Randy Hofman, sculpting a beach ministry
Randy Hofman gently guides handfuls of sand as he sets in for another day of sand sculpting at the Ocean City Boardwalk. A strong wind whips the fine grains across his canvas – a patch of beach that the self-employed artist has shaped almost daily during the tourist season for decades. His project represents the worship and ministry outreach group he works with, “Son’Spot.”
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- Working on the center of three sculptures, minister artist Randy Hofman pauses as a sea bird swoops from above as he creates his renderings of Jesus Christ at the Ocean City Boardwalk. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Minister artist Randy Hofman at the Ocean City Boardwalk, where he regularly creates biblical sand sculptures. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- The sand sculptures are reflected in the sunglasses of minister artist Randy Hofman at the Ocean City Boardwalk, where he regularly creates biblical sand sculptures. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Minister artist Randy Hofman, right, continues work on one of his renderings of Jesus Christ, with the help of Andy Deihm of Lancaster, PA, who is wearing a canister pack of a biodegradable adhesive solution. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Minister artist Randy Hofman manipulates the sand at the Ocean City beach, where he regularly creates biblical sand sculptures. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Vacationers enjoy a quiet beach behind the scene called “Alive Again,” by minister artist Randy Hofman at the Ocean City Boardwalk. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Devon Meriweather, 10 of Lorton, VA is transfixed, watching minister artist Randy Hofman create his rendering of Jesus Christ at the Ocean City Boardwalk. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- A passer-by pauses to drop money into a tip container as minister artist Randy Hofman creates his renderings of Jesus Christ, with the help of Andy Deihm of Lancaster, PA (behind), who is in the area for religious education. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Minister artist Randy Hofman sculpts from sand the center portrait of a rendering of Jesus Christ along the Ocean City Boardwalk. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Sand sculpture work is reflected in the sunglasses of Rebecca Deems of Fairmont, WV, created by minister artist Randy Hofman. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Minister artist Randy Hofman works on his knees, while Andy Deihm of Lancaster, PA, in the area for religious education, wears a container of a biodegradable glue solution on Hofman’s rendering of Jesus Christ at the Ocean City Boardwalk. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- The large ferris wheel sits in the background of the sand sculpture of Jesus Christ having risen looks up, created by minister artist Randy Hofman at the Ocean City Boardwalk, where he regularly creates biblical sand sculptures. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
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- Minister artist Randy Hofman, seen working on a sand pile, regularly creates biblical sand sculptures along the Ocean City Boardwalk. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
In second grade, Hofman knew he wanted to be an artist. He soon learned his craft under the guidance of Marc Altamar, an established sand sculptor. In 1981 Altamar retired and moved to Florida, making room for Hofman to carry on the tradition of sculpting in front of the Plim Plaza Hotel.
Hofman says his wife, Marilynne, is supportive of his art, “She packs me off to the sandpile like I’m going to grade school.”
“The sand sculptures are temporary, like us,” the 61-year-old adds.
Nature is always working to slowly erode the sculpture and return the sand back to the beach.
“Book your reservations in advance. We don’t know when that wave comes in that has our name on it.”
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