The idea for the Sand Sculpting Competition at Hampton Beach was conceived in 2000, when master sand sculptor Gregory Grady reproduced in sand the tail side of the New Hampshire quarter during the Hampton Beach Children’s Festival. A year later, Grady and his buddies, who have become known as the “Grady Bunch,” opened shop outdoors at Hampton Beach and initiated the first Solo Master Sand Sculpting event in New England. (Continued below)

Grady’s “build it and they will come” attitude drew, and continues to draw, master sand sculptors from around the world. One of the master sculptors participating in this annual invitation-only competition is Grady’s son, Greg Grady, a gifted sculptor in his own right. The younger Grady, when interviewed at the New England Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach, described how he came to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“When I was a child, my father would create sculptures for fun by day and I’d be wrecking them for fun by night, Greg says today. “By high school sand sculpture seemed to be the family business, so I decided to travel around with my dad while meeting great people. I was always there to be an extra hand on the pile while learning the tricks of the trade.”

“I decided to take a detour for a few years,” Greg continues, “and served overseas in the Marine Corps, not knowing I was going to end up back on a sandpile following in my pop’s footsteps. In the last couple of years, I’ve been making my own path in the enchanting world of sand, moving onward and upward with a passion that keeps on growing.”

The tricks of the trade young Grady learned were the result of his father’s decision to make his own dream of becoming a master sand sculptor come true. In 1994, the elder Grady decided that, instead of lying on the beach creating sand sculptures to entertain the kids, he would try his hand at sand sculpting on a professional level. Gregory Grady soon discovered that with the right forms, sculpting tools, and sand his dream could be actualized.

Because he’s humble and quite self effacing, Grady will tell you the most important element when crafting sand sculptures is the sand itself. He won’t mention that raw talent is equally important.

So why must 300 tons of sand be imported from Hudson for this annual oceanside event? According to Greg, the sand on Hampton’s pristine five-star beach is just not “dirty” enough, that is, it does not contain enough clay or silt.

Grady also explained that the term “grain” is a misnomer; because the perfect sculpting sand is actually composed of minute granite flakes which are ground up really fine. Flakes of granite bind better when combined with water- much like snowflakes do if they contain enough moisture. As a result, professional sand sculpting events like the one in Hampton must rely on imported sand that allows to create larger and more intricate designs. When completed, these works of art are sprayed with “windscreen” (a solution of school glue and water) to protect them from the elements until they are demolished on June 30^th after their final day of viewing.

These gifted sculptors must create museum quality pieces of art knowing full well they will become nothing but a pile of sand in a few days. Grady explains that, “There are times when it hurts to watch a piece disappear, especially when you have struggled to create it and it turns out better than you it envisioned it would be,” he admits.

“And there are other times when I look at a photograph of a piece I created years ago and I’m not all that impressed. But I love the creative process and hopefully I will always continue to grow and improve and move forward.”

“It’s a dream come true,” Grady adds, “that I’m able to make a living doing that which I love. And besides, demolishing these sand sculptures provides me with job security. But, if someone would set me up in a big warehouse, feed me, and let me weld, paint; work with stone, clay, or fiberglass; while also allowing me out once in awhile to sculpt by the sea -- I would die a very happy man!”

It is this passion of the Gradys and others that has caused this event to become the biggest and most prestigious Solo Master Sand Sculpting Competition in the Northeast.

© Deb McGrath 2011