Master sand sculptors (left to right) Carl Jara, Isabelle Gasse, and Greg Grady.
Headlands BeachFest takes place from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday, July 15, 2023, and promises a full-day of family fun. The highlight of the event is the Ohio Master Sand Sculpting Competition which features three world champion sand sculptors who will build their larger-than-life creations over four days. The sculptors are already hard at work on their designs which will be completed sometime Saturday afternoon. At that time, BeachFest attendees will have the opportunity to vote for, and crown, the winner of this year’s competition.
We thought this would be a great opportunity for everyone to learn a little bit more about our sculptors.
CARL JARA
You may recognize this guy, Carl Jara. From right here in Greater Cleveland, he’s been sculpting sand up and down the Lake Erie shore and all over Ohio for the past three decades. You may have seen him at the Children’s Museum or Oktoberfest, but he’s also been working all over the US and in more than a dozen other countries. He has been seen on the Travel Channel’s Sand Blasters and Sand Wars. In fact, his rather illustrious career has earned him dozens of medals at contests worldwide. When he’s not out playing a sand sculpting rockstar, he’s creating furniture in his traditional 19th century wood shop and filling his days at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where he gets to build all those cool exhibits. You can see all of his work at www.artcleveland.com.
ISABELLE GASSE
Isabelle Gasse is a multidisciplinary artist hailing from Quebec City who splits her time as an art designer on movie sets and as a master sculptor on beaches around the world. She has a passion for telling stories and expressing complex feelings through strong images – skills she honed as a youth with her hands in the ice and snow during the harsh winters of Canada. Her work shined in several national and international winter events, including the Hôtel de Glace in Montreal, where she has brought home several prizes. She has already made her mark as well in the sand with her well-mastered surrealist style. She is featured on season 3 of Race Against the Tide which airs on CBC this year.
GREG J. GRADY
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Greg is a self-taught artist, 2nd generation sand sculptor, and a Marine Corp veteran. He developed his love for sand sculpture as a child by traveling every chance he got with his father to professional sand sculpture events where he had the opportunity to play in some of the biggest and best sand boxes any kid could imagine. Today, Greg’s childhood dreams are a reality with a career creating sand sculptures at events around the globe. Greg plans to continue doing what he loves, making art and sharing his creations with people and places all over the world. He is continuously honing his skills so be sure to keep an eye on this artist to wow the crowds both in the art of sand and beyond. Learn more at www.SculpturesGregGrady.com
Headlands BeachFest is presented by Remarkable Lake County and supported by Meijer, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, and Mimi Vanderhaven.
Free admission and parking. Headlands Beach State Park is located at 9601 Headlands Road.
Visit www.HeadlandsBeachFest.com for additional information.