When Fred Dobbs was buried in sand on the beach near Dublin, Ireland, he didnB次元官网网址檛 just lay there like most five year-olds might. He sculpted a dashboard and steering wheel in front of him, while his father crafted the body of a car.
B次元官网网址淲hen the whole thing was over with, there I was sitting in this sand car down at the beach,B次元官网网址� said Dobbs, who would later travel the world working professionally in the medium. B次元官网网址淚 believe that thereB次元官网网址檚 some connection to why I like to be a sand sculptor.B次元官网网址�
Dobbs, a Saanich resident who also works in bronze, is the sculpting director for the , which, for the first time on Aug. 11 and 12 includes a sand sculpting competition.
In years past, sculptors have created a single exhibition sculpture along Cadboro Bay beach. This weekend, B次元官网网址淒esserted Island,B次元官网网址� a 28-tonne dessert-themed sculpture sponsored by PepperB次元官网网址檚 Foods, will continue the tradition.
Meanwhile, four other artists will go in head-to-head creating seven-tonne sculptures with themes relating to their sponsors: Shaw, B.C. Hydro, Uptown and the Cadboro Bay Village Business Improvement Association, for which Dobbs will be sculpting. At stake: the peopleB次元官网网址檚 choice award bearing the likeness of the much mythologized Cadborosaurus.
Suitable sand for the sculpting B次元官网网址� younger, more coarse sand B次元官网网址� is trucked in from Duncan. On Friday night before the festival, sculptors will begin adding water and pounding sand into wood forms.
Just those two components, sand and water, are used to create the structures.
A sealer designed to guard against wind and rain damage is sprayed on finished sculptures only to preserve details already carved into the sand. Sealer doesnB次元官网网址檛 play a role in creating structurally sound pieces.
Sculpting begins Saturday and wraps up by the 3 p.m. deadline on Sunday amidst the fanfare of the Cadboro Bay Festival.
B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e a sand sculptor, you are almost given an immediate critique, because youB次元官网网址檙e sculpting in a performance-type (environment),B次元官网网址� Dobbs said. B次元官网网址淵ou typically have people watching you and as youB次元官网网址檙e moving along through the sculpting process. YouB次元官网网址檙e getting feedback almost immediately.B次元官网网址�
While both cold and extreme heat, as well as heavy rains, have been hurdles Dobbs, like any other pro sculptor, has had to overcome on competition day, they havenB次元官网网址檛 stood in the way of his championships, including a 1993 Guinness World Records title for height.
Before his quarter century spent as a sand sculptor, Dobbs initially pursued work in graphic design, but chose sand over all other mediums.
B次元官网网址淪and affords sculptors the opportunity to be outdoors with other sculptors and to create things quickly,B次元官网网址� he said.
See www.saanichsunfest.ca for more information. Free activities run from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Gyro Park. Saturday also features a street party in Cadboro Bay Village.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
