（星星生活记者捷克佳报道）每年夏天，安大略湖畔的科堡(Cobourg)小镇都会吸引大批游客前往，其中的一个热点便是已经成为当地揽客品牌项目的科堡沙雕艺术节（Sandcastle Festival）。在现场观看沙雕大师们的制作更是机会难得。
有超长湖岸线和柔软细沙的科堡是一座有历史沉淀的文化小镇，其中许多19世纪的建筑包括小镇地标市政厅等受安省文物法律保护，荣获第四届奥斯卡金像奖最佳女主角的好莱坞女星玛丽·杜丝勒（Marie Dressler）就诞生于此，1931年获奖时她已经52岁。主街上还有一间著名的旅馆，是由过去的科堡监狱改建而成。
今年于8月4日举办的科堡沙雕艺术节已经是第13届，地点就在临湖的维多利亚公园。参赛者除邀请的几位来自各地的沙雕大师外，活动也吸引不少爱好者积极参与，因为入门费极低，个人报名只需5元，家庭10元，在主办方提供约两米见方的沙地上便可大显身手。参赛者最后以家庭组，青年组，成人组，商业组等几个不同组别参与评选，此外，还有备受关注的“人民的选择奖”（People’s Choice Award）。
当日中午前星星记者抵达现场，看到紧邻湖边的场地上，几位身着桔红色T恤衫的大师级嘉宾正在紧张工作，力争在下午四点前完成创作并参与大赛的评比。行前曾在官网上看过他们的资料介绍，这些沙雕大师平时大多有其他工作，沙雕创作则是难以割舍的爱好，因为他们从中找到了极大的乐趣，同时也展示了他们的艺术功底。
几位大师中包括来自安省的电影执行制片人戴尔•安德鲁斯（Dale Andrews），2014年起，他独自前往北美多地参赛，取得不俗的成绩。另一位来自安省被称为“城堡”的女士桑迪·斯特林自首届科堡沙雕节举办以来，场场不拉，每届都没有缺席。而来自魁北克的Guy Olivier Deveau则是专业沙雕与冰雕家，所谓“双雕”。
沙雕艺术体现自然景观、自然美与艺术美和谐统一，但这些大地艺术作品能够保留的时间极为有限，而雕塑师们所花费的精力和耐心却是巨大无比。虽然烈日当头，但在几个小时的时间内，大师们只是偶尔举起水杯饮水解渴。他们用包括餐具叉子吸管在内的各种工具精心雕琢作品，或在域内踱步审视作品，或查看手机中的样稿。作品上出现的Cameco，New Amherst Homes等字样则是赞助商的名称，工商业的支持使得活动得以延续下来。
沙雕大师Carl Teeple说，如果天气良好，这些作品可保持约两周时间。他评价说，科堡的沙质非常适合制作沙雕作品。询问戴尔•安德鲁斯如何尽量保持作品的形状，他回答说，在完成作品后会通过不断喷水湿润维护，水中包括一种稀释的胶水。
在比赛沙滩现场，附近的三四十个位置也相继由沙雕爱好者占据，正在创作不同题材与风格的作品。现场先后遇到两个组团参加的华人家庭，其中一家的主题是中国长城。不过，从完成后的作品看，主要是拿沙桶倒扣出几个城垛，并没有展现出雄伟壮观的一面，与现实中的差别太大，颇有些自毁长城的感觉，但作为业余选手，积极参与活动的精神却极为可贵。交谈中得知，他们是来自科堡以东的另一个小镇。
据相关资料介绍，沙雕艺术源于100多年前的美国，在20世纪80年代发展成为一门现代艺术。它是一项融雕塑、文化、绘画、建筑、体育、娱乐于一体的当代国际前沿边缘艺术，具有独特的震撼性、真实性、参与性、时限性等特点，现已成为一种全新的、极具吸引力的特色旅游景点形式，受到全世界游客的喜爱。而世界比赛中最大的沙堡高达18英尺。
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如果错过了科堡沙雕艺术节，不用担心，这个周末的8月11日和12日，在安省的萨贝尔湖滩，还有另一场盛事等着你，Sauble Beach Sandfest，这个年度节庆活动沙雕艺术节同样知名，只是，距离多伦多稍远，约3小时的车程，但却有“老爷车展”作为福利回赠。（Sauble Beach地址：672 Main St, South Bruce Peninsula ON, N0H2T0）
Beachgoers take in the sights at Sandcastle Festival in Cobourg
https://www.northumberlandnews.com/community-story/8803910-beachgoers-take-in-the-sights-at-sandcastle-festival-in-cobourg/
Aug 07, 2018 by Dominik Wisniewski Northumberland News
COBOURG — The beach was the place to be in Cobourg on Saturday, as residents and visitors cooled off in the water between taking in the sights at this year’s Sandcastle Festival.
