Pregnant Mermaid Sculpture Wins Sanding Ovations' People's Choice

TREASURE ISLAND, FL — Sand sculptor Manuel Campos, originally from Colombia and now living in Jacksonville, captured the 2021 People's Choice Award with his eye-catching pregnant mermaid creation.

An artist for 35 years, Campos has dedicated himself to creating sand sculptures for the past 10 years.

"I had the honor of representing my country in different international competitions in a total of nine countries (India, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Sweden, Italy, Uruguay, United States and Australia) gaining first place in some of them," said Campos, who is also a muralist, an oil painter, a tattoo artist and even dabbles in pumpkin-carving at Halloween.

Campos said he enjoys sand sculpture competitions because they allow him to interact with the visitors as they watch him create.

"I like to work with a lot of expressive movement to achieve some kind of connection between the spectator and the sculpture," he said. "My favorite works are anatomy, especially women’s faces."

Treasure Island's annual Sanding Ovations sand-sculpting exhibition and competition kicked off Thursday and will continue next weekend, featuring elaborate sand sculptures created by artists from throughout North America as well as live music by local, regional and national touring bands, a beer garden, an arts and crafts marketplace with more than 90 vendors, food and a kite-flying event Nov. 26-28 at Treasure Island beach, 10400 Gulf Blvd.

In addition to Campos, this year's artists creating sculptures based on the theme, "Sandlantis," were Sue McGrew of Tacoma, Washington; Deborah Barrett-Cutulle of Saugus, Massachusetts; Melineige Beauregard of Montreal, Canada; Damon Meri of Indian Rocks Beach; Abe Waterman of Canada; and Bruce Phillips who has participated in sculpture competitions in 13 countries including Tokyo and Amsterdam, along with Treasure Island's own professional sand sculptors, Meredith and Dan Doubleday of Sanding Ovations.

The event continues:

• Friday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The Kite Festival will take place Nov. 26-28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Upcoming performances include:

• Friday, Nov. 26 at noon Leon Vincent
• Friday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. Seth Campbell
• Friday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. Emcee Johnny G
• Saturday, Nov. 27 at noon Emcee Johnny G
• Saturday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Eddie Wright
• Saturday, Nov. 27 at 4 p.m. Dennis Wallace
• Sunday, Nov. 28 at noon Eric Yoder
• Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. Josh Fielding
• Sunday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. Emcee Johnny G

The event is free and open to the public. No pets are allowed. Beach wheelchairs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the information tent.

Parking lots near the event are expected to fill up fast and early. For those attending, parking information can be found here, including parking lots with shuttle service and parking lots within walking distance of the event.

For information, click here.

See related stories:

• Sanding Ovations Underway: Here's What You Should Know
• Sculptors To Create Works Of Art With Treasure Island Beach Sand