Sandsations all set to start
By Kyra Hoggan
Free, fun and family-friendly – the second annual Sandsations event is officially underway in the parking lot of the Pioneer Arena.
Featuring four local – but international-award-winning – sand sculptors, the event will allow folks to see massive sculptures created in a remarkably short time span, according to organizer Pat Field.
“They start carving today. They each have one helper, and they’re incorporating this year’s theme: Man and Nature Together,” he said. “They sculpt from the top down, so when they reach the base, it’s done.”
He anticipates completion at the end of the day Saturday, and said the sculptures will remain up, perhaps for months, until the elements erode them.
In the meantime, he said, the event offers residents a terrific opportunity to interact with the sculptors, and see how their work is done up-close-and-personal.
“On Friday, kids from the Rec Complex summer camps are coming down to make their own sculptures with the help of the artists,” he said. “Everyone in the West Kootenay should come by and see this – it’s like drive-through dinner theatre.”
He said an added element of interest for residents might be that three of the artists on site also have sculptures in Castlegar SculptureWalk.
“Castlegar’s starting to get a reputation in the sculpture world, which is what we wanted,” he said.
He offered his appreciation to sponsors RDCK, Trowelex, and Krueckl Financial.
“Plus the city has, as usual, bent over backward to accommodate us.”
Of course, more support is always welcome – anyone interested in helping cement Sandsations as a sensational annual event is encouraged to call Field at 250-365-9669.
