Sand sculpting contest coordinator invites all to participate
To the editor:
Welcome to the 24th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championships!
Whether you are a dedicated fan of sand sculpture or have never seen one in person before, you will be amazed by the works of art sculpted before your eyes, right here on the white sands of beautiful Fort Myers Beach. Using only the native sand and water, professional Master sculptors will apply their considerable skills and experience to create works of art that will stop you in your tracks and capture your imagination.
As the event’s Contest Coordinator, it is my great pleasure to bring together 19 of the world’s best Master sculptors to make this an event you will never forget. Sixteen of us will compete for cash prizes and a chance to appear at the 2011 World Championships, while 3 of us are here to enhance your experience by managing the display carvings and the 3 divisions of competition.
Fifteen of us have just returned from the 2010 World Championships in Federal Way, WA. This includes all 5 of members of Team USA Fred Mallett, Kirk Rademaker, Matt Long, Jeff Strong and myself – who took the silver medal in the team competition, and John Gowdy who, with a partner, took the bronze in the doubles event. Fred Mallett also is the newly crowned winner of the Navarre Beach Sand Sculpting Festival; John Gowdy is the reigning North American Champion; Karen Fralich won at Texas Sand Fest; Sandy Feet brought home a medal from the Hampton Beach Championship … and the list goes on. Here you will see the best of the best that sand sculpting has to offer.
Unique to the American Championships is the Florida State Pro-Ams, where sculptors who have progressed beyond the amateur level but are not yet ready to advance to Masters class can show their stuff. You’ll see them on Saturday and Sunday. And you don’t want to miss the Amateur event on Sunday, where enthusiasm rules!
There’s something for everyone at this year’s American Championships food, music, shopping, sand lessons and incredible sculptures that can only be seen here and now, before time and nature return them to the landscape. You won’t want to miss it!
Katie Corning
Contest Coordinator
Fort Myers Beach