Grit....

Maryland’s Biblical Builder in the Sand

When it comes to sandsculpting, it’s hard to miss Randy Hofman’s sandy work in Ocean City, Maryland. From spring to fall each year, Hofman and his helpers build huge sand sculptures on the beach just off Ocean City’s famed Boardwalk. Using events from the Bible, Hofman has been building immense sand sculptures since the mid-70s. He’s developed a following that lures tourists and locals back to the Boardwalk year after year.

Hofman, who is an oil painter by trade, came to Ocean City in 1974. The Maryland native started out by helping Marc Altamar, who was completing biblical sculptures on Ocean City’s beachfront each summer. Along with helping Altamar, Hofman spent several years completing chalk biblical drawings on the sidewalk. However, in 1981, Hofman took over the biblical sand sculptures full-time when Altamar moved to Florida.

The size and scope of his work has grown over the years, with the finished sculptures often reaching forty feet in length and ten feet in depth.

“I try to do something unique each year,” says Hofman.

Through the years, he has added night lighting and Bible booklets. He’s also added intricate Scripture verses to some scenes, which may take him hours to complete, but are quite well-received by the thousands of visitors who read them.

A new scene typically takes Hofman about six to 18 hours to complete. With lots of helpers hauling sand, Hofman uses art from religious books and his own sketches to create a scene.

Once completed, Hofman then uses a mixture of glue and water to protect it from the elements. Before learning about the benefits of the glue mixture, Hofman worked every day throughout the season. Now, in addition to actual scene building time, he typically only needs one day a week for upkeep. Church volunteers tend the site daily.

“The scenes are like recipes,” says Hofman, who may repeat well-received scenes from year to year. “For my work, I repeat the parts that work well and add in new things I want to try. It’s just like a recipe, but your ingredients are just sand and water.”

The sculptures have become a big-time tourist attraction in Ocean City, with USA Today naming them as a ‘Must-See’ attraction--and locals and tourists alike returning often to see what Hofman has created. Hofman works in front of the supportive Plim Plaza Hotel, which supplied him with a convenient storage area for his tools, as well as electricity for his lighting and water for his work. For Hofman’s intricate detail work, he uses crab picking knives supplied by the nearby Mug & Mallet restaurant.

An ordained minister, Hofman sees his work as an understated way of ministering to people.

“It’s a milk ministry, rather than a meat ministry, in that it’s easy to digest,” says Hofman.

It obviously works, in that the sculptures have been self-sustaining for many years. A jar for donations needs to be emptied frequently and his website has become quite popular.

“Ocean City is a family destination and I feel I’m somewhat of a tourism emissary,” says Hofman.

For more information about Ocean City, MD, or to view more of Randy Hofman’s work, visit our website at www.grit.com.