Fitzy Snowman Sculpting Would like to thank all the sculptors and volunteers that made this years event so successful. The New England Sand Sculpting Invitational has touched at the very heart of Revere Massachusetts and has taken it's place as the East Coasts premier sand sculpting festival.
The amateur competition consisting of three divisions; children’s, families, and adults were a huge success. It is from these amateur divisions that we chose tomorrows master sculptors. This years competition revealed many talented prospects.
Fitzy Snowman Sculpting was extremely proud to unveil our centerpiece sculpture that paid tribute to Revere Beach's glorious past. The sculpture, brought to life by Sean Fitzpatrick and some of the most talented professional and amateur sculptors in the world, reminded spectators young and old about the spectacular history of Revere Beach.
2006Meredith Corson
Treasure Island, Florida, Fifth place 2006
Meredith
started sculpting sand as a hobby over 20 years ago. In 1996 she met
Dan Doubleday at a competition and teamed up to become Sanding Ovations.
The company is based out of Treasure Island, Florida where they reside.
Together they travel the world creating sculptures that are thought
provoking and striking in their elegant simplicity. She was the first
woman to win a solo medal at the World Championship and is 1/2 of
the 2001 World Champion Doubles.
Dan
Doubleday
Treasure Island, Florida, First place 2006
Dan is the
2000 Solo World Champion and 1/2 of the current Doubles World Champions.
He 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
6 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 holds more Sculptors Choice awards than
any other solo sculptor on the international circuit. Dan strives
for perfection in human anatomy. Known amongst his peers as "Mr. Smooth",
he has the incredible ability to make the viewer feel as though the
sculpture could actually speak to them.
Kirk
Rademaker
Santa Cruz, California
A stressful job and a marriage gone
south found me on the beach on Sundays trying to discover an activity
that wouldn't get me into trouble....drinking wasn't working.... Building
sandcastles seemed harmless enough......changed my life. That was
1997. By 2001 I'd quit the day job I had for 10 years. It wasn't a
courageous decision or anything, It was a matter of choice. Do I want
to be a slave to money and time, or do I want to travel, hang out
with other sand artists, and have some of the richest experiences
I will ever know. Wasn't a hard decision..just a scary one. Being
a little destitute has been a small price to pay for the smile on
my face. Some of my nicest moments: A month long job in Southern Portugal
carving sand and watching belly dancers by firelight. Carving sand
on Mothers day for the American Cancer Society. Ice carving in Finland.
Working for Dustin Hoffman Malibu.....and George Lucas in San Francisco.
Sandi "Castle" Stirling
Ontario,
Canada
"In every pile of sand is a castle beckoning to come out" Sandi
started sand sculpting in the summer of 95 while camping at Lake Huron
in Ontario, Canada. Oddly enough she would not go in the water because
she did not want to get her hair wet, so she would sculpt on the beach
for hours while watching her daughter play in the water. Those many
hours playing in the sand paid off. Since then she has won numerous
awards in Texas, Florida and Ontario. She also shares her talents
with the next generation of sculptors, teaching sand sculpting at
the annual Hampton Beach New Hampshire Master sculpting Event.
Thomas
Koet
Melbourne, Florida, Fourth place, 2006
Thomas, Originally from
the Netherlands, began sculpting in 1998. Soon after he earned his
Masters in Industrial Engineering. He was a participating sculptor
in the Guinness World Record for the largest sand sculpture. He has
also participated in many large sand sculpting projects all over the
world. He also captured the North American Sand Sculpting Championship.
Thomas has a gift for touching people of all ages with his creations.
Attillio "Steve" Topazio
Tiverton, Rhode Island
Steve
started his sculpting career while playing in the sand as a young
surfer on the beaches of Rhode Island. Eight years ago he entered
his first sculpting competition and won. He has been competing all
across New England and working on large projects ever since. Known
as the "sculptor of the ocean state" Steve draws from his love of
cars when creating his paintings and sculptures. We look forward to
seeing what he will create at this Year. Check out his new site
Fred Mallet
South
Padre Island, Texas, Third place 2006
Fred, a native New Englander,
traded the harsh winters for the warm inviting sand at south Padre
Island, Texas. He is not only a Master Sand Sculptor but a Master
Computer Geek. If you don't believe me then check out www.SPIGeek.com .
Shortly after moving to Texas he met Sandy Feet and the Sons of the
Beach Sandcastle wizards. With Feet's tutelage Fred continued to hone
his skills as a sculptor and has since placed in master competitions
around the world. Some of his most enjoyable times have been helping
with sculpting lessons that Sandy teaches. " Nothings better than
sharing art! " We look forward to seeing what he creates this year.
Good luck, Fred.
Karen Fralich
Burlington,
Ontario, Canada, Second place, People's Choice, Sculptors Choice 2006
Karen
is a sand sculpting world champion. A freelance artist, Karen was
first introduced to sand sculpting by Toronto sand sculptor Paul Dawkins.
Under Paul's guidance she has perfected her skills and has traveled
the globe, working on many large projects. She recently won first
place at the 2005 Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Competition.
Karen also placed third at last years Revere Beach event. We are very
grateful to have her competing in Revere this year.
Non-competing sculptors
Suzanne Altamare
Daytona,
Florida
Suzanne has been making a living sculpting sand for over 21
years. She has traveled all over the world working on many large projects.
Her energy and amazing attitude has inspired all who have had the
pleasure
of meeting her. She practices the art of soft sand sculpting. That
is sand that is simple piled up and not compacted in and way, working
with few tools and mostly just her hands Suzanne creates
spectacular
works of art. We look forward to your contributions. Check out her
projects at: www.justplainsand.com
After Sculpting
sand for the first time in 1996, she was hooked. A year later she
left a prominent marketing career behind to start Sandsational Sand
Sculpting. She has sculpted sand all over the world and has participated
in three Guinness world Record Events- the worlds largest sand sculpture
in
San Diego, CA, 1997,and also in Almere, Holland, 2001 and the European
Record in 1999. Her marketing experience has allowed her to incorporate
business promotion with the art of sand sculpture, keeping her busy
year round creating large corporate displays. We're glad to have you
on board.
Wayne Stirling Wayne
has been invaluable to many events in the past and is a true sand
slave. He is never afraid to dive into any task. Whether he's helping
out with the pound up or trying his hand at logo carving, We can always
count on Wayne to carry out the mission at hand. We are exceptionally
grateful because we know he hates the feeling of sand between his
toes!
Ontario, Canada
Lucinda "Sandy Feet" Wierenga
South Padre
Island, Texas
Lucinda Wierenga is a widely recognized sand sculptor
who has won numerous international competitions. Her work has been
featured in numerous publications and on a variety of television programs.
She will also be promoting her new book Sandcastles Made Simple. Sandy
Feet is a writer, web-designer and host to one of the best sand sculpture
sites ever developed. It is an honor to
have her competing in Revere this year.
