The arch died this day. This sculpture started out as an ordinary two-stage formed pile, but set a record for building time. Rich said "This is the first one I've seen where the holes are there for more than the sake of the holes." Spaces and hard parts blended in the design, adding complexity and interest.

After I exposed this photograph, I just sat and watched the ocean play around the sculpture's base. The patterns were lovely, and noticed by a man who'd been in the background, watching. He didn't have a camera so I offered him my outfit -- manual camera, fixed lens, tripod, black-and-white slide film -- and his slides came out well. Unfortunately, I've never seen him again; he was in town with a touring play.

Photographs like this one are hard to come by. They require good tide timing, good sand in the right place, and having the isthmus built up so it's out of the water long enough. I think, due to the increasing time it takes me to finish a sculpture, images like this will become even more rare. I like to shoot the sculptures with water around them, but I don't tarry when I'm done. I prefer memories of the sculpture standing.

There's a breakwater parallel to the beach; it was built to help protect a pier that no longer appears. Now there's just a storm drain running to the breakwater. The combination of breakwater and pipe captures sand that would otherwise flow south on Santa Monica Bay's constant current. It's good sand, too, fine and uniform, and that's why I'm here.

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Human Touch Museum	Image Gallery