SCULPTORS

Melineige Beauregard & Chris Guinto (Hawaii, USA)

‘If you ain’t first, you’re last.’ This has been the family mantra since granddaddy Guinto invented fire and Chris continues to carry that torch to this day. Evident in his sculptures which millions have made pilgrimages to witness, words like “Supernatural”, “Divine providence” and “Number one on my bucket list” are often used to describe his sculptures. In a nutshell, as Chuck Norris once said: “Sculpting? I leave that to Chris Guinto.”

That was true until he met his nemesis, Melineige Beauregard. It was at that point he truly understood he might not stand at the top of the food chain anymore. Opposites attract, and like fire & water, they’ve competed for the “King of the Hill” title, pushing each other to the extreme limits of their abilities.

Sure enough, they ended up sharing the view on top of the hill, because what is a Queen without her King? Chris and Mel are now living in Hawaii. Sculpting sand and roaming the world, offering crocodiles management assistance in countries of need.

MORGAN RUDLUFF (California, USA)

Morgan Rudluff is a beach-loving born and raised California girl who serendipitously stumbled into sand sculpting in 2007. By 2011, she was traveling full time, appearing on TV shows, giving media interviews, professionally competing, and spreading general joy through art and creativity to people far and wide. Rudluff considers herself to be quite privileged to have been able to make a living doing such fun unique work. To this day (especially post pandemic), she is grateful for the opportunity to travel and be creative.

In 2018 Rudluff made the complicated choice to put sand sculpting on the back-burner and focus on a new career in the healing arts. She now works full-time as a massage therapist and is splitting her time between her private practice in Oakland, CA as well as a massage therapy instructor at the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork. Rudluff considers all her years as a sand sculptor to have been instrumental in how she approaches bodywork: “Both of my careers have been equal parts art, design, science, composition, education, adaptability, attention to detail, creativity, intuition, and absolute love for what I am doing. Plus, I usually get to work barefoot doing both!”

When she’s not doing massages or sand sculpting, Morgan spends her time in the Bay Area taking improv classes, working in her garden, and going to see live music.

Slavian Borecki (Poznan, POLAND)

Slavian is a freelance sculptor with over 26 years of experience. After graduation, he worked at the Sculpture Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan. Since 1996, he have participated in multiple sand, snow, and ice sculpture festivals and competitions all over the world, winning numerous. Moreover, he works with bronze, stone, resin, and ice. His works have been shown in individual and collective exhibitions in many European countries.

Deborah Barret-Cutulle (Saugus, MA)

Deborah is a graduate of the Art Institute of Boston, and feels blessed to make a living doing what she loves! She is a full time artist working as an illustrator, muralist and sand sculptor. Some of you who live here in Revere may have seen the 8’ x 96’ mural under the Sargent Street Bridge which was truly one of her proudest moments. She was introduced to the sand here on the Revere Beach during the 1st year of the Sand Sculpting Festival in 2005. Deborah fell in love with it! She started out learning how to carve logos. In 2015, she decided to take a leap into competition. This year will be her 6th year competing. When she’s not creating art with her hands you might catch her as a DJ hosting for Dad & Art’s Karaoke!

Abe Waterman (Pei, CANADA)

“Mediocre Abe” Waterman is back again to wow audiences with a display that guarantees to be as riveting and adrenaline inducing as the sloth enclosure at Franklin Park. His one man show has been called “the best thing since Ambien, maybe even better!” If you’ve always found yourself too busy to watch the grass grow, the paint dry, or the water boil, and find yourself wondering how the other half lives, leave the kids at home, ladies and gentlemen, because you may want to stay out late, and catch what could only be called Zen and the Art of Doing ____ All.

Karen Fralich (Ontario, CANADA)

Karen has been creating sand sculptures for 28 years! She has no formal art training, but always loved sculpting in multiple mediums before she discovered sand. Her passion, curiosity and many incredible mentors lead her to embrace this unusual career.

In 1998, she entered her first international sand sculpting contest and by 2001 she was working full-time as a free-lance sand sculptor. She specializes in fantasy and whimsical themes, but she loves a challenge!

To date, Karen has competed in over 145 Masters Level International sand sculpture contests, winning 28 First Place Titles, as well as 5 World Championship titles. Her work takes her around the world, collaborating with friends, festivals and companies in Canada, the USA, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Holland, Spain, England, UAE, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia.

