Here is the roster of master carvers
invited to attend & participate this year:

Sculpture Title:" To Eat And To Be Eaten"
Artist Statement: "Life is a strange thing - one moment you think you are the King of the World and you can do anything, but in the same time- you are nobody"

CV:
b. 1976
Studies:
1991 – 1996     Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts, Telšiai. Department of             Artistic wood treatment.
1996 – 2000     Vilnius Academy of Arts. Department of Sculpture. BA degree.
2000 – 2002     Vilnius Academy of Arts, Department of Sculpture. MA degree.

Projects:
1999
§    3 July – Alternative fashion show “Armada”, Vilnius. Fashion collection “Green”. Prize    for the most alternative collection. 
2000
§    26 – 31, December – Park of ice sculptures “Winterfresh”, Cathedral Square, Vilnius. Sculpture “New Year’s Precipitation”. Prize for inventiveness.
2001
§    23 – 27, February – Composition of ice-snow sculptures “Angel” and “Devil” (h = 2,5 m), Students Healthiness Centre, Vilnius.
2002
§    July – Symposium of Plastic Sculptures. Sculpture “Beer Bottle’s Cork” (r = 70 cm), Sea Festival, Klaipėda.
§    27 – 30, December – Ice-snow sculpture “Venus” (h = 5 m), Town Hall’s Square, Vilnius.
2003
§    3 – 7, February – Ice sculptures’ exhibition, Kaunas. Sculpture “Tomato” (h = 1,6 m).
§    12 May – 6 June – Personal exhibition of paintings “Silhouette: water-colour”, Artists House, Klaipėda. The same exhibition was presented at the A. Mončys Museum in Palanga.
§    16 May – 18 June – Group exhibition “Still Life in the Decorative Arts”. Sculpture: “Peels”.
§    7, June – Symposium of sand sculptures, Palanga. Sculpture “Scrap”.
§    11 July – 3 August – Group exhibition “Zone S”, “Baroti” gallery, Klaipėda.
§    25 – 27, July – Symposium of inflammable sculptures, Sea Festival, Klaipėda. Sculpture “Axe” (h = 4 m).
§    27 December – 8 January, 2004 – Symposium “Garden of Ice Sculptures”, Town Hall’s Square, Vilnius. Sculpture “Virgo”.
2004
§    January – Ice sculpture “Ice Car”, Mega Plaza “Akropolis”, Vilnius.
§    15 July – 15 August – Personal exhibition of sculptures “Woodart”, Exhibition Hall, Klaipėda.
§    27 – 31, July - Symposium of inflammable sculptures, „SEAS“ Sea Festival, Klaipėda. Sculpture „Anchor“. H 4m.
§    27 – 30, December – Ice sculpture “Cock” (h = 5 m), Town Hall’s Square, Vilnius.
2005
§    25-28, February – Composition of ice sculptures “Three Eggs” (for Easter Holidays) (h = 1 m, 1,5 m, 3 m), Zibininku village, Palanga.
§    27 May – Germanies ROTARY club award “The best artist of Klaipeda area”.
§    20 July  - 10 September-Symposium of modern sculptures “Friends”, “HBH”, Zibininku village, Kretinga area. Leader of project. Sculptures: “Sutured” (wood instalation); “Bitted off” (stone).
2006
§    16 – 30, March – Group exhibition of work by young Klaipeda' artists “Salon”. Sculpture “Fragile”.
§    30 March – 16 April – Group exhibition “Mafia”, ”Medaliu”gallery, Vilnius. Sculptures: “Fragile 2” and “Trophy”.
§    8 – 17, June – international wood art symposium “Axe and tree”, Kaive village, Cesis area, Latvia. Sculpture “Peg”.H 3,15 m.
§    21 July – 8 August – group exhibition “Aquarium”, “Baroti” gallery, Klaipeda.. Sculpture “Fossil”. Stone.
§    31 August - 14 September – wood sculptures. Group exhibition “Days of  Vilnius ”, Medaliu”gallery, Vilnius. Sculptures: “Peels” and “Ball”.
§    5 – 15, September – Symposium of modern sculptures, Biksere village, Madona area, Latvia. Sculpture „Fruit“ (stone).H 1,45 m.
§    18 – 28, September – International stone cutting symposium „Contact“,  „HBH“, Zibininku village, Kretinga area. Leader of project. Sculpture: “Discharged” (stone). H 1 m.
§    27 October – 26 November - international group exhibition  of work by young Europe’ artists. Travelling exhibition in ES. Sculpture “Fragile”.
§    28 December – 27 January (2007) - group exhibition “Ark”, “KKKC”, Klaipeda. Sculpture “Ark of treasures”. Plastic dumpster, metal elements, painting, sound mechanism. H 0,89 m. On the morrow of gallery  KKKC, Klaipeda, exhibition will open in Ventspils, Latvia.
