Photos by Chris Stone
“We Need a Bigger Boat,” John Gowdy’s light-hearted depiction of a shark threatening a family of three, won the People’s Choice Award at the U.S. Sand Challenge and 3D Art Expo on the B Street Pier.
“We need a bigger memory card” might have been the refrain of the hundreds of photographers who angled for images of two dozen sand sculptures Sunday.
On Labor Day, artists will rest. But thousands more visitors are expected on the fourth day of the annual event. Viewing is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Entertainment, vendors and food trucks also return.
Some 300 tons of sand provided the canvas for master sculptors from Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, Latvia and Singapore, their work often 10 tons each.
In the Cool California Carvers Class, nine teams of three each finished by 2 p.m. Sunday after starting work at 9 a.m. Saturday.
One Sweet Ride depicting the trolley system
Hungry for Knowledge
We Need a Bigger Boat by John Gowdy
We Need a Bigger Boat by John Gowdy was awarded the People’s Choice Award.
Beauty and the Beast was awarded the Sculptors Award.
Competitors included international and local sand sculpture artists.
Embraced by Helena Bangert
First-place winner, the Seed, attracted many visitors with cameras Sunday.
Windup Your Imagination by Joris Kivits
Shoo-b-Doo-b-Do by Kirk Rademaker
The Seed won first place in the masters competition.
Unfinished Business was among the work done by local artists on Saturday and Sunday.
Peace of Mind by Melineige Beauregard
Peace of Mind by Melineige Beauregard won third place in the masters competition.
Close up of one of the figures in Triquetra by Sue McGrew
Triquetra by Sue McGraw
Triquetra by Sue McGrew won second place in the masters competition.
Wedding Crasher by Bill Pavlacka
Empire of the Sun by Chris Guinto
We Are All Connected by Sandis Kondrats was among the masters entries.
