Saturday was the annual Sandblast Sand Sculpture Festival at Greenwich Point.
For some families it was their first time competing. Other families executed carefully formulated engineering plans that required sturdy shovels and sculpting tools. And some creations came with inventive narratives as only small children might imagine.
Andrew Karen, recreation supervisor from the Greenwich Parks & Rec Dept, led a team across the beach to photograph each sculpture and score the entries for consideration for ribbons and prizes.
The Kantor family with their giant octopus at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Teak Eaton-Koch from Riverside used a combination of techniques for his Santa Fe inspired sculpture at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Teak Eaton-Koch from Riverside used a combination of techniques at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Teak Eaton-Koch from Riverside said he’d participated in the contest for 30 years, typically with his family. This year however he said all his helpers had slept in.
“This is the one day I get to be a little kid,” he said as he crafted a sand sculpture using a mix of techniques.
Eaton-Koch used a combination of “sand dribbling” to create textured walls, and an edging tool to carve flat surfaces for window frames.
“I was intrigued by the buildings I saw during a trip to Santa Fe last summer,” he said. “I was inspired by the adobe and geometric architecture of New Mexico and the greater Santa Fe area.”
Three bothers– Marcus, Lucas and Johan Hodgson – had said they had planned their giant sea turtle sculpture in advance.
“We knew we needed to go big,” Marcus said.
Another super-size sculpture reflected the combined efforts of three families. The Kostovic, Hadley, and Bokmeyer families assembled a huge fish with teeth made from white shells and scales from driftwood.
The Christu-Siler family’s sculpture also had a story.
As the children explained, “Crabble-Castle,” featured seahorses, starfish and a real crab in the watery castle tunnel. As the story goes, a turtle with special powers destroys the castle as part of a murder plot while seahorses and starfish defended the fortification.
Lila Solomon, 7, a rising second grader at Glenville School, said she loved sea shells and fashioned her sculpture, “Shelly,” with pieces of fruit for eyes, and a variety of seashells for a shell and plenty of grass to eat.
Lila Solomon, 7, a rising second grader at Glenville School, said she loved sea shells and fashioned “Shelly” with pieces of fruit for eyes, and a variety of seashells for a shell and plenty of grass to eat. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Peter, Jacob and Sara Tirana at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest, organized by the Greenwich Parks & Rec Dept and the Greenwich Arts Council. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Tina Mediate Librandi and James Librandi with their sons Vincenzo and Antonio at Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Lane Hood and her brother Liam (not pictured) planned their sand sculpture several days in advance. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Kostovic, Hadley, and Bokmeyer families made a joint effort to fashion a giant fish at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Parks & Rec Dept recreation supervisor Andrew Karen leads a team across the beach to judge the sculptures at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Christu-Siler family at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Tiberio and Bixler families created “Ella the mermaid,” who held a trident in one hand and a martini glass in the other at Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Tiberio and Bixler families created “Ella the mermaid,” who held a trident in one hand and a martini glass in the other at Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Polshikov family from Greenwich entered the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest for the first time, said their creation was inspired by architect Antoni Gaudi after a trip to Barcelona. The sculpture was anchored by large rocks for reinforcement. Photo: Leslie Yager
The Launer family from Riverside with their cool canine at Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Marcus, Lucas and Johan Hodgson with their giant sea turtle at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Marcus, Lucas and Johan Hodgson with their giant sea turtle at the Sandblast Summer Sand Sculpture Contest at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Polshikov family from Greenwich pose for a photos with the Parks & Rec judges. Photo: Leslie Yager
Parks & Rec Dept recreation supervisor Andrew Karen leads a team across the beach to judge the sculptures at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. June 29, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager