The Coronado Sandman - Alberto Avilais - is on my mind today since he is dying and currently fulfilling his last wish to come back to Coronado, California and do more art.
The Sandman sweeps sand into fine art no matter where he is, and most people love it. He called Coronado home for many years. He used to be a fixture on a busy corner when my son was young - we did a lot of beeping and waving and my son would scream "Sandman!" out the window as we passed.
The Sandman always stopped work to smile and wave back. My son's thrill was electric. Running into The Sandman on the street was a fan-boy dream come true for my little kid and many others.
The Coronado Sandman had to move to Texas to be near family when he got sick and he is now a local celebrity over there as he sweeps sand on the local byways. Sweeping sand is the Sandman's life's work and I feel privileged to have some of it to keep forever.
I usually only saw the work long after he was gone, but on this day, I caught The Coronado Sandman working.
He always dresses up like this - always looking spiffy and in uniform. People tip The Sandman to do special messages, proposals, holiday greetings, and messages of love. After any holiday, you would find his work in odd places - commemorating the special day.
Here is a story on the San Diego local news about the Sandman's 2017 return to Coronado - with video!
The Sandman is one of the gentlest souls you will ever meet and believes God has called him to do this work. He has a terminal illness and is being treated by hospice now. The good people of Coronado chipped in to get him back to town for the July 4th parade and then a local hotel put him up for another week. So he is making art again for the people who love him.
I'm not there now to take photos but I'm seeing him constantly in my local Coronado groups and so happy with this gift! Normally I follow him in Texas as his daughter posts the happenings. It is so wonderful to see him back where he belongs if only for a short time.
Here is another shot I treasure from days gone by. I found it while walking to the beach one day at dawn. The Sandman was long gone by then.
