Of Sandcastles and Rotaractarians: Lemonade Day

. I'm taking the opportunity of this unplanned time off to connect with the many artists and creators in this wonderful city that I love. Come with me on my 100-day odyssey of art and creativity in Long Beach. I call it .

I guess a person who belongs to the Rotaract is a Rotaractarian, is s/he not?  Or would that be Rotaractian?  Whatever it is, it means that you believe that one person can make a difference, and that you are such a person.  Rotaract Long Beach is a group of young Rotarians getting an early start on service: locally, nationally and internationally.  In this case, local Long Beach.

August 12th was Day 42.  I viewed the Sandcastle entries for the 80th Annual Great Sandcastle Building Competition at Granada Landing

Eighty years?  I wonder if anyone has photos from the other 79 years!

Sometimes my trail for art in Long Beach leads out beyond the city borders.  Sometimes it leads in.  On July 14th I received an email from friend M. with some links to some Long Beach events, one of them being the Sand Sculpture competition which began on August 11th and ended today.

Sandcastles are near and dear to my heart.  I've always wanted to learn how to make cool sandcastles. I even bought a book that I intend to someday read.  When my son was... four?... I made what I recall to be an awesome sandcastle on the most beautiful sand beach in Hawaii.  It used some almonds that we'd found around the beach as a fence, and was guarded on four corners by action figures.  It was so awesome, that my little four-year-old started dragging all sorts of branches to me, hoping that we could use them to make another sandcastle.  A sight to warm any young mother's heart!

When I heard that the Sand Sculpture contest included a training class and was also free to community members, I really wanted to participate. Somehow, though, I missed the class and booked on the sculpture creation day.  It happens.

I was worried that the sculptures would have already been destroyed by young feet.  Have you noticed that little feet love to run ever closer to sand sculptures, however  intricate they might be? I found out today that there was overnight security to prevent such a disaster. This was lucky for me, as I was able to capture most of the entries.

Do you remember the Steve Martin movie, LA Story?  I LOVE that funny guy!  Well, around the time that movie came out, my sister and I were sharing an apartment.  She would share with me the messages that the signs on the 405 freeway were giving to her.  You know, messages like "Be strong, you will get over this time of trial."  "Go where your heart leads you."  "What did you expect?"  "Live long and be happy."  Where do you find your messages?

Art is often inspired by passion, emotion, experiences.  The messages in the sculptures were varied.  Some of the messages were speaking to me.  Here's what they said.  "Long Beach has it all, land, sea air!" "Bike Long Beach!"  "Batman lives in Long Beach!" "Pick up your dog poop!"  "Yes on 35! Stop human trafficking!" "Recycle Long Beach!"  "Keep Long Beach Clean!"  "We're proud of our Olympians!"

"We Love Long Beach!" 

And to that I say, OK!

Enjoy the photos!

Tips, Things, Trails

• The trail leading out.  In the words of friend M., also a part of the email trail leading to the Sandcastle competition: "And yes, this is not art, and is not in Long Beach, but it is right down your alley:  http://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/events-news/events-details.asp?id=852" I had considered it too far, until I spoke to Lisa Hernandez at the Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse.  Apparently Long Beach designer Claudio Garzon who makes robots from waste material will be there!  I was ill the day he closed his exhibit in Bixby Knolls, so couldn't make it to the Bixby Knolls First Friday Artwalk.  So bummed!
• I came away from the Sandcastle competition with sand in my shoes and a Wish Kit from Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  Apparently I will write my wishes on the back of the discs in the kit, and I can watch my wishes grow!  I wonder if the ?

Want more lemonade?       

And Tomorrow...

This was a very busy weekend. I will tomorrow spend some time writing about more experiences from today.

Need to contact me?  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes as herself about creative and maker topics for and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.