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98P-19 "Regular Haunts" | ||
| The alignment of tides and daylight won't allow a 10-hour sculpture now, but I still have the itch. The timing is good for free-pile efforts, and today is particularly good, with low tide coming at noon. With free-pilers I'm at about the point I was in 1986 with formed sculptures: nearly a beginner. I wonder what will happen this time. |
| Build number: | 98P-19 |
| Title: | "Regular Haunts" |
| Date: | October 31 |
| Location: | Venice Beach |
| Start: | 1030; building time: approx. 4 hours |
| Height: | 4.5 feet |
| Base: | 5 feet X 2 feet (wedge-shaped plan) |
| Photography: | approx. 20 exp E100S w/Pentax WR (end of 98P-18 roll) |
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The morning is cool and sunny, with a breeze off the sea. Simon is at the Breakwater tower, polishing his truck. "Hi, Larry." "Hi, Simon. Anything exciting going on around here today?" "Nope. It's quiet. Are you going to build today?" "Yes. There's plenty of time and it's a beautiful day." "You're right about that." We both scan the beach, considering ourselves fortunate for not being in Kansas. Sand has filled in around the storm drain pipe, raising the beach a couple of feet. This usually means trouble, and the first few samples I take aren't promising. Very coarse, under a layer of fine sand. As I walk south I find better sand. My plan is to make a monolithic, triangular-plan sculpture. Somehow the pile is transmogrified into a wedge shape around one foot tall. Well, that's triangular, I guess. Near one end I build a tower that reaches over four feet, setting a new record. Carving starts with a concave panel on the uphill side, near where the tower joins the big lower section. Above that I carve a reverse curve to the top that wraps around to the south. I'm pretty well started when a woman stops to look. We wind up talking about all kinds of things: teaching, the stock market, creativity. The discipline switch is off, but time is pressing. Sculptures don't carve themselves, and the tide is unrelenting. The tower's downhill side acquires a meandering groove that separates panels all the way from top to base. Around on the north end, I carve out behind the concave panel, between it and a convex panel on the downhill side. This connects with the meandering groove. The south end needs some help. I build it up, then put a tower on it that leans inward. Cutting under it makes it interesting, but gives it a substantial outward imbalance. It's nearly separate from the main sculpture. Then the north end needs some help. I build a long narrow base that slopes upward and is crowned with a small tower. The stock market lady comes back and we chat some more. The tide is really making returning noises. A very thin boy comes up and talks so softly I frequently have to ask him to repeat. He's from Utah, and is curious about everything. Says "I could never do anything like that. I ask him if he has tried. No, he's more interested in cars. Not low-riders, but making them work better. I tell him that's creativity too. He sticks around for the rest of the day, but I keep working. The first wave has run into the borrow pit. A man comes up, very enthusiastic. It turns out he's seen many other sculptures, and looks forward to seeing them. Calling cards, author unknown until the random day when we meet.
I have to call it good because more waves have washed into the pit. I do a quick clean-up and start shooting photos. The light is hard, but maybe the camera's fill flash will take care of it. I don't know how this one will photograph; its complexity is hidden. It's different from its predecessors. Not many panels or overlaps, but also not many traditional legs. Elements just sort of come and go, ending in unexpected places. With more concentration, and fewer distractions, it probably would have held together better in design, but there's more to sand sculpture than carving sand. The tide backs off for a time. The photos are finished, for now, so i work on polishing as the thin boy continues his questions and observations. A big wave washes past, softening the base. The south tower assembly starts to lean, producing a crack. That's it. I put away the tools and carry my pack farther up the beach. A few more photos and the roll is finished. Shortly after that, a big wave hits and the south tower falls over, splat. A few minutes later, as I'm putting tools away, the main sculpture fails, probably due to the tunnel I dug last. I bid good-bye to the Utah boy and walk north. Terry is there, with three small pyramids started, talking to a woman. I stop for a time. Her name is Vicky, and she's a teacher in south-central L.A. Yeow, what a job. Then Sal joins us. Old home week. Terry goes back to work, excavating the pyramids' feet from the steep beach. I help him for a little while, then realize I'm very hungry. Warm sun floods the beach, but the cool of evening is coming. I walk briskly to stay warm. A few clouds play around the mountains. | ||||||||||
Original: 98-Oct-31
All contents copyright 1998 by
Larry Nelson | ||||||||||
98p19rpt.htm 99 February 13