Karen has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and enjoys playing any sport. She is also a mega-nerd, especially regarding Star Wars!

Greg J. Grady (Nh, USA)

Representing the north is a self-taught artist and a second generation sand sculptor, Greg, a Marine vet who calls New Hampshire’s 13 mile coastline home. What started as a summer hobby on family vacations had turned into following in the footsteps of his father; a creative pilgrimage, exploration and study into the world of sand sculpture. His’ Irish luck had him apprenticing under the world’s best sand sculptors, playing in the biggest of sand boxes, and traveling to beaches across the country. This passion has turned into a career for Greg. Over the past 15 years, Greg has made sand sculptures for every event imaginable, collaborated with the worlds’ best sculptors and competed professionally around the globe. Greg loves what he does and feels blessed to have found his niche in such a wondrous art form and creative community.

Follow his travels on the sand-trail:

greg.grady82@gmail.com ItsJustSand.com IG:g2grady

Ndricim (Jimmy) Bejko (POLAND)

My name is Ndricim Bejko (Jimmy) I’m an Albanian American artist, born in the early 70’s. I came to America in 2005 after completing my time at the Fine Art Academy in Tirana, Albania. I’ve worked as a professional artist for 19 years and counting since coming to the USA. I’m a multi disciplinary artist who works as a professional sculptor, painter, restoration and design. I work in multiple mediums and am getting involved in sand sculpting as of late. I will enter the Revere sand sculpting competition as a first time competitor in sand sculpting.

Bouke Atema (NETHERLANDS)

Biology and Arts has always been a big influence throughout his whole life. After finishing the craftsmanship of carpentry, ship interior crafts and interior design. He explored the history of old restoration methods and used these techniques in his own work. Studying at the school of Arts in Utrecht The Netherlands he worked with professionals that introduced him to sand snow and ice sculpting. For years now he can combine sculpting with the profession of photography and studying ornithology. Working now with the best avian photographers in Europe.

Hanneke Supply (NETHERLANDS)

Twenty years ago Hanneke had her first encounter with sand sculptures when she was doing ticket sales as a summer job for a big sand sculpture park in Brugge. She was studying interior design back then, and immediately fell for the material and atmosphere of the group of sculptors working together on a big pile of sand.

After finishing her studies in 2003, she had an opportunity to sculpt sand on a project in Germany, and took it. After that she worked many different jobs to improve her skills. A couple of years later she was traveling the world doing what she loved most, making sculptures in sand, snow, ice and foam.

She met a guy who had the same passion and they circled the world together, having so much fun making sculptures and meeting the coolest people. When they had kids they took them to projects and continued their dream.

Slowly but surely in that process a new dream started taking shape.. One where she would develop her artistic skills in two dimensions as well. She still keeps on sculpting and is sure that she will never give up on that because the material is just magical. But now she is also living partly on illustration, because her kids are growing up and going to school so they can’t travel so often anymore.

Bruce Phillips (Ca, USA)

Bruce has been involved in the art of sand sculpting for over 30 years. He has created sand sculptures at events and competitions from Japan to the Netherlands and Canada to Columbia. His sculpting style leans towards the abstract side but enjoys all facets of sculpting in sand.

In addition to sculpting sand Bruce is a fabricator of sculpture for other artists. He brings their concepts to life from small to very large in a wide variety of materials. One of these sculptures even seems to fly like the sculpture “the angel” that hangs 20’ up in the air, inside the main train station in Zurich Switzerland.

Bruce says he has enjoyed watching sand sculpting over the years evolve into a major performing arts attraction. And performance is what he’s all about. Because some of the other media that he’s involved in are steel, iron, aluminum, fiberglass, glass, rubber, gasoline and oil…..have you guessed……rolling works of art that some people call hot rods and custom cars!

Jonathan (Jobi) Bouchard (CANADA)

Better known as Jobi.

Jobi studied graphic design and went through a few art courses. He started sculpting as a young boy working with different mediums such as wood, clay, snow… And just never stopped doing it. He had the opportunity to work professionally with sand and ice in 2007 adding those two mediums to his work. Jobi loves the idea of making a good living from playing in sand in summer and snow in winter, just like when he was a kid!

Today Jobi is performing in sand since 9 years and has the utmost respect from fellow competitors as a very creative and competitive person. His ideas are unique and well performed. He travels the world making sand sculptures for commercial events and has competed in many competitions.

