A heartfelt THANKS! to these ArtPrize Donors:
Coit Ave. Gravel

Beth & Greg Tusch

Betsy & John Westman of Westman Realty

Nancy Patterson for an ArtSpace logo stone

Jean Schmuck Miclette - Magnolia, DE

Barbara Huisken - Grand Rapids, MI

Cindy DeJong - Wyoming, MI

ArtPrize 2012

Bringing the Sand Back Home to Grand Rapids

Sept. 19 - Oct. 7, 2012

"Garden of UnEarthly Delights"
by Lucinda "sandy feet" Wierenga

My name is Lucinda Wierenga, though I am known around the world as "sandy feet the sand castle lady." Born and raised in Grand Rapids, I have spent the past 30 years perfecting my art on the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island, texas. I compete in sand sculpture events around the world, and I am very happy to be bringing sand to Artprize in 2012. Congratulations to Grand Rapids for giving me a good reason to come back home!

The title of my entry is "Garden of UnEarthly Delights." My plan is to create a menagerie of unearthly creatures in an alien, vaguely gardenlike setting. The sculpture pictured above - an award-winning solo project in Fort Myers Beach in 2011 - is something in the same vein.

This sculpture will be created on site from sand donated by local supplier Coit Avenue Gravel. We will start by compacting the sand with water into forms, which are stripped away as we carve. After an area has been carved, we spray it with a light solution of white glue and water, which - if it has time to dry - creates a thin, crusty shell. This protects the sculpture's detail from rain showers and wind, allowing it to stand for weeks and even months before it turns back into a pile of sand. I like to say that a sand sculpture's temporary nature is a large part of its charm. We take lots of pictures and in fact will be shooting time lapse photos as we work. Please feel free to mug for the camera - it makes the final video more interesting.

Back on my home beach in South Padre Island, Texas, I supplement my income by offering sandcastle lessons. During ArtPrize Emerson and I will be demonstrating sandcastling techniques that you can take to Grand Haven with you, helping you to have more fun on the beach forever.

Do you live close to Grand Rapids? Or know someone who does? Please come look me up at the Louis Campau Promenade from Sept. 15-30. And if you like what you see, feel free to vote for me! (Vote # 52584)


Update 8/29: Come participate in the "pound up" party -- learn how we make sand stand! (latest updates here.)


Help Team Sandy Feet - get rewarded!

While the ArtPrize prize money is impressive, there are no guarantees -- and the team from South Padre will have to cover all of our upfront expenses, which include a road trip to Michigan plus supplies. Every little bit helps, and you can show your support by making a donation. All contributors of $5 or more will be listed/linked on this page. Contributors of $100 or more will be rewarded with a custom "logo stone" made from sand featuring the name, URL or brief message of their choice and treated to withstand the elements. BIG contributors ($500 or more) will have their logo stone displayed on site during ArtPrize -- and then they can display it wherever they like after the festival.


sample logo stone

ArtPrize Project Links

ArtPrize WebSite

my ArtPrize profile

• My Project

• My Able Assistant - Emerson Wierenga Schreiner


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