The "Faces of Strangers: #16" Story

Leslie the sculptor.

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at the naked girl reclining on the beach.  But, there is something quite different about this special girl for you see, she is made of sand.  The builder of this day-long venture is named Leslie.  Leslie had built another reclining sculpture a couple of days ago, but the strong winds on Orient Beach totally decimated it.  Today the winds were more gentle so Leslie got to work early in the morning and by the time the beach boys had taken down the umbrellas for the day, her sculpture was complete.  This area of Orient Beach is quiet and the beach goers tend to be more friendly than on other parts of the beach. Many stopped to talk to her about her artwork, admiring the skill that she displayed.

The sculpture.

The reclining girl looks much like the other bathers on this beach, decked out in a colored necklace with a flower in her hair.  Leslie's husband assisted her by filling her bucket with sand from the edge of the water where the sand is cleaner and packs much better.  

This view shows you the detail she adds to
her sculpture.  A true beach wonder!

He replenishes her plastic sprayer with sea water which is used to spray on the sculpture to keep it firm so it doesn't deteriorate as quickly.  As the sun was slowly dropping in the Caribbean sky, I walked over to see the results of her beach day.  Asked a few questions and asked if I dare take a photo of it.  She said she is going to her place close by and get her camera, telling me that at this time of the day, when the beach is beginning to empty, the security guards don't mind if you take a photo.  I waited for her to return and took a couple of photos of her sculpture and asked if I could take one of her.  The Houston, Texas visitor was more than happy to pose for my camera.  One of my favorite "Faces of Strangers" subjects!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.