PORT ANGELES — Nine sand sculptors from the United States and Canada will participate in the Windermere Masters Sand Sculpture Classic during this weekend’s 38th annual Arts in Action arts and crafts festival.
Spectators will be able to watch as 10 piles of sand come to life in intricate forms as the skilled craftsman do their work on Hollywood Beach and in front of Windermere’s Port Angeles office.
It will be the biggest sand sculpture display in the festival’s history.
Each sculptor will be given the same amount of sand — 10 yards — and asked to create a sculpture following the festival’s theme, “Under the Sea.”
The sculptures will be judged, and winners will receive cash awards from $500 to $1,500.
At pier and beach
This year, instead of having the sand sculptures, food and crafts booths and music in the downtown area along Laurel Street, Arts in Action will be at City Pier and on Hollywood Beach on Saturday and Sunday.
There’s also a dance Saturday night and auto shows both days.
In addition, on Friday night, Ruddell Auto Mall hosts a related event, the eighth annual Cruise-In, which brings hundreds of classic cars and rods of all makes, models and restoration levels to the dealership.
All the events are free.
Monday through Sunday
Here’s the schedule:
* TODAY — Charlie Beaulieu, who is doing two display sculptures for the event, begins work on the first one at Windermere’s office at 711 E. Front St.
* TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY — Beaulieu, who has been the head sand sculptor since 1999 for the festival and is now one of the contest judges, continues work at Windermere.
* THURSDAY — Beaulieu begins work on his second display sculpture at Hollywood Beach.
* FRIDAY — The other eight sculptors begin work at Hollywood Beach from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ruddell’s “Cruise In” at the dealership, 110 Golf Course Road takes place.
The “Cruise In” is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. View the classic cars and talk with their owners. There will be a band, and hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and ice cream available for a nominal fee.
* SATURDAY — Arts in Action runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sculptors begin working at 7 a.m. and complete their creations by 3 p.m. for judging.
Fifteen of the crafts/food vendors on the pier will do demonstrations.
Clallam Art League will have art shows and demonstrations adjacent to the pier in The Landing mall.
The Porsche Club will exhibit cars on the pier.
Dancing on the pier from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Music by The Works. Like the rest of Arts in Action, admission is free.
* SUNDAY — Arts in Action reopens at 10 a.m. and runs to 5 p.m. with food and crafts vendor booths, demonstrations, art show in The Landing mall.
Stroll among the nine sand sculptors on the beach.
Children can make their own sculptures in the “sand box” at the beach.
One of the nine sculptors, Carl Jara of Cleveland, Ohio, will teach sand sculpture to anyone who’s interested.
“Street rod invitational” auto show on the pier all day. Local auto buffs show off their cars.
Rotary sponsorship
Seven sculptors are competing for the cash prizes — Fred Mallett of South Padre Island, Texas; Lucinda “Sandy Feet” Wierenga, also of South Padre Island; Andrew Briggs and Dave Billings, both from British Columbia; Dan Belcher of St. Louis; Vern Cooley of Seattle; and Jara.
Along with Beaulieu, Tim Quinn, a cartoonist, muralist and sculptor who lives in Sequim, will do a display sculpture on the beach.
Arts in Action is organized by the Port Angeles Nor’wester Rotary Club. It is a major fund-raiser for the club’s community service and scholarship programs.
The sculptors at Arts in Action use special river sand trucked in from Silverdale.
The sand has a high silt content and is made of square-shaped particles that hold together firmly.
The sand sculpture contest is sponsored by Windermere Real Estate (offices in Port Angeles, Sequim, SunLand and Port Ludlow), with the Red Lion Hotel as a co-sponsor this year.
Contributions by Terry Neske, the real estate company’s owner, and other sponsors fund the contest.
