The Nativity

The Nativity: -Pre Show Form Work/Poundups

A typical sand sculpture is created by first doing a "Poundup" A poundup is sand that is made sufficiently wet, then layered into component forms that can be assemble and disassemble in stages from the bottom up, and the top down, respectively. After each successive layer of sand, called a "Lift", is homogonously mixed with water to just the right consistency, then spread out level, the wet sand is subsequently ram packed by compacting machines. This first process of layering the sand into the forms and compacting it (pounding up) is done from the ground level and goes up. When the poundup is completed, the forms are disassembled and removed in layers as needed, from the top down, exposing a densely packed block of solid sand that is ideal for carving the various shapes and sculptural elements. This carving process is done (usually to finished form) from the top downward so that as the sculpture progresses downward, the finished work remains undisturbed by the slag sand that is constantly being carved away and falling downward as the sculpture continues to be created.

The forms arrive from storage at the City Depot on trucks. The forms all have a uniform height, but come in different lengths. Thus they are sorted (and stored) according to size. The pre-made sections all have universally interlocking attaching points, so that any section can be coupled to any other section. In this fashion, any size and/or geometric shape of containment form for packing sand into, can be made.

Notice that the forms are interlocking. This is so that after the entire "poundup" is completed, that is, all stages and levels of forms are filled with sand and mixed with water, then compacted by machines, the forms can be removed easily in a systematic fashion, from the top down, exposing the blocks of solid sand from which the different shapes are carved out.

Each form level is half filled with sand. Man and machine spread the sand evenly inside the "Box"

Then water is added, and the wet sand is thoroughly mixed. Then the miasma is leveled and compacted by machines called "Jumping Jacks" or "Whacker Packers". Whacker being the brand name that manufactures the machines.

Then the form is filled the rest of the way with sand, and that sand is mixed with water, and then packed like the previous "Lift"

When an entire form is filled, another form is erected on top of the previously filled form level, and the process is repeated until the desired height and geometric configuration is attained.

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Last modified: December 05, 2003