Gregory Grady, Local Master Sculpter, Organizer/Sand Consultant
Hampton Beach, NH
"Gregory at 10 years of age, dreaming about the beach."
The biggest, the best, who cares! All I know is that the world's finest sculptors contact me during the year to compete, so we must be doing something right. Over the last 8 years, these folks have made "sand sculpture" a household word in New England, putting Hampton's event among the top sought after to attend. Choosing from the best in this field, although a daunting task, you, the spectators have made it simple by voting for your favorites over the years, and here you have them. A special thanks to all involved in making this a New Hampshire premier event. Please enjoy this year's gallery and don't forget to vote on Saturday.
For lessons and creations:
www.GregGrady.com or email:
NHSandsculptors@aol.com
Greg Grady
New England
www.GregGrady.com
'Tis the season where the sun is out, crowds are back and the sand is standing tall at Hampton Beach. I am ecstatic to compete again this year where I have many of my most enjoyable memories of sun and fun, participating here since its conception and helping my dad as a weekend warrior. After last year's event, I worked in Quebec with the Lepires, bringing my sculpting career to a whole new level, jumping in head first and have not looked back since. Also sculpting snow, wood and ice, "Team Grady" won people's choice at the 2009 NH Snow Sculpting Championship in Jackson. This beach bum is moving onward and upward in the world of sand with a passion that just keeps growing. For lessons, quotes or comments email me at greg.grady82@gmail.com
Meredith Corson
Treasure Island, Florida
www.sandingovations.com
Born in New Bedford, MA, this contest is sentimental to Meredith who still has family in the area so she is sure to see them when she competes here. Meredith is partners in love and business with sculptor Dan Doubleday. They were featured on The Today Show with Al Roker and Anne Curry and The Travel Channels 'Sand Blasters' where they won with their powerful piece, "Close Minded". She won 2001 World Champions Doubles with Dan and is the 1st woman to win a Solo medal at the World Championship, "Hampton Beach is one of the toughest competitions on the circuit." says Corson. "With the best sand available to work with and the strongest carvers in the world, it's going to be a fight to the finish".
Dan Doubleday
Treasure Island, Florida
www.sandingovations.com
Dan was discovered sculpting on a beach in Santa Cruz, CA. His technique was so advanced that he was invited to his first masters event just months later. He entered his first World Championship in '96 where he won the coveted Sculptors Choice award, being the first North American to ever take that honor. He now holds 8 World Champion medals and more Sculptors Choice awards than any other solo sculptor on the international circuit. Dan constantly pushes the envelope with new ideas and strives for perfection in
human anatomy.
Karen Fralich
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
www.sandqube.com
Professional sculptor, Karen began her career at 14 in a pottery studio. 1994, she was hired to help on a sand sculpture in a mall, then spent 4 years learning sand, 1998 entered an international contest, and 2001 as full time free-lance sculptor in sand, snow, clay, stone, and more, for movies, TV, events, galleries, and ads. She works with sand in Canada, USA, Mexico, Italy, Holland, Spain, Japan and Australia, entered 66 sand competitions all over the world, winning many titles. (3 World and 3 North American sand Champion titles.)
Lucinda "Sandy Feet" Wieranga
South Padre Island, Texas
www.sandyfeet.com
Lucinda "sandy feet" won international fame for her home town of South Padre Island with her sandsculpting skills and competing around the world for over two decades. She was in the Guinness Book of World Records for 3 years (with Amazin' Walter, for the longest sand sculpture) and has written countless sandsculpting how-to articles. She has been seen in magazine articles and on TV shows - In the recent episode The Travel Channel's "SandBlaster" series she and partner Kirk Rademaker took first place. A former high-school English teacher, Lucinda has taught thousands of people how to build a better sand castle and wrote 3 books on sand, the latest is "Sandcastles Made Simple", published in English and German to be out in paperback in 2009. In 2007, she opened the first and only Sandcastle Academy in the U.S.: The Sandbox Inn of South Padre Island. She produces beach billboards which she defines as zero carbon footprint advertising for a new, greener age.
See her work at www.sandyfeet.com and www.beachbillboards.com or www.sandcastlecentral.com for sandsculpture tips, tricks and pics.
Michel Lepire
Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
www.sculpturesMichelLepire.com
For over 30 years, Michel is the official ice sculptor of the prestigious winter Carnaval of Québec and of the Ice Hotel. Participated in ice projects in Canada, America, Europe, and Asia. Winner of the Sand Championship of 2003 and several medals and trophies. For 13 years, he organized the competition of the International Of Sand Sculpture of Québec and is originator and artistic director of Sand of Time at Expo Québec for the 400 anniversary of Québec. "A Sculptor who remains young to play in the sand!" and owner of 'Sculptures Michel Lepire Inc."
