PORT ANGELES — Sand was the topic of discussion as the two-day Arts in Action festival came to a close Sunday evening.
Sand sculptors from around the country and parts of Canada were charged with creating works of art based on fairy tales over a 16-hour period using fine river sand.
Visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorite sculpture by placing coins in metal boxes located at each exhibit.
Carl Jara of Cleveland won the “People’s Choice” award — $750 in prize money — for an American Indian theme piece he titled “Storyteller.”
During the voting period $473.50 was collected, which means 1,894 people voted.
It is the fourth year that sand sculptures have been featured, but the first for the contest.
The 37th annual event drew streams of visitors Saturday and Sunday.
Preliminary attendance at the festival, sponsored by the Port Angeles Nor’wester Rotary Club was in the 15,000 range.
“Attendance is down a little bit, but last year we went for a world record which drew a lot of people,” said Doc Reiss, a member of the Arts in Action Committee of Nor’wester Rotary.
Festival organizers say about 20,000 people attended last year.
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The rest of the story appears in the Monday Peninsula Daily News.