Heavy rains over the weekend damaged some of the just-completed sand sculptures at a global competition in Federal Way.
The most heavily damaged sculptures were that of President Barack Obama by Sudarsan Pattnaik from India and one of an elephant by Paul Hoggard from England. About 90 percent of the 41 sculptures survived intact at the World Championship of Sand Sculpting.
The event started Sept. 8 and continues through Oct. 3 with master sculptors doing display sculpting. Some of them also will be repairing the damaged sculptures – once they dry, an organizer said in a news release. The City of Federal Way has contributed $81,000 toward the competition, betting that it will draw tourists to Federal Way.
The sand-sculpting event is taking place at the old Target and Toys R Us parking lot at 31510 20th Ave. S.
Poor Obama sand sculpture… collapsing just like his presidency!
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“The most heavily damaged sculptures were that of President Barack Obama by Sudarsan Pattnaik from India and one of an elephant by Paul Hoggard from England.”
Well, at least the rain was bipartisan.
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I’m surprised PEMCO didn’t offer to supply big blue tarps…..
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Err, they didn’t think to put up tents? I mean we live in Washington. Sometimes it rains here.
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I was wondering that too. Washington State, and yet nobody at all thought of any precautions against rain. Bright ones, these event organizers.
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Actually rain to some extent is good for the sculptures. If they dry out that’s a bad thing, too. For two decades these championships were held at Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia. I went most every year and the climate was much like here.
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I’m sorry but I think this event was poorly planned from the moment they decided to bring this contest to the U.S.’s most rainy state. Then in a parking lot of abandoned shopping center? Yeah that fantastically added to the aviance and really set the atmosphere. Either the organizers were high or they were looking to set this event up for failure. And they still expect ppl to buy tickets when most of the sculptures are falling apart due to rain damage? Helllo? Epic fail on the part of whoever organized this event & its a darn shame because there were some amazing artists & sculptures there. This event would have had far more success if the organizers didn’t have sand for brains.Unfortunately their poor planning will probably have a profound effect on the future of this event. Bummer.
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