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Powell molds personal expression of faith with sand
For almost a decade, Findlay-ites and people from around the globe have marveled at the sand sculptures that are displayed every Easter at Riverside Park. What many may not know is that local nursery owner and landscaper Roger Powell is the creative force behind these inspiring efforts. Inspired by a world which he feels still has much good to share, Roger has sought to help people find that good in their own lives.
Well-known for his sand sculptures and artistic ability, Powell uses his celebrity status for a variety of charitable causes. This August, Roger is planning a major fund raiser and festival for the people of Pearlington, Mississippi who were among those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Why Pearlington, you ask? Simply, it is located in Hancock County in Mississippi and is our "Sister" county. He initially approached Holly Gazarek, the manager at Red Lobster on Tiffin Avenue in Findlay, and proposed his idea to hold a festival that would include a sand sculpture in the parking lot of the restaurant and a fund raiser at the same time.
She enthusiastically supported the idea, which has grown to include a Caribbean band, an auction which will include items that were part of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean that Roger's daughter Ashley, a production design engineer with Little Giant Studio, is donating, and a 16 chair Rock-A-Thon. Two of the sold chairs will be painted and then donated to the Pearlington school library with the buyer's name inscribed on them.
The team will then travel down to Pearlington and be there from September 20-30. Joining them will be Catherine Ritch Guess, our favorite "adopted" reality-fiction Christian novelist. Many of you know that she and Roger met at an art show and she was so inspired by his work that they garnered a friendship over several months. Catherine eventually came to Findlay during Holy Week to watch Powell and his team at work.
A native of North Carolina, Ritch Guess learned, not only about Roger and his inspirations, but also about our city and its people, which resulted in her Sandman series trilogy, all of which are set in Findlay. The stories follow the lives of an artist from Findlay and a woman passing through town who becomes so enthralled with his work and its meaning that she stays. A number of Findlay landmarks, including Dietsch's and Miller's Luncheonette, are featured by name in the books.
Roger sees himself as a naturalist and a conservative and thus has been able to use his art and architecture background and skills to give people something inspire them.
"They bring as much to me as I ever could bring to them," he says.
The highlight of the event will take place Saturday, August 9 from 10 AM until 4 PM. Powell and his team will be creating the sand sculpture during those 6 hours. The team is comprised of friends Steve Henry, Dallas Maltzbarger, Barb DeLong, son Nicholas, and wife Sharon.