2007
§    0 – 18, February group Exhibition “Without radio coverage – over river” in Gallery 3+h, Pori, Finland. Sculptures: 1-portrait-elephant; 2-no scale, no tail; 3-self-portrait.
§    5 – 11, February “9th international ice sculpture festival Latvia, Jelgava”. Ice sculpture: “Last pant”.L 1m.  And 1 team ice sculpture with A.Bosas: “Unite”. H 2,6 m.
§    18 of May was installed sculpture “Gedo pupa”, in shop centrer “Gedimino 9”, Vilnius (steel, marble). H 11,5 m.
§    25 May – 1 June – International sand sculptures festival “Living water” , S.Petersburg, Russia. Team partner Karlis Ile (Latvia). Sculpture “Storm in glass”. H 2.20 m.
§    19 June – 2 July – International concrete symposium “Frozen movement”, „HBH“, Zibininku village, Kretinga area. Leader of project. Sculpture “Jig”. L 5m.
§    2 – 7, July -  International sand sculptures festival “Summer signs”, Jelgava, Latvia. Sculpture “Yield”. H 1.90 m. Winner of 3rd  place.
§    22 – 28, August – personal exhibition of sculptures “Saints” in international summer project “Contact of Crafts and Contemporary Sculpture”, Klaipėda. 2 sculptures: “Cross” (wood, doll)and “St Christopher” (doll, strainer).
§    8 August, - International contemporary art festival “PLARTFORMA”, cruise ships terminal, Klaipėda. Sculpture “Mew” (metal). H 3,4 m.
§    17 – 25, November – The I Open Competition “The Cup of Russia on Snow and Ice Sculpture ”Zimniy Vernisage”, category “Ice sculpture”, Salekhard, Yamal – Nenets Autonomous District, Russia. Ice sculpture “Fly, birdy, fly!”. H 4,5 m.
§    7 – 10, December – International ice sculptures competition-marathon “Christmassy symphony”, Hermitage, S.Petersburg, Russia. Sculpture “Jazz”. H 2,6 m. IInd place.
2008
§    21 – 23, March – Current sculpture Challenge, Sam Miranda Vineyard, Snow raod, Oxley, Victoria, Australia. Entered in Final. Sculptures: 1) “Bug”, 2) “Tea in cage” (material: rubbish).
§    21 – 24, March – Current sculpture biennial , Merriwa Park, Ryley Street, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. Outdoor sculpture exhibition. Sculpture: “Cicadacar”. Mouving parts. (material: scrap metal, car parts). H 1,6m L 2m.
§    22 April – project/instalation - “Dying culture”, Yackandandah, Victoria, Australia. Material: trees, paints.
§    1 – 9, June – International festival of contemporary art “Period of Perm”, Perm, Russia. Metal sculptures. Sculpture: “Throne”. H 2,5m.
§    9 – 14, June – 2nd International sand sculpture festival “Summer signs”, Jelgava, Latvia. Sculpture: “Architecture”. H 3m. 2nd place.
§    24 June – 06 July – 1st  International park sculpture competition from metal “Birds”, Tobolsk (Siberia), Russia. Sculpture from metal scrap: “Pheonix”. H 2.2m.
§    11 – 18, July –  VII International sand sculpture festival “Pure spring”, ST.Petersburg, Russia. Sculpture “Water snake”. H 2.5m
§    15 – 30, August – stone carving symposium “Let's begin to speak the stone”, “Zemaitijos Granitas”, Pasertupis vilage, Darbenai, Kretinga area, Lithuania. Leader of project. Sculpture: “Hedgehog of Rains“. H 1,3m. (Red Granite).
§    20 – 28, November -  The VI International Ice Sculpture Competition “POLAR RHAPSODY” Russia,Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard. Sculpture “Simbiosis”. H 4,5m. Team partner Vaclovas Petkus.
§    5 December – 18 January(2009) – team exhibition “Vilnius art after 2000”, “Arsenal” gallery, Riga, Latvia. 3 steel sculptures: “Tetra Pak” (h 0.3m), “Trash” (h 1m), “Burned safety-match” H 4m.
2009
§     3-10, January – III International Christmas ice sculptures festival “Star of Jerusalem”, Ekaterinburg, Russia. Sculpture “Heavenly”. H 3m.
§    9 – 15, February -   11th international ice sculpture festival “Galaxy of love”, Jelgava, Latvia. Sculpture “Be closer”. H 2m. Team partner Maksim Gazendam (Holland).
