Manuel Campos and his piece 'The Guardian of Light' won first prize at the 2024 Parksville Beach Festival Sand Sculpting competition, announced Sunday, July 14. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

amazing art

Top sculptors crowned at annual Parksville Beach Festival

Jul 15, 2024 | 5:26 AM

PARKSVILLE — There was no theme, no restrictions and no shortage of talent on display as sandy masterpieces came to life.

The annual Parksville Beach Festival Sand Sculpting Competition wrapped Sunday, July 14 with sculptors completing their four days in the sun building sand-made masterpieces.

Solo category winner Manuel Campos, from Colombia, earned top prize for his entry The Guardian of Light which played on light and shadow.

“To me, ravens embody the balance…between light and shadow. The raven is a symbol of mystery and transportation, raising from the head of a strong female figure. In life, the balance is not about darkness but finding our light and letting it shine intensely.”

Thomas Koet’s ‘Captain Canada and Beaver Buddy’ placed second with the judges, but first among Koet’s peers. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Campos has been sculpting for the last 14 years and said the biggest focus for his work is connecting with those who view his piece.

He said a lot of work went into the eyes on both the birds, as well as the woman.

“I want to be connecting with the people, that for me is the most important, creating some emotion.”

Sculptors had 30 hours spread over four days to work on their pieces, with Campos saying it came down to the wire.

The last day not only involved putting the finishing touches on his piece, but ensuring it was presentation-ready.

“The last day is crazy because I only have six hours. I want to finish, clean, good composition but the last day is very crazy.”

Campos beat out Thomas Koet of the United States and his depiction of ‘Captain Canada and Beaver Buddy’. Abe Waterman came in third for the solo category with his composition titled ‘Can’t make an Omelette without cracking some eggs’

Koet won the sculptor’s choice award in the solo category for his efforts.

The winning doubles entry, titled ‘Connections’ was built by a pair of past winners at the event. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Teams division winners Sue McGrew and Dmitry Klimenko won both the judge’s and sculptor’s choice awards for their piece ‘Connections’, with the initial inspiration coming from Klimenko.

“I just imaged two faces as a shell shape and how they could be connected. I create the shape early then we began to [talk] about the concept, how it fit in that idea.”

The idea resonated with McGrew, who said she “immediately fell in love with it” and the pair went to work creating the detail, including a staircase between the two faces and two people meeting at the top.

She added the piece evolved considerably over the four day carving period, influenced by the sand condition, the weather and their own inspirations.

“Within that space we came up with this interaction between these two people who are connecting and they’ve bridge the loneliness of the universe and this is where their journey has taken them.”

While some teams will divide work in a very specific manner, both Klimenko and McGrew admitted to constantly changing positions and tasks over the four days.

Titled ‘Gulliver’s Layover’, this piece depicted a giant collapsing on a village, destroying many buildings. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Klimenko, from Russia, said it “was like a propellor” the way he and McGrew jumped around every 10 to 15 minutes, putting fresh eyes on different parts of the piece.

McGrew said the biggest challenge they had was the thickness of the bridge connecting the two faces, something which she and Klimenko discussed at length for days.

“In the end we find the balance of what we both want but that’s part of the whole teamwork thing. You work and then you create together and for us it just blends well into one solid piece.

The pair won competitors choice in 2019, while Klimenko won the double’s category in 2017 as well. He’s competed in Parksville for eight years.

McGrew, from the United States, has been a regular in the competition since the mid-2000’s and won the doubles category in 2002.

Edith van de Wetering and Wilfred Stijger, both from the Netherlands, took second place ‘the aMAZEing mind’ while Dan Belcher and Brian Wigelsworth, both from the United States, were third with their ‘Zen Garden’.

‘Drawing a blank; was carved by Isabelle Gasse, and came in fifth place. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Cheryl Dill, president of the Parksville Beach Festival Society said the judging and end of the competition is always a bittersweet moment.

“We say goodbye to our sculptors for another year but it is exciting to reach this point because it’s a year of volunteerism to reach this point. All of our team is just happy to have reached such a success.”

The sculptures will remain on display until Aug. 18 with entrance to view them by a suggested donation of $5 per person.

Dill said the event continues to grow every year with Parksville held in “high esteem” among the sand sculpting community.

She added they’ll frequently have more competitors apply than they can fit in.

“We’re very blessed to have that situation where we have to select from an amazing group of master sculptors. But the pool of master sculptors is not necessarily growing as fast as it’s changing…just like everything it’s not necessarily a renewable resource.”

The Parksville Beach Festival also includes a variety of concerts, markets and community events, with a full schedule available on their website.

Zen Garden by Dan Belcher and Brian Wigelsworth finished third in the team’s category. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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