Joe Maize

DPRC to the rescue

The first time I met Joe was in 1999. Crazy stuff, water-balloon launcher, Jellow shots, party. That was Joe.

I've been on many projects together with him, I could write a book full of memories about Joe. But here I'll keep it to one:
A couple of years ago, we just finished a job in Germany. After two days on the next job, the called us that there had been a mayor storm at the project in Germany, and they needed people to do some repair-jobs. We each had our reasons to go back to Germany. For Joe that was the Casino in Travemünde, only a 10 minute walk from the place where we stayed (if the ferry would run).

When we were driving up to Germany, all of us made the agreement that we would cry when we would arrive there, and look at the damage.

Well, when we arrived, it was slightly worse than what we imagined. 80 to 90 % was gone. We had a sober "welcome back in Germany - drink'' and when Eppo said that he was proud of us, and thanked us for coming over to help out on the repair job, first someone remarked "ow, but off-course we came, everybody wanted to come over and help", But then Joe took over and said: "Oh yeah, everybody wanted to come and help out, especially when we heard that it would be a double-payed job!"

So at that moment the DPRC was born; the "Double Pay Repair Crew".

We fixed the sculpture, everything was fine again, and for us it was just another day at the office....
We put in some DPRC-jokes in the sculpture, which no-one would understand, but still they were nice.

I will miss Joe. I will miss his wit, his pranks, his teaching-abilities, and I'll even miss his annoying personality, which he had sometimes.

Good bye Joe, have fun in heaven.
Your luggage might be a bit delayed as usual (but hey, what do you expect when you travel with two garbage-containers full of scheiss around the world), but when they arrive, all the party stuff will be in there, and when the newcomers arrive later, you will be there to teach them to carve and to party.

Aloha!

Lejo

Leo Boekestijn (Fellow Sculptor) September 10, 2006

We are saddened at the news of Joe's passing, and send our condolences to his family. Joe, you made us laugh, now we cry. You called us all losers, and some of us know why. We met Joe in Hawaii in 1981 when he was testing some sand. We were amazed at his test creations. Many years went by and it was fate that we met him again in 1993/94 at Harrison Hot Springs, where his hello to us was his sarcastic "Your'e late!"-- but Joe,, we didn't even think we knew you, and we weren't even in the contest then. We will never forget his telling three Nuns amongst the crowd watching him name a sand piece "Divine Intervention" to "Move Along, Move Along" or the year of the crop circles! How about the plastic wrap and my 100 pack of firecrackers on Billy and Sara's honeymoon suite door during the wee hours?!! The world will miss this significant, special person just as we will. So Joe, it's time to move along....

Alan (Friend) September 9, 2006

Joe's poem with better punctuation.

An Ode to Joe Maize..
////1
In Waikiki did Joseph Maize ,
A sandsculpturing career foresee ,
Where hot the midday sun did blaze ,
And tourists whiled away their days ,
Down by the sparkling sea…..
/2
A patch of beach he first defined ,
Where Honolulu’s sidewalks wind ,
And on it monstrous piles he built ,
Of perfect sand (no rocks or silt) ,
Then took to shaping these with skill ,
With hands and trowels deft until ,
Buildings appeared ….
/3
As hands did smooth and fingers twirled ,
The seven wonders of the world ,
Emerged and made a wondrous sight ,
Which Houlies ogled with delight ,
Took photographs and made phone calls ,
To friends describing Joe’s weird walls ,
And money hurled….
/4
For Joe had put a towel down ,
Inviting those who gathered ‘round ,
To celebrate his art so sunny ,
By giving him their pocket money ,
So at the end of every day ,
He had some bucks with which to play ,
And hit the town….
/5
Then Joe struck out from O-A-Hu ,
And through Vancouver quickly flew ,
To Harrison, to meet some folks ,
And share his whacky jokes and smokes ,
They swapped ideas, techniques and tricks ,
To make the sand as hard as bricks ,
Which they then carved…..
/6
At Harrison these champs convened ,
To match their wits and skills and schemed ,
To battle for the bragging rights ,
To planet earth’s best sandy sights ,
For days they sweated in the sun ,
And thousands came to see the one ,
Who’d be world champion….
/7
As member of some winning teams ,
And solo champion, it seems ,
Joe, master of the fun and frolics ,
Tried hard to make them alcoholics ,
By serving shots of wicked brew ,
With names that only JoJo knew ,
Disguised as jellies and dessert ,
Rendering some of them inert ,
But smiling sunbeams….

