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public art,” Long Beach Merchants
Association vice president Carla Cur-
tis said. “It’s remarkable because it’s
so fl eeting, and it doesn’t last long
out on the beach because we have
to clear Bolstad Approach within a
week.”
Curtis is the chairperson of this
year’s event, and was drawn to it for
its sculptures and community con-
nection. “They know of each other
and they meet each other at these dif-
ferent competitions or display build-
ings, so it’s a sand community,” she
said of the sculptors.
Competition categories include
families, novices, intermediate and
master builders. Participants work
within the boundaries of a desig-
nated plot to sculpt their sand cre-
ation, using only sand, water, shells
and other natural materials found on
the beach.
“It’s so much fun to see the sculp-
tors work and how much they enjoy
it,” Curtis said. Sandsations entries
will be evaluated on an array of cat-
egories, including diffi culty, team-
work, suitability to the sand, eff ort,
design, creativity and overall appear-
ance. There will be prizes available
for each skill level, including funds
awarded to the top three sculptures
from the intermediate and masters
categories.
The event is just as much fun for
those sculpting in the sand as those
watching the creations take shape,
and those looking to dip their toes in
the art can take lessons.
“The master sculptors help with
lessons for the kids,” Curtis said.
This year, lessons will expand to
include adults, with sessions sched-
uled for 4 p.m. on Thursday and Fri-
day. Sessions aimed at children will
take place beginning at 4 p.m. on
Wednesday and run regularly through
the week.
For onlookers, there will also be
plenty to see and experience, includ-
ing food, craft vendors and music.
Curtis is in awe of the sculp-
tures. “We have diffi cult sand to work
with. It’s denser and wetter and it’s
not as easy to make it stay together,”
she said. “But they do it — it’s
incredible.”
Sculptures on the shore at a previous Sandsations.
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2022 // 7