB. "The neighbours liked it."

This year, Brideau made video game character Super Mario. It's almost three and a half metres high and took him 20 hours. (Jean Pascal Brideau/Submitted)

Brideau uses his snowblower to build the snow pile, then lets the snow sit for two or three days. Hebeginsto sculpt with a chain saw, and once that's finished, adds the colour with diluted dollar store paint.

This year, Brideau created a Super Mario sculpture that stands 11 feet (about 3.3 metres) tall. It tookhim about 20 hours.

Brideau said he piles the snow up with his snowblower and lets it sit for a few days. He then carves the snow with a chain saw and paints it. (Jean Pascal Brideau/Submitted)

The inspiration came from playing the 1985 classic Super Mario video game with his family. He says it's a great way to spend time with them.

"They are pretty amazed by what I can do," he said.

He even made one of the character Tow Mater from themovieCars.

Another one of Brideau creations is the character Tow Mater from the Pixar movie Cars. (Jean Pascal Brideau/Submitted)

Brideau, a barista at Grains de folie, describes himself as artistic.

"Often people from all over New Brunswick want me to make their coffee because they want me to draw something," he said.

Brideau can make anything from a bird to a lobster in a coffee.

He said he takes pictures of his sculptures to keep the memory alive even after they melt in the spring.

With files from Shift NB