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Regatta Sand Sculpture Blends Past & Present For Bicentennial

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A total of 160 tons of sand tells the story of Pittsburgh.

From the long ago meeting of young George Washington and Seneca Chief Guyasuta to the gleaming towers of a Downtown renaissance, Sandsational Sand Sculpting of Florida is working its art in Point State Park.

Sculptor Thomas Koet gives form to the mustachioed face of George Westinghouse as visitors are captivated by the 13 by 40 foot sculpture of sand.

"I think it gives a blend of past and present," says a woman from Virginia.

Sandsational owner Jill Harris says the sculpture will be finished by Friday.

"This year we wanted to focus on the Bicentennial, and so we have decided to put in the skyline and a lot of historic figures for Pittsburgh," Harris said.

None are greater than Washington and Guyasuta.

That sculpture in sand takes a much different perspective than the permanent work in bronze, atop Mount Washington. In that case, Washington gazes intently into the eyes of Guyasuta who gazes back. It's as if they're assessing each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Regatta board chairman John Bonassi tells the "KDKA Morning News" the sand sculptures are the only attraction some come to see.

"You would be surprised as to how many folks come to the Regatta simply to see the sand sculpture...in fact during the Fourth [of July], folks were looking for the sand sculpture and we had to tell them, 'you have to come back.'"

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As for the Regatta sculpture?

"The sculpture will come down either Monday or Tuesday, right after the Regatta," Harris says. "So it's definitely temporary art, and if you want to see it, you need to come down this weekend."

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