BUFFALO, N.Y. — Eric Jones, a Western New York sculptor, has done it again. On his hands and knees, Jones made a new work of art that replicates a big moment in the NFL.
"You're building boxes and filling them with snow. It's all done by hand- done with shovels. With me and Cellino Plumbing. They lend a guy for me. We filled the boxes. Let it settle for a couple of days," Jones said.
The snow sculpture highlights the moment when Bills quarterback Josh Allen gave a hug to kicker Tyler Bass after missing a game-defining field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I saw the photo after the game and changed it to my profile picture on my social media. I had several people say, 'Hey. You should make that as a sculpture,'" Jones said.
The work speaks for itself. Jones is a known artist in the area, highlighting many Buffalo Bills moments throughout the season. He's captured occasions like Josh Allen's no-call horse collar tackle. As well as, Damar Hamlin during his cardiac arrest. Saturday's work took him about six hours to complete.
"That just shows what the Western New York community is all about. When something like this happens, we see a situation that could be seen as adversity. We come together. We help out," Jones said.
It sits in the back of the Ten Lives Club. A rescue cat shelter in Western New York, which has raised over 340 thousand dollars for the nonprofit's campaign, Show Your Soft Side. The campaign promotes animal wellness and compassion.
"I think this is the perfect sculpture to end the bills season and to get ramped up for next year. We kind of embrace each other. We win together. We lose together. This kind of says it all," Jones said.