Meet the 2012 Master Sand Sculpting Competitors!

Celebrating Hampton's 12th year Anniversary of Sand Competitions...New England's original Master Solo Competition with World Class Sculptors. See you in the sand...

Welcome to A Family of Masters

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Gregory Grady
Hampton, New Hampshire
Sculptor / Event Organizer
Welcome to a new era in sand sculpture with what couldn't be a more fitting location than our newly renovated New Hampshire State Park and Seashell Stage location. The pressure is now on the shoulders of our contestants (including myself) to showcase Hampton as the world class destination with world class sculpture you have come to appreciate and expect. Enjoy this year's gallery and remember to vote for your favorite Sat. 1-4 pm, with many thanks going out to our volunteers and sponsors. Contact me at NHSandsculptors@aol.com for more information on this event or your next promotion or function.

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Karen Fralich
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
"Wow" says it all when it comes to Karen. Sculpting for over 18 years, she continues to win many medals and awards, 4 time World Champion and 4 time North American Champion, she has competed in more than 100 Master competitions and exhibitions world wide to date with most recently placing second in Taiwan and is returning for what could be her 4th win here in Hampton. From the humble beginnings of sculpting pottery in a Guelph, Ontario studio at age 14 to one of the most dominant figures in the world of sand sculpture, Karen is always a pleasure to be around and it is an honor to welcome her back. www.sandqube.com

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Lucinda "Sandy Feet" Wierenga
South Padre Island, Texas
Lucinda has won a modest amount of international fame with her sandsculpting skills, competing at major events all around the world since 1987. A retired English teacher, she has taught tens of thousands of people how to build a better sand castle in lessons, workshops and team building exercises. She recently opened what may well be the first and only sandcastle academy/sculpture garden/vacation rental on beautiful South Padre Island, TX... Check out sandboxinn.com for more info on how you can learn sandsculpture tips and tricks in sandy feet�s sandbox during your next beach vacation. She has written three books on the subject and is working on her 4th - especially formatted for iPad, Kindle and Nook -- watch for it! Her current obsession is perfecting her top-secret recipe for creating sand sculptures that last for months and possibly a good bit longer. More about Lucinda at www.sandyfeet.com

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Michel Lepire
Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
Back by popular demand and your People's Choice winner last year, Michel has been sculpting ice for 35 years and sand for over 16, winning the World Championship in 2003 as well as many other medals and awards over the years, including the culinary arts. Official sculptor of the prestigious Winter Carnival, Ice Hotel and International Sand Sculpture Competition of Quebec, Michel has traveled and worked on projects around the world. Owner of www.sculpturesmichellepire.com , make sure to welcome back your favorite!

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Marc Lepire
Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
Last year's First Place winner has been traveling the world perfecting his skills and is promising a mind blowing presentation for this year again. Based out of Quebec, successful in sand, wood, snow and ice, Marc is known as the "Worst" because of his desire to win. This gentle giant along with his wife Sandra are bringing us a 3rd generation of sculptors of which I am proud to say we have helped to nurture here in Hampton. www.sculpturesmichellepire.com

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Justin Gordon
Groveland, Massachusetts
Justin is truly New England's original Master Sand Sculptor. A U Mass graduate with an engineering degree, Justin has been sculpting for over 38 years. He traded in the corporate world years ago for a career in sculpture, including foam for Story Land, snow for ski resorts, wax for jewelry, clay and wood to name a few and is also creator and director of the well known Topsfield Fair Sand Exhibition. At Elwin Designs, based in Groveland, you can see his works of fine wood and architectural carvings, clock restorations and custom cases or contact him yourself to take a lesson there or in his Randolph, Mass. location. Learn much more at his web sites: www.ElwinDesigns.com and www.CustomCarvedClocks.com.

