Activate Arts Alberta Sand Carving Display and Workshop by Activate Arts AB
Activate Arts AB
Activate Arts Alberta Sand Carving Display and Workshop
Site #1
Churchill Square
11:00am-9:30pm
Activate Arts Alberta is reviving its pre-pandemic Sand on Whyte carving activations with a new team of carvers who will be building two large sand sculptures for this year’s The Works and Design Festival. Led by mentor Peter Vogelaar, a team of winter snow and ice carving artists will apply their skill and creativity to a “new to them” summer medium: sand.
This project is made possible by: Sponsors: BURNCO, ABS Trucking Ltd Funder: Gov’t of Alberta
ACTIVATION & WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Live Sand Sculpture Building: Throughout Festival Hours, June 21 – June 23
ARTIST STATEMENT
“This unique sand is especially good for carving, as the grains are more angular than regular beach sand.”
The sculpting team is composed of Edmonton snow and ice carving artists who are learning how to apply their knowledge and skills to a new medium, including Activate Arts Alberta artists and members of the Sculptors’ Association of Alberta.
People may be familiar with sand carving in Canada from CBC’s show Race Against the Tide. Senior Carver and Mentor, Peter Vogelaar, was a contestant in season 2.
The sand is generously donated by BURNCO. It is sourced from their gravel pit near Wabamun, AB. This unique sand is especially good for carving, as the grains are more angular than regular beach sand.
A big thank you to The Works Arts & Design Festival for hosting this sand carving workshop and for allowing us to showcase this art form as part of their 2025 programming. The carvers will have a chance to build another sculpture as part of the 2025 Whyte Avenue Art Walk July 11 – 13, 2025 in Old Strathcona.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Peter Vogelaar, age 72, has been an artist for more than 50 years. He graduated from Kootenay School of Arts in 1976 with majors in sculpture and printmaking. After a stint in northern BC operating his own sign shop, he was drawn back to the Kootenays and has been a professional sculptor for the past 23 years. He found his niche in the ephemeral arts, working in sand, snow and ice, internationally and at home.
Together with his team mates, he has won a number of prestigious awards in these ephemeral media. He is the two-times World Champion in sand, an Olympic Champion is Snow sculpture and has won some 2nd place prizes at the World Ice Art Championship held in Fairbanks, AK. In Edmonton, you will have seen his work at the Sand on Whyte and Ice on Whyte exhibitions.
In recent years he has been focused on creating more permanent works in concrete, mosaic, and welded steel. Many of his pieces have won People's Choice awards at sculpture walks and have since become public art in those cities.
Cliff Vacheresse began his career in 2011 building slides and mazes for the Ice on Whyte Festival, and through experience and mentorship has become Activate Arts Alberta’s lead sculptor. During the winter season he travels throughout Alberta with a team of winter magic creators, bringing life to community festivals from Edmonton’s Candy Cane Lane, to High Level’s Frostival, Sylvan Lake’s giant ice slide, Grande Prairie’s Grande North Winter Festival, and others.
In 2015 he had a chance to turn his sculpting talents to sand carving at Edmonton’s Sand on Whyte Festival, and by 2022 he was invited to contribute to the A World of Sand exhibit in Søndervig, Denmark.
He shares accolades from international competitions throughout his carving career, including 3rd place finishes at Ice Magic in Lake Louise, and Chiseled in 2024. In 2022 he designed, planned, and was lead sculptor of a massive snow maze for Snow Way Out, adjacent to Rogers Place in Edmonton. Aside from Cliff’s work with Activate Arts Alberta and carving competitions, he mentors many of our team members who travel the province bringing the best of winter to community festivals.
Activate Arts Alberta (formerly Ice On Whyte Festival Society) is a non-profit arts organization that strives to bring beauty, art, and inspiration to your community.
We foster a deep appreciation for art and culture by creating immersive outdoor experiences that inspire creativity and community. Our programming is built on three core pillars: Chiseled – Edmonton’s International Ice Carving Competition; Seasonal Activations & Outreach Programming; and Whyte Avenue Art Walk.
We are dedicated to advancing public appreciation of, and participation in the arts by hosting public exhibitions, presentations, and interactive activations; providing platforms for artists to showcase their work; offering educational opportunities, including instructional classes and professional development; and supporting other events through innovative programming.
Whyte Avenue Art Walk is an annual un-juried outdoor studio and gallery that centers itself in the heart of Old Strathcona. On the weekend of July 11-13, 2025 we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary as the largest (450+ artists) and longest-running visual arts festival in Alberta. Art Walk started in 1995 with 38 artists strung out along Whyte Avenue and has grown into a vibrant coming together of community that inspires and engages both patrons and artists.
Artists are encouraged to bring their supplies and concepts and create art on site, providing an exciting opportunity for visitors to engage in many creative processes. This festival offers a kaleidoscope of works created in a multitude of visual arts mediums, by artists at every level of experience, and offers art to suit every budget.