BY KERRY MARSH
Enquirer Contributor
Todd Vander Pluym builds 'The Legend of the Lost City of Atlantis' at Kenwood Towne Center.
(Steven M. Herppich photo)
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SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP -- From a shapeless pile of river sand, held together with plywood and boards, the Lost City of Atlantis is rising again at Kenwood Towne Centre under the direction of sand sculptor Todd Vander Pluym.
Shaped from water and 70 tons of sand, the 20-foot-high sculpture will take more than 40 days and the efforts of numerous volunteers to complete.
"The most important thing is the desire to do it," said Mr. Vander Pluym, who began sculpting in 1976 and has completed more than 1,500 sand sculptures -- ranging from a simple table-top display to a 12-mile work that employed more than 20 other professional sculptors and 1,000 volunteers.
"The idea of being immortalized isn't important to me," he said. "Nothing is permanent. The most important part is the process and the people who are involved."
The secret, according to the master, is in the material -- a fine sand with sharper edges is able to pack more densely and hold its shape.
In the end, the work will overflow with coins, kelp, fish, columns and pots -- all made from just sand and water.
"The biggest criticism I have is from people who walk by and not look," said Mr. Vander Pluym, a California native.
"The Legend of the Lost City of Atlantis" is the sixth sand sculpture to make an appearance in the center's food area since 1993. Last year, almost 100 volunteers helped, but Friday was a first for Steve Lain, a 28-year-old sales - service representative from Price Hill.
"I have come to see the progress every year, and it just looked like a lot of fun," Mr. Lain said as he used a section of plastic tubing to press out sand coins. "I guess I like the idea of building something out of nothing."
The sculpture is set for completion in mid-August, and will remain on display until October. To volunteer, call Barb Cummings in the center's management office at 745-9100. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
