By Tom Rohrer
Amidst all the flying sand, flailing arms and scooping shovels, there is a cause for a chaos.
For over a decade, the annual Sand in the City festival, organized by the Hands On Children’s Museum has inspired the Olympia community with its uniquely large sand sculptures. Learn more about the event here.
Along with the cutting edge art and free family entertainment, the weekend-long event raises money for the Museum’s Free and Reduced Admission programs.
“It’s a fundraiser for a non-profit, so it’s already helping the community,” said Don Hayden of Morningside, another non-profit organization celebrating its 50th anniversary. “But then you see how many people come down. It’s like the whole community is out here. It’s just a fun atmosphere.”
Thirteen community teams began building sand castles early Friday morning, with just a pile of sand, some wooden structures to shape the sculpture, and shovels and tools at their disposal. By later in the afternoon, the sculptures took shape, showing the power of team work and planning.
Each team is paired with an architect that designs the sculpture of the team’s idea and directs the team in the construction.
“We follow our architect, just do what she says and watch it take shape,” said Lynnette Beaber of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun. We have a good time. We have 12 kids this year helping and the rest are adults.”
For Missy Pettis of Panorama, 2013 was the first time being involved in the event. Pettis did not realize how complex the construction of the sculptures would be.
“I didn’t know there were so many tools and how many people are needed to create this,” said Pettis of her Panorama team, who will also celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. “We’re here to have fun, and seeing this event makes us more proud to be a part of the Olympia community.”
For the actual architects, the event serves as a creative outlet for them. Chris Spadafore, an architect with BCRA in Tacoma, was sculpting with sand for the first time on this scale.
“It took a couple days to create a clay design of the future sculpture. Then a lot of the work just goes into pounding the sand down and sculpting from there,” said Spadafore, who was the architect for the Olympia Free Clinic Team. “It’s a great, creative outlet for me, just being able to get more artistict.”
It is Spadafore’s second time attending Sand in the City and his first year as an architect. Like last year, he came away impressed with the turnout and positive aura.
“I think it’s cool just seeing everyone here smiling, being friendly and all for a great cause,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be a part of.”
Sand in the City continues Saturday from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. For more information, click here.