§    1-17, May – International sand sculpting workshop, Fiesa, Algarve, Portugal.
§    29 May – 06 June – International sand carving competition “Art season”, Perm,Russia. Sculpture “Pearl of Kama river”. H 2,5m. 3rd place.
§    15 June – 3 July – international stone carving symposium “History”, Panevezys, Lithuania. Sculpture “identitety-stamp”. Granite.  H 1m.
§    6 – 11, July – 3rd  international sand sculptures festival “Summer signs '09”. Sculpture “Icarus”. H 4m.  1st place.
§    29 July – 08 August – International wood carving symposium. Ikskile, Latvia. Sculpture „Joy“. Oak. H 3,5m.
§    20 – 28, September –  international wood carving symposium „Touch it!“. Sculpture „ Banana jacket“. Pine, steel. L 8m., H 2,5m. Leader of project too.
2010
§    3 – 8, January – IV International Christmas ice sculptures festival „Star of Jerusalem“, Ekaterinburg, Russia. Sculpture „St Teaching“. 1st place. H 3,5 m. Team partner Maxim Gazendam (Holland).
§    7 – 13, January – I International ice sculptures festival „Ice circus“. Sculpture „Life like a circus. Taxi“. H 2,6m. Team partner Maxim Gazendam (Holland).
§    19 – 30, January – The record of the biggest Ice sculpture in Lithuania, Palanga, Lithuania.. Sculpture „Fisherman“. H 5,7m.
§    6 – 13, February – 12th  International ice sculpture festival “Around the world”, Jelgava, Latvia. 2 ice Sculptures: “Fresh fosil”, “Peace”. And Snow wall “Around the world”. It is the record of biggest and longest snow wall in Baltic countries . H 3m., L 20m.
§    21 – 28, April – sand carving event in “Safari park” Bekse Bergen, Netherlands. Sculpture composition “Water buffaloes”.
§    2 – 11, June – sand sculpture festival in Hoensbroek, The Netherlands.
§    22 – 26, June – sand carving event in Cannes, France.
§    29 June – 10 July – sand carving “Demo” for festival “Summer signs” in Jelgava, Latvia.
 5 m  high demo sculpture.
§    10 – 17, July – sand sculptures festival “Summer signs” in Jelgava, Latvia. Sculpture “Holy TV”. Special prize.
§    8 – 16, August – sand carving event “Sziget” in Budapest, Hungary.
§    29 August - 25 September -  International steel welding kinetic sculptures symposium “Sport”, HBH, Palanga, Lithuania. Sculpture: “Let there be light!” H 3,5m. As a festival organizer too.
§    25 September – ice carving show in Basanavicius street, Palanga, Lithuania. Ice sculpture “Dolphin”.
§    1 November – Ist International pumpkin carving festival in HBH, Palanga, Lithuania. Sculpture “Pumpkin baby”.  As a festival organizer too.
§    12 – 26, November – ice carving event “Hollywood” in Roermond, Netherlands.
§    10 – 14, December – Ice sculpture with chocolate “Christmas” in Vilnius, Lithuania. 50 kg of chocolate inside for Christmas.
2011
§    5 – 9, January – 25th International ice sculptures competition in Harbin, China. Sculpture: “Let's fly!” Team partner John Young. H 2,5m.
§    10 – 14, January – 16th International snow sculpture competition in Harbin, China. Sculpture: “Swan with the pearl” team partner Tatyana Shremko. H 4m.
§    21 – 25, January – X International ice sculpture contest in Khabarovsk, Russia. Sculpture: “a Fossil” 4th place. H 2,5m.
§    3 – 8, February – Snow carving “Demo” sculpture for ice festival “”. Sculpture: “Bears's paradise”. H 3m l 23m. Longest snow wall in Baltic states.
§    8 – 9, February – 13th International ice carving festival “My religion is Freedom“, Sculpture: “Memories of the childhood”  (broken tent by wind till the judging) Jelgava, Latvia.
§    11 – 13, February – International ice carving competition “Wonders of flight” in Rocassaro, Italy. Sculpture: “The most expensive flight” 3rd place. H 2,5m.
§    20 – 27, February -  International ice sculptures competition “Samba” in Savonlinna. Sculptures: “The castle” (4 houres competition) 1st place. Team partner Fergus Mulvany. “Cockcock-cobana”. 1st place. Team partner Fergus Mulvany.
§    3 – 20, April – sand carving event “Hollywood” in Antalya, Turkey.
menoera@yahoo.com
www.sculptor.lt
+370 600 37338

