NORTHAMPTON — Internationally-acclaimed artist Dave Rothstein, who died unexpectedly last November, made everyone feel like his best friend — a sentiment echoed by the hundreds of people who showed up for “Day of Dave” memorial events on Saturday throughout the city.
In his 57 years, Rothstein built a multifaceted legacy as a sculptor of snow and hay, a photographer, a printmaker and an illustrator, as well as a lawyer and conservationist. But what stood out most was his ability to bring people together, both through his collaborations with other artists, in the workplace and in lifelong friendships he made everywhere he went.
Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra was one of those friends. In a remembrance event held at the Academy of Music on Saturday, she formally recognized Jan. 31, 2026 as the “Day of Dave” in the city of Northampton.
“Nobody embodied the spirit of community more than Dave. He was such a profoundly gentle while at the same time spirited soul” and a “remarkable friend,” she said through tears.
It was a cold day, barely reaching 20 degrees. Sister Pamela Rothstein, who emceed the event at the Academy, said “David would have wanted it no other way.”
He first learned snow sculpting while living in Alaska and went on to win several international competitions, from the Andes of Argentina to Canada and New England. When it snowed, he could also be found shoveling elaborate designs across his driveway.
In the audience, which largely filled the main floor of the Academy, families and friends sat with their arms wrapped around each other and greeted one another with smiles and embraces. Several groups stood to share their memories of Rothstein and also helped to organize four events across the city, including a reception at the Elks Lodge in Florence, an after party at The Barb & Olive at Northampton Bicycle and a weekend-long exhibition of Rothstein’s work at River Valley Taekwondo at 25 Main St.
Rothstein’s work was often ephemeral. Even the sculptures Rothstein recently displayed at Park Hill Orchard, including a spinning elevated Volkswagen Beetle made out of hay, changed color and form with the elements.
He was also remembered for stunts including carving and paddling a giant pumpkin 40 miles down the Deerfield and Connecticut rivers in an attempt to raise awareness for conservation and farming, and to “educate people about the glory of the Connecticut River,” said Greg Thompson of the U.S. Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley, where Rothstein previously worked as a solicitor. The stunt drew national attention.
Thompson is a member of the Fish and Wildlife Band, which parodies songs with fish and wildlife themes. The group performed several songs at the Academy for Saturday’s event, including a rendition of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in which the group replaced the word “road” with “toad” during the song’s refrain. Rothstein was the band’s “number one fan,” Thompson said.
In addition to art and conservation, Rothstein took an interest in farming in the last several years and grew mint at Park Hill Orchard, which he used for tea and mint oil for products like a signature flavor at Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream flavor in Easthampton. Park Hill Orchard had also planned to use the mint oil in their fudge, said Park Hill Orchard co-owner Alane Hartley.
Rothstein was known for his sweet tooth. He used to volunteer with Donut Dip as a taster and took his palate to Park Hill Orchard to help them develop their award-winning cider donut recipe.
“The Northampton bike shop had a photography exhibit, and I was amazed to see how many photos of donuts he had on the wall,” Hartley said.
Many of his lightbox photographs used food as a setting for model railroad figurines and vehicles. He created works that were on display at River Valley Taekwondo’s “Every Day is Play: The Art of Dave Rothstein” exhibit, like “Rest in Peas,” a photograph with several miniature figures looking at a coffin while standing on peas, made in collaboration with Crimson and Clover Farm in Florence. In another lightbox photography series, Star Wars figures stood on top of and alongside desserts, with works including “Obi-Wan Cannoli” and “Do. Or Donut. There is no try.”
The works gave a “direct line into the benevolently deranged mind of their creator,” according to an exhibition description of the miniature lightbox photographs.
On Rothstein’s website, he wrote that his art aims to “court a relatable whimsy — a playfulness that draws upon both the natural world and word play… You won’t ever think about snow or doughnuts the same way again.”
Rothstein’s sense of humor, warmth and openness touched people throughout his life. Several friends from the University of Michigan recalled Rothstein introducing them to their future spouses and being there for the births of their children. Colleagues at Mass Audubon, where Rothstein served as a land protection specialist based out of Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary at the time of his passing, remembered him dancing in his initial interview and giving hugs to anyone who would let him.
“I don’t think I would have gotten through the first year of law school without him,” said one friend from Northeastern School of Law who spoke at the Academy.
Rothstein’s life and work taught many to live in the moment — and to cherish it while it lasted, like the ephemeral nature of his art, friends said.
“Art is meant to be shared. It’s not meant to be held onto,” said a friend who was on a trivia team with Rothstein. “This gathering today is one of Dave’s best works of art.”