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Carl D. Jara
Lyndhurst, Ohio
Carl makes stuff.....cool stuff. This mild mannered quiet unassuming artist will make you think without even knowing it. Known to stretch the boundaries of sand and the imagination. When his work was featured this past January in The Huffington Post and written about that he had "taken sand to insane limits", they were spot on. It doesn't matter wether it�s on Travel Channel's hit TV series or your local public broadcast for charity, Carl is Carl and simply doing what he loves best in its purest form. "It's just sand" he will say to you as he works his magic transforming piles of sand into his world right before your eyes. www.artcleveland.com

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"Attilio" Steve Topazio
Tiverton, Rhode Island
As the story goes, way back at the turn of the century, Steve was carving a dragon in the sand with just a clam shell. Curious, he knew there had to be a better way to carve a sand sculpture and turned to the Internet. There he discovered the world of professional sand sculpting. Already armed with a fine arts degree,he tuned the techniques he needed to pursue this new found passion. After a couple of years of practice he was given the opportunity to compete in a Masters Sand Sculpting event and from that point on he never looked back. He has been competing wherever and whenever possible in Masters events in the U.S. as well as appearing in the Travel Channel Sand Wars series. Steve sculpts in snow, ice and pumpkins, now heading up his own sand sculpting company called Sandtasia based in Rhode Island. In his spare time he restores old cars and is an accomplished musician. www.sandtasia.com

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Greg Grady
New England
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree... while having grown up in sand pile and working on vacations and holidays might not be your cup of tea, to Greg that meant learning from the world�s best and chasing a dream. After returning from the Marine Corp., the past 4 years Greg has been traveling the professional "circuit" on many projects and competitions. He won his first 1st place here in New Hampshire at Jackson's Sanctioned Snow Championship this past January. Appearing on Travel Channel�s Sand Wars show this season and expanding his custom ice, wood and pumpkin carving business, you should be sure to keep an eye on this local to wow the crowds both here in New Hampshire and abroad. Check out www.GregGrady.com

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Guy-Olivier Deveau
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
This will be Guy's seventh year sculpting sand and he has come a very long way in such a short time. Traveling all over North America and Europe and having participated in many international projects which include ice and snow, he has become a common face in the world of sculpture. At 29, he sees sand in a different light, making it a lot more than just a day at the beach. His art to some at times may be creepy and twisted, but is meant to invoke your emotion. He is a pleasure to have around and a really great guy!

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Chris Guinto
Key West, Florida
Chris is here because he wants to win, I asked him for his bio and this is what I received: (I love artists)
Guinto n. Guin•to (guinn-toe)
noun
1. One considered to have the dominant position or highest authority, especially as a result of a competitive victory.
2. The top dog or alpha male in a dominance hierarchy. "The Guinto won the world championships....again."
verb
1. To overlook from a height.
2. To be situated in or occupy a position that is more elevated or decidedly superior to others.
3. To control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power. "I totally guinto'd that competition and stole first place, it's like stealing candy from a baby."
adjective
1. Causing wonder or astonishment. "I have never before seen a sculpture so guinto, it's breathtaking."
adverb
1. Having a favorable outcome.
2. Having obtained something desired or intended.
3. Having achieved wealth or eminence. "That is guinto crazy! How does he do that!?

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Darlene Duggan
Essex, Massachusetts
If you love art and the beach your visit won't be complete unless you've had an opportunity to take a "lesson" from Darlene. A corporate executive for a day job, painter and sculptor by night she has found art to be her true calling. What I learned at the Beach is her unique trademark and a simple way of experiencing life and sharing all it has to offer. So why not come and relax for an hour this year while getting your hands dirty with some good old time fun at the beach!

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Carissa Porcaro
Portland, Maine
This is Carissa's fifth professional year teaching others the art of sand as well as spreading smiles among the crowds that come to see her. Very active in school with track and field hockey, she also has a knack for drawing, watercolors and sculpture in other mediums. She has already won her share of leadership awards and medals as well as offered membership in The National Society Of High School Scholars for her outstanding academic achievement. We look forward to her energetic enthusiasm in Hampton and the world of sand and art.

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Thanks for all the help from the 2011 Sand Sculpting Competition Volunteers!