For Siesta Key Crystal Classic competitors, it’s all in the details

Joris Kivits and Melineige Beauregard won second place with this sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo
Joris Kivits and Melineige Beauregard won second place with this sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo

Visitors wowed by the intricacies of the artists’ work at the sixth master sand-sculpting event on the island

Craig Mutch and Walter McDonald created this castle. Rachel Hackney photo
Craig Mutch and Walter McDonald created this castle. Rachel Hackney photo

Within minutes after the official 10 a.m. opening on Monday, Nov. 16, people were queuing up for the opportunity to gaze at the sculptures comprising the 2015 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition.

“Oh, my gosh” and “Amazing” were common refrains as visitors paused in front of the massive works of art begun the preceding Friday and completed on Sunday.

Pam Dunstone of Sarasota pointed to details in the first sculpture to capture her eye, a castle near the entryway to the competition area. It was the creation of Craig Mutch of Vancouver, Canada, and Walter McDonald of South Padre Island, Texas: “the steps coming down, little window inserts — and the time is eight minutes to 3” on a clock Mutch and McDonald included, she noted.

The Mutch-McDonald castle featured a tiny clock. Rachel Hackney photo
The Mutch-McDonald castle featured a tiny clock. Rachel Hackney photo

One woman voiced disbelief that the castle had not won its creators a prize.

Dunstone laughed later as she read the title of the third-place entry, carved by Abram Waterman of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Morgan Rudluff of Santa Cruz, Calif.: “When I grow up, I want to be Raaaarrrr!!!” That work depicted a Godzilla-like creature towering over the figure of a child playing with a toy-size Godzilla.

Standing before the creation of Andy Gertler and Sue Beatrice, Candace Noonan of Sarasota noted the boy at the center of the sculpture. “Anything he is drawing is coming alive,” she pointed out, including a rocket, a spaceman, a pig and a serpent.

Several yards away, cellphone cameras figuratively clicked away at Tender Loving Care, the top prizewinner, which was carved by Enguerrand David of Brussels and Leonardo Ugolini of Italy.

“Look at that detail,” one man observed, eyeing the intricate facets of the cathedral. Another observer said she knew she had seen photos of that particular structure, but she bemoaned her inability to recall where in the world it stands. The artists, unfortunately, were not nearby to provide any insights.

Over at We the People — sculpted by Jan Zelinka of the Czech Republic and Radovan Zivny of Portugal — Larry Forgard of Sarasota offered his interpretation that the theme reflected how humankind leaves its imprint on the world. The angles, he suggested, “might suggest technology.”

The second-place winner — carved by Joris Kivits of The Netherlands and Melineige Beauregard of Quebec, Canada — seemed a favorite among visitors on Monday. “I’m curious who would beat that,” one man mused. “I would have thought that would have got [first place],” added a woman.

Andy Gentler and Sue Beatrice brought a child's imagination to life in their sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo
Andy Gentler and Sue Beatrice brought a child’s imagination to life in their work. Rachel Hackney photo

 

The rear of the Kivits-Beauregard sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo
A side view from the rear of the Kivits-Beauregard second-place sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo

“I love this” and “It’s fabulous” were among other oft-heard comments. Bea Rosen of Sarasota had one word for it: “Wow!”

Tampa artists Jan Hyatt and Whitehawk were among those taking their time to admire it. “The sand is so incredible [on Siesta Key],” Hyatt said.

Back at the site of the first-place sculpture, Ralph Hercher of Marietta, Ohio, used his cellphone to describe the surrounding artwork to a friend in Venice. “It’s unbelievable, the details,” he said. “You have to go to the other side [of the sculptures],” he continued, noting the abundance of details.

Tender Loving Care won first place. Rachel Hackney photo
Tender Loving Care won first place. Rachel Hackney photo

 

More intricate details are featured at the back of Tender Loving Care. Rachel Hackney photo
More intricate details are featured at the back of Tender Loving Care. Rachel Hackney photo

With his wife, Penny, at his side moments later, Hercher told The Sarasota News Leader they had been to a previous Crystal Classic. “It’s just unbelievable how talented the [artists] are,” he added.

They had visited the Sarasota Chalk Festival in Venice as well, Penny Hercher pointed out. “This is way the best.”

An hour after the 10 a.m. opening time, vehicles were circling the new parking areas at Siesta Public Beach as drivers waited for earlier visitors to leave. The $21.5 million in park improvements undertaken by Sarasota County will conclude early next year with a total of 980 spaces, county spokesman Drew Winchester told the News Leader on Nov. 16. That will be an increase from the 837 at the start of the work, he added.

The Crystal Classic competition area and Vendor Village take up a portion of Siesta Public Beach. Rachel Hackney photo
The Crystal Classic competition area and Vendor Village take up a portion of Siesta Public Beach. Rachel Hackney photo

As of Monday — with the last section of parking lot among the final elements of the two-year project — about 820 spaces were open, Winchester said.

“Parking was the biggest problem,” Ralph Hercher told his friend during the cellphone conversation. Speaking shortly before 11 a.m., he added of the parking area, “It’s just about full.”

Jan Zelinka and Rodovan Zivny created this sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo
Jan Zelinka and Rodovan Zivny created this sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo

Mark Smith, vice president of the Siesta Key Village Association and a long-time member of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said in an interview with the News Leader that the organizers of the event were hoping for good crowds on Monday and Tuesday. So far, he added, this Crystal Classic, unlike some of its predecessors, had not been troubled by rain. Speaking under a cloudless blue sky on Monday, Smith noted, “The weather held out.”

It's the Journey was carved by Damon Langlois and Greg Grady. Rachel Hackney photo
It’s the Journey was carved by Damon Langlois and Greg Grady. Rachel Hackney photo

 

When I grow up I want to be Raaaarrrr!!! was created by Morgan Rudluff and Abe Waterman
When I grow up I want to be Raaaarrrr!!! was created by Morgan Rudluff and Abram Waterman

 

Rudolph and Waterman placed the figure of the child with the toy Godzilla at the right front of their sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo
Rudluff and Waterman placed the figure of the child with the toy Godzilla at the right front of their sculpture. Rachel Hackney photo