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13.) Damon Farmer  - USA
Sculpture Title: "Icarus & Deadalus"

Artist's Statement: 
The Greek tale of Daedalus, the inventor, and his son Icarus is a reminder that man's desire to sail like birds through the skies extends far back beyond history and into the realm of myth.  Technology has brought us aerial abilities that far exceed those ancient dreams, as is demonstrated by the skilled pilots of this exhibition. Even though the sad fate of Icarus reminds us that there will forever be an element of risk in trusting our mechanisms to carry us safely through the air, it is testament to the lure of flight that we are not deterred by the dangers.  Instead, in our amazing age, every single day thousands of humans gaze down on the earth from far above the clouds.


BIOGRAPHY FOR SUPERGRANDMASTER DAMON FARMER
Damon is from Kentucky, USA.  He works in a variety of creative endeavors, including painting, designing award-winning theatrical sets and creating public art projects, but his favorite artistic medium has been sand since his first visit to a beach, in 1975.  In those 36 years of sand sculpting he has won the World Solo Championship, the North American Solo Championship, The American Championship, and numerous other competitions. What began as a vacation hobby evolved into opportunities to share this art form worldwide.  He has made many visits to Jesolo and has also participated in sand sculpture projects in China, Japan, France, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and England.   Creating sand sculptures is the primary focus of his company, Shadetree Studio.  For more information or samples of his work, please visit shadetreestudio.com.  PeaceSandLove.

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14.) John Gowdy - USA

Sculpture Title: (Exhibition sculpture) "Tricolori Frecce"
Artist statement:

CV:
John Gowdy was born in Atlantic City, NJ, the birthplace of professional sand sculpture. He has worked for a total of 34 years in public safety. Seven years as a beach life guard and twenty-seven years as a firefighter in Atlantic City. He rose to the rank of captain and is a certified Emergency Medical Technician. John retired in December of 2006 and is devoting the rest of his life to the arts.

