Giant Obama sand sculpture stands near convention
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A 25-foot sand sculpture of President Barack Obama brings some of the beach to the Democratic National Convention's host city. But landlocked Charlotte is nearly 200 miles from the ocean — and the sand is actually from a mine in South Carolina.
Perhaps the biggest hazards for the sculpture, though, are periodic rains coming through Charlotte that have required some quick repairs to ward off minor water damage. Some have said the indentations from rain drops made him appear to have acne.
The visitors bureau for Myrtle Beach, S.C., paid $30,000 to build the sculpture that sits a few blocks from the convention hall, said spokeswoman Nora Battle. Fifteen tons of mine sand were used because the fine grains of beach sand can be unstable in a sculpture.
Sand sculptor Larry Hudson said it took a team of five people about 3 days to finish the sculpture, which shows the president with his arms crossed and smiling broadly. Hudson said the sculptors finished Saturday just before a large thunderstorm struck, requiring some quick repair work.
"That's kind of the hazard of sand sculpting," said Hudson, who works for Team Sandtastic out of Sarasota, Fla.
The group has done sand sculptures for Myrtle Beach before, including Democratic presidential candidates before a 2008 debate there and Republicans before a presidential debate earlier this year.
Myrtle Beach officials say the sculpture is an excellent way to get people to think about coming for a vacation.
Dozens of people stopped by, with many getting their photos taken. One of them was Nevada delegate Loretta Harper.
"I was speechless. That's President Obama -- so cool. I tweeted it out right away," she said.
Harper said she sees lots of sand around her home in Las Vegas, "but nothing like that good looking president."
Perhaps the biggest hazards for the sculpture, though, are periodic rains coming through Charlotte that have required some quick repairs to ward off minor water damage. Some have said the indentations from rain drops made him appear to have acne.
The visitors bureau for Myrtle Beach, S.C., paid $30,000 to build the sculpture that sits a few blocks from the convention hall, said spokeswoman Nora Battle. Fifteen tons of mine sand were used because the fine grains of beach sand can be unstable in a sculpture.
Sand sculptor Larry Hudson said it took a team of five people about 3 days to finish the sculpture, which shows the president with his arms crossed and smiling broadly. Hudson said the sculptors finished Saturday just before a large thunderstorm struck, requiring some quick repair work.
"That's kind of the hazard of sand sculpting," said Hudson, who works for Team Sandtastic out of Sarasota, Fla.
The group has done sand sculptures for Myrtle Beach before, including Democratic presidential candidates before a 2008 debate there and Republicans before a presidential debate earlier this year.
Myrtle Beach officials say the sculpture is an excellent way to get people to think about coming for a vacation.
Dozens of people stopped by, with many getting their photos taken. One of them was Nevada delegate Loretta Harper.
"I was speechless. That's President Obama -- so cool. I tweeted it out right away," she said.
Harper said she sees lots of sand around her home in Las Vegas, "but nothing like that good looking president."
Thirty thousand dollars for a sand castle? That tells you just how stupid his followers are.Â
Just need the worlds fattest cat full of tuna fish to put it to good use now.
Time for some yellow rain.Â
The perfect medium for Obamandias and what he's doing to our country. "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!â Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.
They have to have a security guard just to keep people from worshiping it.
......The visitors bureau for Myrtle Beach, S.C., paid $30,000 to build the sculpture....
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Well, they sure know how to waste money...a fine tribute to the master of the art.
After the convention is over, use this sand to fill cat litter boxes all over N.C. The cats will appreciate it, and so will I.
 @LoudNoises ...one might wonder how long it would take to get jumped & tackled by the secret service if one was to stand in front of sculpture with a couple of Super Soakers.......
I was wondering the same thing. Could they arrest the person for a "threat against the president" for washing away the false god's image?
 @Sydthepiper I've never been bumrushed by a "Czar" before, sounds like fun. Imagine the charge in court, "blaspheming the image of the Almighty Obama, Destroyer of The Constitution"
 @LoudNoises I want the face part lol, cat can just go right on it :P
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Had a great time at Myrtle Beach...but at 11:00 it was clearly time to leave as the gansta element was out in full force. Felt safer at Daytona...
Sand. What could be more appropriate? Thanks for the laugh.Â
 @Opus8no5 I was thinking of another substance...