PORT ANGELES — Volunteers plan to move the 30 tons of sand that formed the basis for the Santa in Sand exhibit out of The Landing mall by hand.
That’s right, by hand — with a little help from a tractor.
Today, Nor’wester Rotary Club volunteers will wield shovels to pile sand into wheelbarrows and trundle the 400-pound loads outside, where a tractor with a scoop will pile it up on the loading dock behind the mall, said club member Doc Reiss.
The sand was brought into the building via a tractor scoop, but taking it out is another matter.
The tractor scoop may be used to take off the top, but once the sand level gets close to the floor, it will be shovel work only, he said.
“It’s a polished concrete floor. We’re afraid we will gouge it if we use mechanical devices,” he said.
Anyone who wants to help is welcome, said Reiss, adding that, as of Thursday, four people had volunteered for a job expected to need from 12 to 20 workers.
All volunteers need do is show up at The Landing mall on Railroad Avenue in Port Angeles at 8 a.m.
If enough people help, the work could be done by noon, Reiss said.
The sand in the lower level of the mall was the basis of a Christmas village, called Santa in Sand, that opened on Nov. 15.
It was created by sculptors known to most for their work at the summer Arts in Action sand sculpture contest annually sponsored by Windermere Realty.
Charlie Beaulieu, the master sculptor from Kingston who is known from Arts in Action, Damon Langlois, a master sculptor from Victoria who consistently places at the event, and Brent Terry of Bothell created the display.
The carved houses and winter scenes lit by colored lights comprised a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. Admission to it was one can of food, and a donation box was available for cash donations.
Nor’Wester Rotary approached several area businesses for support, Reiss said.
The display was presented by Westsound Bank and sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino and other area businesses and individuals.
It was wildly successful, said an ebullient Maj. Hal Hans of the Salvation Army in Port Angeles.
Visitors to the exhibit donated 1,157 food items and $1,178.77 in cash. The Salvation Army distributed the food to those in need and will use the funds to buy more food.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Hans said. “I have never seen such an outreach of community and art and support like through the Nor’Wester Rotary Club and The Landing mall and all these businesses that came around to feature an international sand sculpture.”
People in Clallam County “pull together to make things better, and this by far was one of those times,” he said. “It was just outstanding.”
Now, it’s time to take the exhibit down.
The sand will be stored by Roger Wheeler, owner of R.J. Services, for use in another sand sculpture, Reiss said, if it is clean enough.
“One of houses has an ivy plant growing out of it now,” he said.
Wheeler had stored the sand that was used in the Arts in Action sand sculpture contest on Hollywood Beach last summer so that it could be used for the Santa in Sand exhibit.
“Our goal has been to save sand so that we could use it in a situation like this or defray costs for Arts in Action.”
Arts in Action proceeds go toward the club’s community service programs, such as mural restoration, scholarships, the food bank and its international program.
The Santa in Sand exhibit was popular, Reiss said. Although it closed on Dec. 31, people still came by to take a look at it.
There were only a couple of sour notes.
Part of the exhibit was vandalized in early December.
Two minors were arrested for investigation of the vandalism.
And sometime last Saturday night, the donation box was ripped off the pole where it had been securely fastened.
“They didn’t get anything,” said Reiss, adding that Hans had checked the box the day before and had taken the $3 he found there.
“It was empty,” Reiss said.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or at leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
