(LEX 18) — Newport Aquarium is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, they're throwing an indoor beach party.
Visitors attending the #SharkSummer will be greeted by three giant sea-life sand sculptures designed by Versailles sculptor Damon Farmer.
"He is an internationally acclaimed sand sculptor and he's building these three separate sand sculptors here at the aquarium," said Newport Aquarium PR Manager Jennifer Tan.
For the past week, guests have been able to watch as Farmer crafted the sculptures using more than 14.5 tons of sand. The sculptures have hidden features for families to find. They are deductive sculptures, meaning that Farmer started with a large, packed up carving block of sand.
"This started as my first trip to the beach as an adult. I realized I couldn't sit still and work on my tan, I had to do something creative. Sand was a natural thing, it seemed. So it was a vacation hobby for years," Farmer told LEX 18's Mike Valente.
The sculptures will remain on display at the aquarium through the end of #SharkSummer on September 8.
