A Christmas Village sculpted out of sand by artists — some of whom are known from the summer Arts in Action sand sculpture contest — will open in the lower level of The Landing mall in Port Angeles today.
Admission to Santa in Sand — which will be open during mall business hours, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily — will be one can of food per person, which will be given to the Salvation Army in Port Angeles, through the end of the year.
Charlie Beaulieu, the master sculptor from Kingston who is known from Arts in Action, and Damon Langlois, a master sculptor from Victoria who consistently places at the event, will be joined by Brent Terry of Bothell to create the display.
From sand to Santa
Beaulieu said the sculptors will turn 55 tons of sand into a village with cottages, snowmen, elves, icicles, Christmas trees and a giant Santa bag.
The sculptors began carving on Thursday and plan to finish their work today.
Santa will listen to wish lists and pose for photographs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving.
The display is a benefit for the Salvation Army in Port Angeles, said Doc Reiss of the Nor’Wester Rotary Club.
The organization “is finding itself in a situation many of its clients are familiar with, running low on food,” Reiss said in a written statement.
Beaulieu said he is volunteering his talent because people need to be aware of how others are struggling during these tough economic times.
“It goes beyond the bank bailouts and presidential election,” he said.
“People out there need to eat, let alone pay their bills.”
The Salvation Army not only provides a free Thanksgiving feast each year but also operates a food bank that serves 250 families — 418 adults and 186 children — every month and a soup kitchen that serves 2,352 people monthly.
Both are operated out of the same food pantry.
“Right now, we have about 30 days of canned and non-perishable goods in stock,” said Maj. Hal Hads of the Salvation Army.
“We like to keep about a three-month supply, if possible.”
Nor’Wester Rotary approached several area businesses for support and created Santa in Sand as a food-raiser for the Salvation Army.
The event is being presented by Westsound Bank and sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino and other area businesses and individuals.
“That allowed us to be able to put this together at a very reasonable rate.”
The 42nd annual Arts in Action festival was on the Port Angeles waterfront in July.
Eight sculptors created works of art out of sand. The sand was saved for the Christmas display.
“We are very fortunate,” said Kurt Anderson, president of the service club, “that Roger Wheeler of RJ Services agreed to hold the sand from Arts in Action for us.
“Two of the master sculptors and a third from Seattle have also agreed to create this sculpture display for far less than they would normally charge as a way of helping out the community.”
Anderson said that the club hopes to have more days with Santa at the display.
“We will update the community as we know more.”
