Some believe sand sculpting is art, some believe it’s a sport. While others, like Melineige, believe it’s a spiritual experience. “When my hands touch the material, when my heart opens to give life, when my head is illuminated by light, I become the co-creator of the universe,” she said. “An artist is one who spiritualizes matter.” She should know. Art is in her blood. Her father is internationally renowned sculptor Guy Beauregard, and like her father, she too has achieved international success. In fact, in 2004 the father-daughter duo teamed to win the World Championship in the doubles category. Since then she has won several individual awards and in 2016 she was Grand Champion of the World Championship of Taiwan. “For me, art is a means of communication, a way to transmit the energy of life, to affirm its vastness and its beauty”.

Dan has been creating professional sand sculptures across the continent and around the globe for 25 years. He says he is honored to have learned from many pioneers of the art form, and now to have the privilege of collaborating with a family of many of the best new, talented sand sculptors on the planet.

Honored indeed. He is among the world’s most awarded sand artists. “Sand sculpture is a test—it can flow like a dance, or feel like a wrestling match. It is an exhilarating, physical, and creative endeavor; a wonderful process and an awe-inspiring product; a means of calm focus, and a cause of frustration. Remember— no magic, no tricks— just effort and desire.”

Dan is also an accomplished landscape architect and urban planner (degreed from Kansas State University) and is a founding partner in a microbrewery in Wentzville, MO. Carving sand. Brewing beer. Enjoying good friends. What else is there?

A graduate of the Art Institute of Boston, I feel blessed to make a living doing what I love! I am a full time Artist working as an Illustrator/Muralist and Sand Sculptor.  Recently I completed an 8’ X 96’ mural…as well as a 4’X 64’ mural… both of which are located under the Sargent Street Bridge here in Revere! I was introduced to sand in 2005 on Revere Beach and fell in love with it! I first got my feet wet as a Logo Carver and started competing in 2015. Another highlight of my life in the sand is being a part of “Sanding Ovations” Sand Sculpting event every November for the past 7 years. When I’m not creating with my hands you might catch me as a DJ or Hosting Karaoke with Deb & Art’s Entertainment!

Dan is the co-owner of Sanding Ovations. He is a World Champion, International Champion, and the 1st North American to win Sculptors Choice at the World Championship. He has since gone on to win more Sculptors Choice awards than any of his peers. Dan and his wife Meredith still compete globally winning the International Championships duos 4 times. Dan is the designer of this year’s event. He would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Treasure Island and the public for their continued support of this event, especially during these trying times.

Meredith has been sculpting sand for 35 years. In this time she has amassed too many awards to list but none more memorable than being the first female to win a  medal at the World Championship. In 1985 she volunteered to help on the Treasure Island, Guinness record-breaking sand sculpture and got hooked. “I have no formal art training but I have always worked with my hands. Sand was a natural fit for me”.  “How lucky am I, that I found a way to make my passion, my profession?  I have fun at work every day and “this is my office”. She and her husband Dan sculpt all over the world.

Born and raised in Atlantic City and living close to the beaches, Deibert spent many days playing in the sand, a medium readily available and affordable, building sandcastles, walls, tunnels, and motes. A firefighter since 1992 he was promoted to Captain in 2004. He is married and has 6 children. After the birth of his first son trips to the beach renewed his interest in the sand. Enjoyment transformed into a passion after studying the art and discovering Atlantic City’s history of sand sculpture. Competing since 1999, Deibert and his son captured 1st place on the 2011 Travel Channel’s “Sand Wars“. Free time is usually spent with family and friends on the New Jersey shore. He also enjoys playing golf…one place he tries to stay out of the sand.

Bruce Phillips has been involved in the art of sad sculpting for over 25 years. He is known throughout the world, from Tokyo to Amsterdam. He has created sand sculptures in 13 countries.

He creates amazing works of art at festivals and competitions, and he does corporate and private events as well. In addition to sand, Bruce has fabricated sculptures from small to very large scale in a wide variety of other media. Among awards he’s won sculptors choice at the American Sand Sculpting Championship 2017, Fort Myers, Florida, first place at American Sand Sculpting Championship 2014, Fort Myers; third place doubles American sand sculpting Championship 2016, Fort Myers; first place seven times in the 3-member division of the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition and People Choice Award for Best Masters Sculpture of 2013 – US Sand Sculpting Challenge, San Diego, California.

Mark is the ‘go-to guy when the sculptors need just about anything. You’ll see him assembling the waterline, carrying forms, fencing of the sculptures, and anything else the sculptors may need assistance with. He is the behind-the-scenes guy that gets the job done!

For most of my life I’ve pursued that narrow line between public acceptance and pure expression, all the while adhering to the whims of a delicately balanced, often temperamental material, and its physical boundaries. I’ve striven to illustrate the profound changes, moments, and efforts of my own personal narrative, in a fashion that thinly veneers a true translation, while maintaining a familiarity to my audience. For me, the moment of its realization, combined with the raw, arduous nature of the art form itself, and the intimate connection with the vicarious viewer, redeem my connection to the creative spirit that underpins the definition of fine art. Carl D. www.artcleveland.com

Sue discovered her passion for sand when she was 16 and this early introduction into the art form makes her one of the youngest professional sand sculptors in the US.   Her flowing organic style and expressive figures have won her a number of competitions.. She also starred on Travel Channel’s Reality TV show “Sand Masters”, a two season program about the worldwide adventures of a group of America’s top sand sculptors.  An artist since childhood with her three dimensional roots in origami, Sue’s first taste of sand sculpting (besides her back yard sand box) came during high school, after which she found herself hopelessly addicted to the ephemeral art form. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a BFA in Theatre- Stage Management, but chose to follow her love of sand and immediately continued her sculpting career after college. Sue continues to grow as an artist of many mediums, but until she tires of living out of a gritty suitcase, she devotes herself to sand, ice, and snow.

Abe Waterman, from PEI, Canada, has been creating artwork ever since he was old enough to eat crayons; he considered every new diaper a fresh canvas. Though some may still consider Abe’s output rather colorful, and he may still enjoy a Crayola from time to time, he now works mostly on ephemeral mediums, such as sand and snow.