As summer draws near, many people start turning their attention to getting away to the nearest beach.

 

Visitors to Meadowbrook Mall though can get a little taste of life at the ocean thanks to a sand sculpture that is currently on display near center court, just in front of the mall entrance to JC Penny.

 

The official ribbon cutting/unveiling ceremony will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

 

“It looks amazing, it really turned out great,” Meadowbrook Mall Marketing Director Joseph Thomas said. “We thought this would be a nice attraction with summer coming and it will be on display for 12 weeks.”

 

This is no everyday average sand castle by any means. It’s a work of art that shows off the mountains, forests and wildlife the state is known for as well as Bridgeport’s Opportunity Lives Here slogan.

 

The sculpture was created by world-renowned sculptor Matt Long and his team and it didn’t take nearly as long to complete as one might think. Long has crafted his sand sculpting skills for more than 20 years as has every member of his team.

 

“All of the projects run about the same time,” Long said. “We show up and build the sand box in one day. The next day we move the sand in and we compact it inside of forms to get the blocks of sand required to do what we do.

 

“Then we carve for three days, so three days for a four or five-person team.”

 

“People say, ‘How long does it take, three days?’ I say, ‘No, 25 years and three days.’”

 

While most do associate sand and sand sculptures with the outdoors, indoor pieces are common.

 

“People think this only happens at the beach but I do more sculptures where they truck sand in annually without a doubt,” Long said. “I have not done a lot of mall projects but have done plenty of indoor projects. They are nice, you don’t have to worry about the wind and rain and sun and everything else.

 

“If you are outdoors, the wind and sun and possibility of rain are a threat, you have to protect the sculpture quicker. Once we are done carving, we apply a fixative to prevent it from turning back into powder and protect it from immediate rain.”

 

Long said the Meadowbrook job was particularly nice because he is always subject to the quality of sand that is brought in and Meadowbrook had really good sand. So good in fact, the sculpture could stay on display up to a year.

 

Long, who is based out of New York, and his team, featuring residents of Florida, South Carolina and New Hampshire, are all good friends and they are basically on tour creating sculptures.

 

They are currently in St. Clairsville, Ohio, working on their next project.

 

To learn more about Long and his team and their works of art click HERE