Waiting for a little night music!
The sun starts to set on FIESA, in the Algarve
Click on any photo to view the gallery
What ARE they thinking?
Disapproving of Willy Wonka?
It’s Show Time!
What? What did I say?
Not late again!
I’ve visited the International Sand Sculpture FIESA, at Pera, several times, but never in the evening. This Summer I arrived just as the sun was starting to fade. At first I wandered, nodding and smiling in recognition, and admiring the craftsmanship. Choosing favourites. Gradually the sand sculptures took on colour. Just a spotlight or two at first.
Time to sit in the cafe with Laurel and Hardy, and wait
For the colours to deepen
Enhancing the drama
With a smile or two
And a frown!
Don’t knock the d-j!
Or the world’s greatest rock band
I imagine you’ve guessed that the theme this year is Music. FIESA started in 2003 and runs from late March till October each year, so if you happen to be in the area, you just have time! Full details are on the link.
Hope I’ve kept you entertained for a little while. Have a great weekend and don’t forget to join me on Monday for a walk. Better just pop in on Cate first, with your Six word Saturday.
What a wonderful collection of sand sculptures, Jo, particularly in that waning light and then with the spotlights on them. Thanks for sharing these. I’ve never been to a sand sculpture show like this before. 🙂
We heard this year that they are going to make it a year round feature, Cathy, though quite how they’ll achieve that I don’t know. Quite spectacular though 🙂
Your photos are incredible!
Love the contrast , but prefer the monochrome day version….
Thank you! I’m speechless 🙂
These sculptures are amazing! What talented artists those sculptors are.
The detail is wonderful, isn’t it, Imelda? 🙂 Thanks so much for spending time with me.
The sculptures are absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for sharing them.
Glad you enjoyed them, Nicki. 🙂 This last trip to Portugal really was a good one.
Fantastic art works. How long do the sculptures survive for? I assume they need regular touching up.
A little bit of ‘cheating’ goes on. I understand they use some kind of epoxy resin in the mix so that it is pretty solid (and rainproof). Not such a romantic notion but necessary I guess. They’re still beautiful though, aren’t they? 🙂
absolutely amazing! wow! 🙂
Thanks LolaWi 🙂
Oooh!!! These have to be the most amazing sand art ever! Do I spot Lawrence of Arabia? The first queen reminds me of your lovely daughter Lisa for some reason! 🙂
I struggled to name a couple of the characters but the expressions were amazing. I loved ‘Lawrence’. 🙂
The sand sculptures are amazing Jo – I especially like them with the illuminations! Would they ever get affected by the elements eg if it was very windy or worse still rained?!
It destroys the magic a little to know it, Rosemay, but they are rock solid due to a mix they use in the sand. Apparently on the last day in October there’s a general invitation to go along and help batter them down! 😦
Jo these are amazing and to see them in day and night creates such a contrast. You find the most intriguing things to show us.
It was an interesting experience, Sue. I’ve been several times in broad daylight and I just wanted to see how it looked illuminted. It’s about an hour’s drive from Tavira and we’re usually pretty lazy on a night but it was worth it. 🙂
Love the sand sculptures and your night shots are superb. You must have a very steady hand unless you were using a tripod. I haven’t seen any of these for years…
I usually wobble like a jelly (especially if I’m doing Macro) but my little camera excelled itself. Thanks, Jude 🙂
Such breathtaking sculptures, Jo. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Now I want to know how the artists manage not to tread all over them whilst they’re working on them. Such an amazing talent Thanks for sharing. They’ll be in my mind for quite a while, I’m sure. 🙂
That’s an interesting question, Ad. Just when I got suggestions in on how it all holds together in the rain. 😦 Rain? What rain? 🙂 They’re great, aren’t they?
Hahaha. We like to get you racking your brain. 🙂
😦
These sand sculptures never cease to amaze me. I have seen daylight photos of them before but yours are the first night ones I have seen. Love the way you show us how they light up.
It was quite fascinating to hang around and watch. 🙂
Absolutely riveting Jo and now the penny has dropped and I know what you are on about with sand and 6WS… These are lovely when they are all lit up.
