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Professional Sand Sculptor Brad Goll never dreamed an ordinary visit to one of the beaches lining Calfornia’s shores would lead him to his future career. Thirty years later, Goll is setting up shop in malls, fairs and festivals to create elaborate creations using a little more than creativity and patience.
All those years ago, Goll, a Milwaukee, Wisc. native, was just a simple guy who enjoyed hanging out outdoors. Then, he met an architect who opened his eyes to a world that would soon become his own personal sandy playground.
“I had a friend that was an architect. On the West Coast, a lot of the sand sculpture contests are sponsored by the American Institute of Architects,” Goll remembered. “So there were a lot of architects involved with it, but I was just there to shovel sand one day and hang out at the beach. They put a tool in my hand and I fell in love with it.”
Today, Goll calls Austin, Texas home, operating Sandpile Creations as a full-time job. He’s often criss-crossing the country, however, creating sculptures that both captivate and entertain in just about any space that can accommodate truckloads of sand.
In July, the sculptor, along with colleague, John Woodworth, made his way to Houma’s Southland Mall to construct a 35-ton exhibit featuring the Cajun Bayou Band, a cartoon collection of swamp animals playing washboards and other instruments unique to the musical genre.
Goll, who said the trip to south Louisiana was a first for him, began by researching animals unique to the area, formulating in his mind an image that he believed would bring a smile to local shoppers. Then, over a nine-day period, sand was delivered and Goll and Woodworth went to work, first constructing the exhibit’s foundation then delicately carving out the details of the design.
“We use wooden boxes kind of like for concrete forms,” Goll explained. “Some people describe it like a spring form cake pan. So we get the sand and pack it in there real tight with water. We put it in layers and stack each layer as we go. When the first one is built, we put a slightly smaller one on top of that and we do the same process again until we build up a block of sand the size we want or need. Then we can stand on those layers, taking the wood off as we work our way down. It’s all sculpted from the top to the bottom.”
In addition to cement and masonry tools like shovels and trowels, smaller, more surprising tools, like cake decorating knives, get every square inch of the design just right.
“[The tool] is thin but rigid enough and it cuts through the sand, leaving a smooth finish,” Goll said. “Then, we clean it off using a straw to blow air through or we use a brush to brush debris off. Spray bottles, too. When the sand dries, it gets kind of crumbly sometimes and you have to wet it again and you can mold it a little easier.”
The delicate sculpture, on display through Sept. 7 in Southland Mall’s Center Court, is protected by fencing, the only safeguard Goll said is necessary for indoor exhibits not affected by wind or rain. Sculptures done outdoors receive a finishing coat of sealer or are placed under a tent.
Most exhibits Goll tackles are roughly the size of the one in Houma, but often he travels abroad to show off his skills to a larger audience. At these events, 1,500 to 3,000 tons of sand are available with a handful of sculptors tackling several hundred tons by themselves, creating their own designs and presenting them to the public for viewing.
Whether on a small or large scale, the sculptor said he hopes his work is inspirational to viewers, sparking ideas that they can take with them on their own trips to the beach.
“I hope it’s something enjoyable to look at,” he said. “I hope it also inspires them when they go to the beach a little bit, too. The first time I went to the beach, I didn’t know what could be done. It’s to show them that sand can go further than you think it can.”
