Mr Sandman's sculptures

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - If you want something super-duper to make your wedding day unique, consider a sand sculpture.

Arashaad Davids and his sons create these sculptures, mainly at the tidal pool at The Point in Mossel Bay.

This is his full time occupation and his means of putting bread on the table for his wife and four sons. People walking past, impressed with the sculptures, give Davids money.

He and his family have lived in Mossel Bay for seven years.

Building sand sculptures is weather dependent, he points out. If it rains or the wind is too strong, it is unpleasant to be on the beach. Davids is an expert; he has been sculpting in sand for 16 years. Before coming to Mossel Bay, he built sculptures in Port Elizabeth for eight years.

He and his family now live in Isinyoka. Davids points out that sand sculptures are "lots of work".

Strength

"To get the sand sculpture so high takes a lot of strength. I've got a permit from the municipality to do this."

He and his sons move the sand with their hands and without mechanical help.

What is heartbreaking is that children destroy the sand sculptures.

Davids says a sculpture can last two weeks if it is not destroyed by children. Even the rain and wind do not damage the sculpture. The rain just makes it harder. There are many broken shells in the sand near the tidal pool, so it is ideal for sand sculptures. The shells keep the sand stable. The sand at Santos Beach, for example, is too fine and not suitable. That is why he builds mainly at the tidal pool - because of the good sand.

Davids says parents should warn their children beforehand, not to destroy the sand sculptures. By the time they arrive at the sculpture it is too late. The children are quick to destroy it.

He complains that parents do not care what their children do.