I knew you’d get there eventually, Pauline. 🙂 I’m just too smart for my own good sometimes.
:0 :)….
These are terrific…
They really were beautiful! 🙂
Love those sand sculptures – I struggle with a basic castle!
Good job you’ve got the grandkids for backup 🙂 They’d have liked these.
An amazing collection of sculptures and photos. I think I prefer them in daylight, although your night- shooting is lovely. My beaches don’t produce such wonders.
I was impressed with how well my little camera coped with the night shots, Meg. The attention to detail in the park and the expressions on faces are what amaze me. (it’s actually quite far from the sea, which doesn’t seem right somehow) 🙂
Wow! Fabulous! I wanna see that!
Alison
It is good- I agree 🙂 🙂
veramente impressionanti! ottime anche nella versione notturno-psichedelica!
passa una domenica serena cara Giovanna!
Happy Sunday, Annalisa! I thought you might like the drama 🙂
Wowza!
Good fun, Ron! 🙂
Astounding artistry, Jo — thanks so much! 🙂
They must weep when it’s October and time to rake it all down, but I suppose the challenge is to do it all again! 🙂 A nice one for sharing, Jet.
This is absolutely amazing, Jo. When I first started looking at the pictures I thought, “This can’t be sand, can it?” Wow, wow, wow. Thank you so much for these pics. What an awesome event – and such talent! 😀
Think of the fun, playing in sand! But how they make it ‘stay’ is beyond me. 🙂
I am glad that’s beyond you, too. And what happens if it rains? I suppose it doesn’t!
Wiser folks have suggested epoxy and water in the finish, or some kind of cement in the mix. Makes sense! 🙂
I’ve never seen something so amazing, Jo. I can’t imagine the patience one must have to construct these sculptures. Thank you for sharing this!
I love what they do, Jill. Humour, drama… it’s all there 🙂
Girlfriend, this is incredible .. never seen anything like – talk about talented artists. You kept me entertained for sure … I love the man and his horse. What an imagination those artist has. Thanks for brighten my evening up.
Hi Vivi! I was just looking at your lovely postcard from Gdansk (thank you 🙂 ), and up you popped. It was like rubbing a magic lantern 🙂 Great to see the park lit up. I’ve been there a few times and I’m always astounded at the sculptures.
Yes, I’m a bit like a genie *laughing … glad you got your card. It was hard to chose witch one to buy .. so many beautiful ones.
Your little camera really do magic .. and I think you have magic in your eyes too.
Amazing job they done .. never seen anything like it.
I love the card- it has so much atmosphere! Going to have to add Gdansk to my list 🙂
I was pleased with the night time shots, Vivi. I really didn’t know how well they’d come out. It’s a little good ‘un. 🙂 Thanks, darlin’. Been watching ‘Strictly’ so lots of catching up to do.
I’m going back in May next year.. but I will be staying in Sopot. You would love Gdansk – and there is really cheap flights to Gdansk. Wizz air. Sure you have them in UK too.
You carry on with your catching up .. I’m watching the US version .. Dancing with the stars … I miss Glen this year. Big Saturday hug …
Thank you! Big hug back 🙂
Wow, stunning!!! 🙂
Thank you very much 🙂
🙂
I love the double entendre, sand sculptures and music of many genres. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mlissabeth 🙂 It’s always good to share something a little different and I had fun with it. Thank you!
Wonderful, I love the mad hatter the best 😊
He’s always a favourite of mine, Seonaid 🙂
WOW! The addition of the lights make it even more spectacular! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos.
Fun, aren’t they? 🙂 I enjoyed seeing them illuminated too 🙂
wowee- amazing!
Brilliant, aren’t they? 🙂
fantastyczne !
Tak, dokladnie 🙂
Really cool Jo! I especially like them all colorful and bright at night.
I wasn’t sure at first, but it was worth waiting for, Nicole. 🙂
Amazing! I confess I find some a bit creepy – but I do love the horse!
Brilliant, isn’t he? I was wracking my brains trying to think which film he was from 🙂
No idea! I only recognised some of the figures.
