Atlantic City Weddings - Professional Portrait

How did you get your start as a professional sand sculptor?

After competing in local contest with my children (The Rowdy Gowdy's) I got invited to compete in a "master" sand sculpture competition in Fort Myers Beach Florida. I placed third at that event. I've been very busy carving sand since then. That was in 1990.

A lot of couples in South Jersey are getting married on the beach or planning beach themed weddings. In addition to your table top sand sculptures for a place card table, what are some of the ways you’ve used your sand sculpture for weddings?

In addition to table top sand castle displays, I have done large sand sculptures on the lawn outside receptions. I have also done a few weddings on the beach where I have lined the aisle with sand sculpted dolphins. Dolphins are a sign of good luck to sailors. This display is very appropriate for beach weddings.

Some of your outdoor sculptures have been featured in front of Gourmet Italian Restaurant in Galloway. How long does it usually take to create a larger sand sculpture like that for either for a restaurant or on the beach?

The sculptures at Gourmet usually took me and a helper two days to carve.

When you create an indoor sand sculpture at a reception site, how do you get the sand indoors and what else is involved?

I usually use a cart on wheels to bring in buckets of damp sand or I use a wheel barrow to wheel it in. If its upstairs, I use the elevator to get it to the upper floors. I then place a tarp on the floor and put my table on the tarp. Once the sculpture is completed, I fold up the tarp and attach it to the sides of the table. Decretive skirting is then placed around the sides of the table to hide the tarp.

After the party, the tarp is reopened and the sand is removed the same way it was brought in. The tarp is the last thing that is rolled up and removed. Not a grain of sand is left behind.

If a couple is planning a beach wedding and hires you to provide an outdoor sand sculpture, how is the weather a factor. What happens if it rains?

Wedding organizers usually have some kind of a back up plan for bad weather (tents, alternate inside area, etc.) I let the organizers make the call. I can still produce a nice sand sculpture in light rain. If foul weather prohibits me from working then there is no charge for my work. It hasn't happened yet.

What are a few of the more unusual or interesting sand sculptures you’ve done?

I have done a few wedding proposals on the beach. Some guys like it to be private and others enjoy a crowd. This is how I have done it in the past:

The groom "to be" hires me to build a sand castle/sculpture on a predetermined beach location and we plan on a time for "the show". Sunset has worked well in the past. I spend all day building an elaborate sand castle and around the back of the castle I'll letter "MARRY ME MARRISSA" in a heart or something like that. At sunset the future bride and groom take a romantic stroll on the beach and "accidentally" come upon a beautiful sand castle. Inquisitively, the groom leads the bride to the back were the writing is, and then does his thing. This has been a big hit!

At receptions I have carved a "dream castle" where a miniature version of the bride and groom walk arm in arm up the stairs to their dream castle. These displays are great photo ops and also a good location to place the seating cards. I have seen this done with little ceramic buckets and also with the little umbrellas used in drinks.



Click on Photo for Enlargement Click Here to view Placecard Detail		Click on Photo for Enlargement

At beach weddings I really like to line the aisle with dolphins carved from the beach sand. The display looks like a school of happy dolphins in many different poses leading the way to good luck and fortune for the bride and groom.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I think I enjoy the performance art of sand sculpture the most. I do many more events like conventions, shopping malls, county fairs, private parties, birthday parties, etc. I also do competitions all over the world. Always when I am carving there are people around asking questions and watching. I have fun interacting with them.

Anything else you would like to add about your work?

I am going to begin working on "permanent" sand castles. Small sculptures about the size of a five gallon bucket. There are ways to make these displays hard enough to transport so as to be used for center pieces or gifts. These will not be pressed from a mold but individually hand carved, each unique in its own way.

I also have a large transportable sand castle approx. 6ft tall 4ft wide and 2ft deep. This was carved from styrofoam and coated with sand. I use this when the weight of the sand is a problem.

For more information visit John Gowdy's page in our services section
Email: jgowdy@aol.com ~ website: jgowdy.com or call (609) 652-8271