He has majored in physics and visual arts at Stockton State College in New Jersey, USA.
John is a sculptor in both sand and marble. He now has a performance painting show called "Flying Colors".
 
He will be performing Flying Colors here on this very beach, (Jesolo lido) on Tuesday June 21st and Tuesday June 28th. Don't miss it!


He has won the North American Championship four times, the American Championship three times, the World Championship twice by people's choice, and the Grand Master Sand Sculpture Competion where all past world champions of sand sculpture compete against each other.

John has also won the International Sand Sculpting Championship here in Jesolo twice and the Sand Sculpture Championship in Cervia, with team mate and future wife, Laura Cimador. He has been carving sand in Jesolo almost every year since 1999... 12 years!

John is now living in near by Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.

John is passionate about sharing his talents with people. He loves to teach the art of sand sculpture to children, adults, and families.

The beauty of his works gives the audience the pleasure of looking at a common material, sand, in a different way...with feeling and emotion...

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15.) Charlie Beaulieu - USA

Sculpture title: "World Sand Sculpture Championships Logo"
Artist statement:

CV:

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16.) Rich Varano - USA
Director of the event

Sculpture title: "Jesolo International Sand Sculpture Festival Logo"
Artist statement: To provide quality sand sculpture products and events, as created by some of the worlds foremost practitioners of the craft, together as a cultural program for the people and visitors of Jesolo Italy, and the world at large.

Bio:
   Sculpting sand as a hobby from six years old in 1964 at the feet of his father Frank, who was also a sand sculptor (though ever only an amateur) Varano developed his craft by simply doing it.
  The excellent sculpting sand of New Smyrna Beach in Volusia county Florida, where he grew up was good for this purpose, and merely steps outside his front door.
 He won the first contest he ever entered, in 1971 (at Daytona Beach) & never looked back. He turned pro and established Varano Sand Sculpture Company LLC (the Sultans Of Sand Worldwide) in the mid 1980s.
  He left a gig as the full time sand sculptor for Sea World in Orlando, in the mid 1990's to dedicate himself entirely to his burgeoning company. Which to this day, still enjoys a high profile and is regarded as one of the oldest and most successful companies of its kind still doing business in the industry worldwide, today.
   He has traveled the world and won dozens of awards in major events everywhere. Including 12 awards at the world championships in Harrison Hot Springs Canada, as well as the Tournament of Champions "Grandmaster"event  two out of the three times that it was held there. He has also won the North American Sandsculpting festival in both the solo and team divisions, As well as numerous victories at South Padre Island Sand Castle days (team & solos) & The American Sandsculpting Festival in Fort Myers Beach, where he also directed  and produced (owned) the event for a couple of years.
 Ironically, Varano is not a proponent of competitions in any subjective medium -such as art in general, or sand sculpting specifically. But he respects that such contests are fun and interesting for participants and spectators the world over, and are here to stay in one form or another, as well as evolving to new levels and becoming over time, inclusive of many new and  different things. So he is more than happy to facilitate contests often, and in some cases, even participate in them still.
 He is in his second decade directing the Jesolo International Sand Sculpture Festival and is now producing the European Sand Sculpting Championships which is being hosted there.
 His new direction in work is in developing high end sand parks and events with an eye towards the benefits for the practitioners of the craft while bringing quality sand operations to the public the world over.
The new brand expressly for this commercial endeavor  is called "Sandtopia"
 Look for new and exciting things in this line, soon!

Contact Varano by email at:  info@sultansofsand.com
or visit his web site:  www.sultansofsand.com

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Many thanks to Mark Anderson...
Field Engineer and Technical manager
(& longtime friend of the event)

Also,  sand modeler extrodinaire & Producer / Director / CEO of:

 SandWorld Weymouth
Located in picturesque Dorsette, England along the south coast on the English Channel.
A new and exciting sand park developed along the lines of the core values ascribed to also, by Sandtopia.