Karen Fralich

Karen Fralich
in 2016
NationalityCanadian
Known forsand sculpture
Websitesandqube.ca

Karen Fralich is a Canadian artist known for sand sculpting. Based in Guelph, Ontario, she is a five-time sand sculpting world champion and has been a judge on the reality television show Race Against the Tide since 2021.

Life

Detail of the Massacre of the Innocents and Flight to Bethlehem created by Fralich in 2008

Fralich began sculpting as a teenager after being enrolled in a seven-week pottery course by her mother.[1] She was introduced to sand sculpting in 1994 while working in a pottery studio.[2][3] Fralich spent four years training in the field while working as a manager of a McDonald's restaurant.[4] She has been sand sculpting full-time since 2000.[5] One of her first commissioned pieces was a 500-tonne recreation of the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz.[2]

Fralich is a five-time world champion sand sculptor.[1][6] She participated in an international sand sculpting competition for the first time in 1998, competing in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia.[1] In 2004 she was named the First Place Solo World Champion at the same competition for a Haida-inspired entry that included recreations of First Nations elders.[5]

Dinosaur themed sculpture featuring alive and fossilised specimens with two childrern playing at front.
"Dinostory" (2009) at Sand Sculpting Australia created by Fralich, Peter Bignell, Martijn Rijerse, Jino van Bruissenen and Christina Mija.

In addition to sand sculpting competitions and commissions, Fralich has created numerous pieces for the Canadian National Exhibition. In 2014 she was made a 100-tonne of a scene from The Empire Strikes Back.[7] Five years later she created a piece in honour of the Toronto Raptors following their NBA championship win.[1]

Fralich has been a judge on the Canadian reality television show Race Against the Tide since 2021.[2] She was initially hired as a consultant on the show, but she was moved to an on-camera role.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Pare, Mark (6 August 2022). "Guelph woman, world champion sand sculpture, goes with the grain". GuelphToday.com. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Nickerson, Cara (28 July 2022). "This former Burlington resident is a sand sculpting champ. She's also a judge in a Race Against the Tide". CBC News. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  3. ^ Kim, Peter (18 August 2014). "Sand sculptor paying tribute to Star Wars at the CNE". Global News. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  4. ^ Kipling, Kay (30 October 2019). "Sand Sculptor Karen Fralich Returns to This Year's Siesta Key Crystal Classic". Sarasota Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b Nanton, Katie (2011). "Sand Sculptures by Karen Fralich". NUVO. Summer. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b Yanchus, Kathy (16 July 2022). "Burlington world sand sculpting champion turns judge on new CBC show". thestar.com. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  7. ^ Warren, May (17 August 2014). "Burlington woman turns building sandcastles into full-time job". thestar.com. Retrieved 1 September 2022.