Marc Lepire
Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
www.sculpturesMichelLepire.com
"My name is 'The Worst' from Quebec, Canada. I love Hampton Beach. I have come here for the sand contest every year since the beginning with my whole family. All my life, I have carved ice, sand, and wood. I work with my father, Michel Lepire. I come to Hampton Beach because the organization is great and my family has a lot of fun." I am bringing my family with my new baby girl and want to win in the 'Worst' way!"
Justin Gordon
Groveland, Massachussetts
www.elwindesigns.com
Justin has been sculpting for over 32 years and sculpting sand for 28 years. Justin is a
professional sculptor and works in many mediums. He carves wood, wax for jewelry, clay, ice, sand, snow for ski areas, foam for Story Land, and stone. He now concentrates his work on commissioned fine carved figures, architectural carving and custom clock cases with his sculpting company Elwin Designs. Many have seen his 55 ton sand sculptures at the Topsfield Fair. Justin was also featured in the first Travel Channel show, 'Sandblasters', on Team Sand Daddy. Justin also teaches carving classes in Groveland and Randolph, MA.
Carl D. Jara (Winner 2002 and 2007)
Lyndhurst, Ohio
www.artcleveland.com
What else can I say about sand sculpture, it is real. It is an impossible feat under impossible conditions, by people with impossible talents, made for you, right before your eyes. It's not a magic trick, or a special effect, or 3-d computer graphic, there's no internal lattice, or special additives, or mirrors, just sand and water.?We're just doing what we do, what we love to do, for you, so you can experience it with us, not us locked away in an ivory tower of unimaginable euphoria with majestic melodies softly cooing in the background, well, ok, maybe we are, but you're here, with us, sharing our passion, our gift, our drive. Like a symphony or dance, or jazz, or theater, we are giving to you something you cannot imagine, that we can't explain, and that you will never forget. By the way...Hi...I'm Carl...and I make stuff...
"Attilio" Steve Topazio
Tiverton , Rhode Island
www.sandtasia.com
Steve grew up on the beaches of Rhode Island as an avid surfer and it is where he started to dabble in sand sculpting. He graduated with a fine arts degree from URI in painting and commercial art. At that time sculpting was of no interest to him. While on a 2001 vacation, he and his family entered a sand sculpting contest and they won. At that point Steve proceeded to find out all about this art form and discovered there where two Master Sand Sculptors living in New England. He made contact with Greg Grady and Justin Gordon. Through their teachings of serious sand sculpting techniques, Steve became a professional. He was given his first opportunity to compete as a Master here at Hampton and has never looked back. He heads Sandtasia, a sand sculpting co based in R.I.
Sridhar Dash
Orissa, India
Sridhar Dash enthralls Chandigarh on Christmas as read in Indo Asian News this Christmas when he sculpted the world's longest ever Santa in sand, over 72 feet, making the Limca Book of Records. Promoting world peace and harmony, Sridhar is spreading his message throughout the world with his amazing works of art. Sculpting for 8 years with a BFA in sculpture, we will be keeping a keen eye on him for this year's creation and message.
Darlene Duggan
Essex, Massachusetts
Coming from the business world, I truly understand the commitment it takes on every year to produce this event. Congrats to all involved in bringing New Hampshire a 1st class event to a 5 star beach! Relax and enjoy the beach, sculptures, shopping and food, and stop by for a lesson to complete your day. You may find yourself loving it like me, saving thousands on therapy "playing in the sand".
Guy-Olivier Deveau
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Guy-Olivier Deveau (nickname G.O.D.-that's a lot to live up to) participates in sand competitions and events professionally in Canada.
We welcome Guy to his first Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Competition and wish him all the best in the world for success! We look forward to see his creativity come to life with the rest of this year's sculptors as they compete for the prize money.
Carissa Porcaro
Sandheaven, Maine
One of the newest members of the sand world with a promising future, I learned from my step dad (Gregory Grady) and his friends who happen to be the best in the world. Last year I taught how to sculpt ducks. I draw, create with super sculpty, play basketball and varsity field hockey. I enjoy sharing the art of sand. If you have questions you know where to find me.
FREE PROFESSIONAL SAND SCULPTING LESSONS
Limited space. Sign up required the day of lesson, starting at noon June 18th, on site. Ages 8 to 80 only, & must be accompanied by an adult if under age 13.
Pictured above: NH State Parks and Recreation Employees and 2008 Sand Sculpting Competition Volunteers
