Penfield Reef Lighthouse Replica - In Sand
By Sue Clark on Jun 27, 2008 in The Light Side 
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Take nine tons of special quarry sand from New Hampshire, one master sculptor named Sean Fitzpatrick, and an unknown number of Fairfield Beach Residents Association throwing in $5,000, and you have a huge sand sculpture of the Penfield Reef Lighthouse. Fitzy Snowman, Fitzpatrick’s company from Massachusetts, was hired to create a huge rendering of the famous lighthouse as part of the Fairfield Beach Sand Sculpting Festival, June 26-29. The lighthouse will be on display through then, and maybe even until the first frost. Even the rain may not bother it. “This sand is porous and will absorb the water,” Fitzgerald said. “Also, I built rooflines and slopes into it, so a lot of the water will run off.” The work took 23 hours to complete, built in layers. Fitzy Snowman also carves ice, snow and pumpkins and has been doing this for 17 years.
The Fairfield Beach Residents Association is hosting this event in a continuing effort to improve the beach area for all town residents. Net proceeds will go to improving the quality, safety, beauty and ecology of Penfield Beach. The FBRA will also donate an environmental concert at an inner city Bridgeport school. Local sponsors are supporting the event with signage, raffle items and donations.
According to Fitzpatrick, the special sand he’s using will “nourish” the beach, and will provide a base for next year’s display. The story at the Connecticut Post has a video, which is a must see to view this amazing piece of work. There is also another story at WTNH.Com, with a different video (text link to left of story). Both are definitely worth watching.
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