By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.
A multitude of storms over the past few weeks have pummeled the Lower Laguna Madre. Damage is evident from the dunes of South Padre Island, to the disaster-state of Laguna Heights.
Two Island staples have experienced much damage, and are currently in a state of rebuilding.
The Holiday Sand Sculpture Village, established in 2018, located on W Ling St, outside of Louie’s Backyard, definitely did not make it past these last few weeks unscathed. According to Lucinda “Sandy-Feet” Wierenga, the tent covering the village was torn-off during one of the first damaging wind storms, on April 23, and the village with its sand-castle sculptures, has been exposed to the harsh conditions that followed ever since. The structure itself was broke, according to Wierenga, and repairs were useless without cover. She stated on Facebook “we had to just stand and watch as wind driven rain melted the artwork.”
But all hope is most definitely not lost, as a new cover began installation on Wednesday, May 17.
Prior to this, Jose Sanchez, husband of Wierenga, shared that two sculptors from Quebec, Isabella Gasse and Marie-Line Gagne, completed their sculpture of a female figure releasing sand from her hands that forms into wild horses, with the message “let it go” inscribed, without the cover of the tent.
“They had to finish it without the tent,” said Sanchez. “And then the rain kept coming.”
According to Wierenga, much of the whimsical sand village was eroded, and a “big mess” has been left, but her team is not without a plan, and help is on the way.
Joaquin Cortez will be the first sculptor to arrive, expect Wierenga and Sanchez. He is the mastermind behind several of the preexisting and damaged sculptures at the village.
“It is going to be helpful to have him there. He can do some major repairs quickly, we hope,” said Wierenga.
Albert Lucio from Austin, Texas, will also be joining the repair team.
Of course, some of the sculptures are going to have to be “reimagined” or “turned into something else,” says Wierenga.
“When something gets knocked down, it leaves an opportunity to put something nicer in its place,” said Wierenga. “That’s what we are going to try to do at the Sandcastle Village.”
She sends a huge message of support out to the community, experiencing the damage these storms have left in their wake.
“We understand a broken sand sculpture is not comparable to a lot of the damage people have suffered from all this weather,” said Wierenga. “All we ask is come back and see us.”
Want the entire story? Pick up a copy of the Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS, or subscribe to our e-Edition by clicking HERE!