Drake suggested a character called Lucky Luke? I’m obviously out of touch 😦
Me too!
Wow!!! what a feast of good photos; i’m sated
have a nice weekend
much love…
Thanks- glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Aren’t they absolutely amazing? And the light adds a whole other dimension. Thank you for sharing, really enjoyed this!
I’ve meant to go and see them on an evening for the past couple of years and we finally got there! We’re usually happy just to potter around Tavira on a night 🙂 Happy to share, Tanya!
I’ve been there once, they always have such great sculptures!
carolinabarroso.wordpress.com
Hi Carolina! 🙂 It was nice to see them floodlit at last 🙂
Wow. Astounding works of art to be sure!
Good fun, too 🙂
Wonderful sculptures – the horse and the man at the table is my favorite… 😀
I wish I could remember which film they are from, Drake? Made me smile anyway 🙂
Remind me of Lucky Luke and his horse Jolly Jumper… 🙂
You could be right! 🙂 Sorry- no prizes 😦
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the horse and cowboy make me grin. I would want to see it in daylight, first to get the detail and then at night to get another effect. Our local beach in Ft Myers puts on a sand sculpting festival and they spray a mixture of water and epoxy on each as they sculpt it to “set” it, which I thought was interesting. 😊
That sounds like a good tip, Lynne (for when I start creating my own on the local beach 🙂 🙂 )
These are incredible Jo. It is so amazing to me how the artist manage to get such detail in their sculptures. I have seen some done here in Winter out of ice & the result is just as mind boggling!
Give me a stick and I can draw pictures in the sand, Lynn. That’s as far as I go! 😦
Wow! These are amazing Jo.
It’s surprising the difference seeing them illuminated makes, Colline, but they are brilliant in any light. 🙂
They are amazing. Such talent.
Fantastic details, aren’t they? 🙂
We saw one of these in Belgium and were astounded by the cleverness of the sculptors and the detail they managed to achieve.
No idea how they achieve it, or maintain them, come to that! 🙂
We read that the sand is set with a special compound that makes it hard like cement.
Somebody mentioned epoxy. There’s always someone who knows the answer 🙂
Wow, the lights do add a special effect. I was here during the day, and was super impressed by the art. Nice shots 👍
That’s what I thought! I’ve seen them in daylight a few times. Thanks for your visit 🙂
What a stunning display and you capture the carvings fantastically. How do they last in shape? How do they make them so big? I have trouble enough building a sand castle on the beach! Thank you for sharing, this is so interesting. A wonder to behold.
I don’t know their secrets but there must be some! I just enjoy 🙂 🙂
Spectacular sculptures – the details on some of the faces is quite unnerving! What happens when it rains?
Somebody always asks that question I don’t know the answer to! 🙂 🙂
Oops – sorry😉
They are fantastic! The sculptors are so clever and I am in awe of their ability to be able to do something like this.
A simple castle is my limit, Elaine 🙂
Me too, although I used to manage a little creativity using shells and little paper flags which I remember we used to be able to buy in seaside shops.
I remember them too! I think you can still get them locally 🙂 (we’re a bit behind the times up here 🙂 )
It’s fantastic! I’ve never seen such big sand sculptures.
They are good! The standard seems to be maintained every year too 🙂
It’s really impressive what they do!
Fantastique – how do they stop the sea from destroying them at every tide? Weirdly for this lover of colour, I preferred the monochrome sculptures!
It’s quite a long way inland, Viv, strangely enough. No idea what they do if it rains though 🙂
I can’t imagine how they create and maintain so much detail, these are brilliant, I wish I’d seen them. With the lights they are spectacular, cheers honey have a fab weekend!
You really needed a car to get there, Gilly, or I might have suggested it. Thanks, darlin’. Cool and grey (i.e back to normal 🙂 ) today but I’ve zumba’d and I’m meeting a friend for lunch. Could be worse! 🙂 You too!
Love it !
Thank you 🙂
The sand sculptures are AMAZING!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Year after year, they are brilliant, Romi! You too 🙂