A man, a long stick, a rake, a sandy beach, and low tide. We are on the seashore near Christchurch on the south island of New Zealand. The man is Peter Donnelly. The stick is dragged on the sand to form curvy shapes. The rake imparts texture. Peter alternates raked and unraked areas. Shells are places at the central point in the drawing. Not particularly impressive until you consider the dimensions. Drawings are so extensive that to see the result in their full glory gawked line a pier that stands high above the beach. While tourists get a bird's eye view, Peter has no such advantage, working at ground level. (In that it reminds one of the large drawings found in the Peruvian altiplano.) Peter works quickly for he has only three hours to complete the artwork. His body moves elegantly guiding the stick, feeling the hardness of the sand with his feet, jumping over raked areas. No wonder this short is called Sand Dance.
Sadly the tide rises, the waves lap the edge of the art and it disappears little by little.
Sadly the tide rises, the waves lap the edge of the art and it disappears little by little.