Intro to Sculpture: A Collaborative Puzzle with Olivia Mitra Framke and Sally Hoelscher
Edited by Amanda Rafkin
Sally Hoelscher:
It’s always a delight to collaborate with Olivia. We conceived this theme because Olivia was eager to incorporate the phrase "MARBLE OLYMPICS" into the puzzle. For those wondering, "Wait, I don’t recall seeing that in the grid…?," you’re right. As it turned out, the MARBLE OLYMPICS are no longer held as such (or rather, they have been renamed). So, we pivoted to include "MARBLE RUN" instead. This isn’t our first puzzle where the seed entry didn’t make it into the final product; the creative process can be a winding road! I’m particularly thrilled to have a puzzle published today, as it marks the 5th anniversary of my first published crossword! Coincidentally, that puzzle was also published on February 17th, Presidents Day. What an incredible adventure these past five years have been! I can’t wait to see what the next five years hold in terms of constructing adventures.
Olivia Mitra Framke:
I stumbled upon Jelle’s Marble League during quarantine. I spent countless days engrossed in the archives of their MARBLE RUN sports competitions, complete with captivating team dynamics and lore. The production quality of these videos is exceptional; do yourself a favor and check them out! Oh, and did you know that LINE JUDGES are no longer used at the four annual tennis majors? Wimbledon was the final holdout for AI-powered line calling, but they have finally joined the ranks and will implement the technology for the first time in 2025. Players are delighted, as it eliminates human error. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this puzzle, and I want to express my gratitude to Sally for her seamless collaboration. I hope you enjoyed solving it!
Intro to Sculpture: A Thematic Exploration
The beginning word of each theme answer (i.e., the INTRO) is a medium commonly used for SCULPTURE.
- GLASS SCULPTURE
- BRONZE SCULPTURE
- PAPER SCULPTURE
- WOOD SCULPTURE
- STONE SCULPTURE
This was a rewarding theme to develop, and I’m pleased with the set of theme answers we ultimately arrived at. The notion of GLASS SCULPTURE brings to mind the remarkable work of Dale Chihuly. If you’re unfamiliar with his breathtaking GLASS creations, I highly recommend exploring his portfolio. The photograph I’ve included is from Chihuly Garden and GLASS in Seattle, Washington. Thank you, Olivia, for collaborating with me, and thanks to Amanda for editing our work. Thank you for solving – hope you enjoyed the puzzle.
Additional Note
Occasionally, I like to share information about upcoming events within the broader crossword community. Last month, I mentioned the Boswords Winter Wondersolve online crossword tournament. Boswords organizes four events annually, and registration is now open for their Spring League. They offer one puzzle each week throughout March and April. Solvers can select their preferred difficulty level: Smooth, Choppy, or Stormy. While you can solve the puzzle at any point during the week, they host a livestream event on Monday evenings featuring a notable solver and interviews with the constructor. These interviews are always insightful. More details can be found on the Boswords website. Full disclosure: You’ll notice a familiar name among the constructors for the Spring League, but I would recommend Boswords regardless!