Matsu Yoshi (JAPAN)

Matsugi Yoshiko is the only female professional sand sculptor in japan. While she was working as an art instructor at local high schools she was drawn into the creativity of sand-sculpture. She have been actively participating in international events since 2018, and is excited to bring her talents to Revere Beach!

Jeroen Advocaat (NETHERLANDS)

After graduating from the Art Academy Minerva in the Netherlands as an illustrator in 1999, I turned my passion for art into a versatile career. In 2002, I founded my company Centipede, through which I present my illustrations and sculptures to the world.

During my life I have built an extensive portfolio of both images and sculptures. I drew cartoons for newspapers, many CD designs and covers for magazines like Asimov’s. My work is a fusion of imagination and craftsmanship that can be seen on www.jeroenadvocaat.com

While mastering a wide range of artistic forms like sculpting in VR, in recent years I have focused primarily on creating sculptures of sand and ice around the world. I have been a designer and artistic leader for the international sand sculpture festival in Zhoushan China for 10 years and have designed several other projects around the world. I have participated in a television ice sculpture contest in the Netherlands and the Sand sculpture contest Race against the tide in Canada. For the last 3 years I have been involved in designing and realizing the biggest sand sculpture festival in the Netherlands “Het Veluwse Zandsculpturen Festijn” in Garderen.

Susanne Ruseler (NETHERLANDS)

My name is Susanne Ruseler, I was born in Rotterdam the Netherlands. I started sculpting in 2003, while I was studying biology and living in Utrecht, the Netherlands, I discovered that I love creating sculptures and started sculpting more and more. After my studies I started my own sculpture company working with different materials such as snow, ice, sand, clay, foam and concrete. I’ve been sculpting full time since 2008. I really enjoy alternating between materials, but sand is my favourite. I travel all over the world working on projects, events and competitions. If you have any questions you can email me at: susannemr@hotmail.com.

Patrick Harsch (FL, USA)

After graduating with a degree in video and film, Patrick found himself editing videos in a cramped, dark closet, yearning for more. This longing led to a pivotal moment when a neighbor, who intriguingly had a sandbox in his dining room, introduced him to sand sculpting. His first creation, a sand replica of a small stuffed bear, landed him a gig with Disney, crafting a “Sandta Throne” scene for holiday photos. This experience pivoted his career towards professional sand sculpting, which became his mainstay.

Over the years, Patrick’s craft led him on adventures across the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the US, garnering media attention and attracting crowds. After a brief period in Orlando working on sets and props for the entertainment industry, he returned to the nomadic lifestyle that sand sculpting offered. Now, after 28 years, he has slowed down, focusing on projects mainly in the Tampa Bay Area, though he still participates in significant events nationwide.

Residing in Belleair, Florida, with his wife, son, and two cats, Patrick nurtures a love for classic VWs

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About the Festival

Hosted by the Revere Beach Partnership, a non-profit organization, this free event is open to the public and draws crowds from all around the world. Over three days, hundreds of thousands of people venture down the event boardwalk and take in the sculptures, beach, entertainment, fireworks, and food!

The Revere Beach Partnership will be celebrating the 19^th Annual International Sand Sculpting Festival, hosted at America’s first public beach, Revere Beach, from Friday, July 28^th through Sunday, July 30^th. This year we will be celebrating 90 years of Kong, our theme for 2023, and will feature beautiful sand sculptures designed by world-class sculptors, food trucks, and food vendors with cuisines from around the world, live entertainment, and a Saturday Night Fireworks Extravaganza!

SCULPTORS

Melineige Beauregard & Chris Guinto (Hawaii, USA)

MORGAN RUDLUFF (California, USA)

Slavian Borecki (Poznan, POLAND)

Deborah Barret-Cutulle (Saugus, MA)

Abe Waterman (Pei, CANADA)

Karen Fralich (Ontario, CANADA)

Greg J. Grady (Nh, USA)

Ndricim (Jimmy) Bejko (POLAND)

Bouke Atema (NETHERLANDS)

Hanneke Supply (NETHERLANDS)

Bruce Phillips (Ca, USA)

Jonathan (Jobi) Bouchard (CANADA)

Matsu Yoshi (JAPAN)

Jeroen Advocaat (NETHERLANDS)

Susanne Ruseler (NETHERLANDS)

Patrick Harsch (FL, USA)

Check it out

About the Festival

Check it out

About the Festival

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