The Aug. 4 event marked its 13th year at Victoria Beach with 12 hours of fun for all ages.
There were lots of activities including an amateur sandcastle competition, sand sculpting lessons, inflatable fun park for kids, the Sherlock Gnomes movie on the beach, live music by Mark Sepic and fireworks over the pier.
The winners of the competition in each category this year were:
Family:
First — Jen Faulkner and family with Water Ninja’s
Second — Bruce MacNeill and family with See food for thoughts
Third — Mark Galanter and family with The Galanter
Youth:
First — The Master Builders
Second — Maple Lions
Third — Fortnite
Adult:
First — Rodney Watson with Home Sweet Home
Second — Palumbo’s with Diggin It
Third — Richard Hoover with Castle on the Hill
Business:
First — Pokies — Murray Pocock
Second — Taj Mahal-New Amherst Homes Families
Third — Pyramids-William Academy
The 2018 Harry Farfan People’s Choice Award went to Fortnite from the youth category.
13th Annual Sandcastle Festival – This event has already occurred
Saturday, August 4, 2018 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
http://calendar.cobourg.icreate6.esolutionsgroup.ca/Town/Detail/2018-08-04-0830-13th-Annual-Sandcastle-Festival
Category:
Festivals and Events
Event Details:
Meet the “Masters of the Beach” at Cobourg’s International Pinnacle award winning Sandcastle Festival. The festival is celegrating its 13th year on Saturday, August 4th featuring master sculptors from all over North America. The Sandcastle Festival is organized by The Town of Cobourg and proudly supported by major sponsors including New Amherst Homes, Cameco, the Cobourg Public Library, Thomas Buick GMC Ltd. and Boston Pizza.
The Sandcastle Festival is an open celebration with a live DJ on the beach, a Kid’s Zone and an inflatable Fun Park that includes two giant slip and slides. Wristbands are available for purchase at the registration tent for $5 and give unlimited access to the Inflatable Fun Park. The evening is set to end with a movie in the park “Sherlock Gnomes” popcorn sponsored by the Marie Dressler Foundation concluding with a fireworks show. The public can view the sand sculptors for free all weekend.
Remember to visit downtown Cobourg for the 50th Annual Sidewalk Sale and to take a look at the super cool sandcastles being built right on the main street! 50 years of downtown deals during the shopping experience of the summer running from Thursday, August 2 through to Sunday, August 5.
New this year will be a live entertainment special beginning at 10am, 12pm and 2pm on August 4 provided by the very entertaining Mark Sepic, or “The Nutty Music Professor”.
Open to aspiring artists of every skill level the Sandcastle Festival is designed to encourage everyone to participate including businesses, youth, adult and families. Interested sculptors can register at http://www.experiencecobourg.ca or onsite at the registration table on Saturday, August 4 at 8:30am. All sculptors are asked to pay $5/person and all teams have a chance to win cash prizes within each category and the coveted event title.
Event Location:
Cobourg Beach
Name of Event Organizer:
Jackie Chapman Davis
Contact
T: 905-372-9971 x4150