So, let's start with the sand: It's not beach sand, so don't try this the next time you head to the beach. It's quarry sand which is full of sediment. The sediment hardens the sand to allow giant sculptures to be carved. These are so big they need scaffolding. You start at the top and work down. There are also big slabs of plywood nailed together into boxes which are 'forms' used to pack the sand tightly - especially at the base. The only thing added to the sand is water - no glue or other hardening agent is allowed. There was also nothing but sand - no props. This competition has $60,000 worth of prizes to be handed out to the 'Master Class' of sculptors after the judging on Sunday. There are also 3 Man Teams creating pieces. One of the Master Sculptors came from as far away as Russia. Another arrived from Prince Edward Island. I met a woman in the bathroom who arrived from London! California was also well represented. Each category (Master or 3 Man Teams) has two days to complete the sculpture. This is temporary art. They will all be destroyed on Monday.
I started talking to one of the Archisand owners as he was working with his three man team. Archisand is a sand sculpting corporation. You can contract with this company to sculpt your own private sand sculpture. Most of these people in the 'master' ranks have been carving for twenty plus years, and most of them do this for a living! You can't do that by winning competition money, but rather by creating sculptures for events.The Archisand guys are both architects and have known each other for more than 30 years. They met one another at their first architecture job. Gradually, they formed a team, entered more and more competitions, and then founded Archisand and began sculpting full time. One confided he likes building with sand rather than bricks and mortar because of the instant gratification. These guys are 'masters', and they had completed their "Master Sculptor" entry, (Symbiosis) and three of them were working on the 'Summer of Love' for the 3 Man Competition. Each sculpture has a name and it is often clever. My favorite sculpture was named after Newton's Third Law. (For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.) Drake's favorite was called 'Horse Power'. The US Sand Sculpture Competition is the top of the pyramid in competitions. The Archisand guy confided they don't enter the lower tier competitions anymore - it wouldn't be fair was the way he saw it.
There were about a dozen sand sculptures being created inside the building where passengers get on and off a cruise ship when one is in port. Here's my favorite, and Drake's favorite.
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| "Dancing to Newton's Third Law" |
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| Horse Power |
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