/8
Now Joe has gone and we remain ,
To carry on this sculpting game ,
Around the world, but annually ,
We gather here in sweet BC ,
To play on Harrison’s golden strand ,
And celebrate the world of sand ,
Which Joe rejoiced in….
/9
Let’s all remember, when we play ,
Our old companions and that they ,
May well be gone from this round sphere ,
But will live on in memory here ,
If we ensure this lovely show ,
Goes on forever. So ,
May God bless Joe ,
And all the sculptors….

The end
JA Sept 8 2006

John Allen (Poetic Eulogist) September 9, 2006

Joe will be missed for his humor with the kitchen staff. His borrowning equipment to make his signature shooters. His fondness of good food, and his lack of breakfast. He kept us on our toes, and was never short on compliments or complaints. He always spoke his mind,and always praised you for your good points. He will be missed, Harrison won't be the same. Thank you Joe, for the opportunity to serve you.

The Happy Cooker (Cooked many a Meal for him) September 9, 2006

You made us perfect

Wow......, it was black year for me in 2006, as losing my one most respect friend again, even we only stayed together for one week.
Iast year at this time in Harrisand, Joe was picked up at Vacouver airport with the same van with me and Feng together. You can''t believe what is in his big with him? a new national flag of China! we were so glad to have such a gift from an just met friend. This flag brought us lucky too till stepped on the stage of award.
It's a pity we couldn't go to Harrisand this year, but our mind was and will be impressed, the kindness of generous Joe.

Liu Jin Jun (Friend) September 9, 2006

Harrison report

So last night, the world's best sandsculptors gathered in Harrison's venerable Memorial Hall, (the scene of many a memorable Joe stunt) , to mark his passing. Over a hundred sad souls watched a video and listened attentively as friends from all over the world recounted the Joe tales which were suitable for mixed company and would not result in arrest.
After this , the congregation rose and paraded across the Esplanade and the dyke to the beach. They were led by the native drums of the local Chehalis Indian band singing a funerial song in the aboriginal Hamalkomeml language of the Stolo people.
On arrival in front of Joe's memorial sculpture, which Barry Swires is working on, the sculptors, many wearing colourful Hawaiian shirts in tribute, gathered around a fire and a circle of tiki torches.
Glow sticks were passed out and people inserted these in transparent water bottles. The "Ode to Joe" was read (better version below) and the sculptors moved down the beach to the water's edge where they threw these glowing tributes into the lagoon. As the soft evening breeze floated them away, the Chehalis drummers and singers sang a memorial song and offered a native prayer for Joe.
The multi-coloured glow sticks floated slowly across the lagoon as the moon crept out from behind Bear Mountain. A lone accordian played sad old songs as the mourners quietly remembered Joe and many episodes which helped confirm his status in the world of sandsculpture as "The Legendary Joe Maize".
Joe's passing has been a small but persistent cloud in the sky over this year's world championships. He is conspicuous by his absence and while he can never be replaced, schemes are afoot to fill the void. One of these will have a contest for the best Joe-esque critical comment on every sandsculpture in a " What would Joe say? " competition.
Saturday night will see the annual banquet and tribute stunts are expected. Monday, the annual BBQ will be held at Sasquatch Springs where a large teepee may feature in a salute to Joe's native-american heritage.
John Allen

John Allen (Harrison Host) September 9, 2006

An Ode to the Amaizing Joe Maize

An Ode to The Amaizing Joe Maize

by John Allen, Harrison Hot Springs, BC Canada. happyharrison@shaw.ca
(with apologies to the real poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who wrote “Xanadu? in 1798 )
World Premier performance to be at Harrison beach at sunset, Sept 7th 2006. Intoxicating jellies and Hawaiian shirts are forecast.


In Waikiki did Joseph Maize
A sandsculpture career foresee
Where hot the midday sun did blaze
And tourists whiled away their days
Down by the sparkling sea.

A patch of beach he first defined
Where Honolulu’s sidewalks wind
And on it monstrous piles he built
Of perfect sand (no rocks or silt)
Then took to shaping these with skill
With hands and trowels deft until
Buildings appeared

As hands did smooth and fingers twirled
The seven wonders of the world
Emerged and made a wondrous sight
Which Houlies ogled with delight
Took photographs and made phone calls
To friends describing Joe’s weird walls
And money hurled

For Joe had put a beach towel down
Inviting those who gathered round
To celebrate his art so sunny
By giving him their pocket money
So at the end of every day
He had some bucks with which to play
And hit the town

Then Joe struck out from O-A-Hu
And flew directly to Vancoo
Where he did meet some other folks
A few of whom, like Joe, brought smokes
And neat ideas, techniques and tricks
To make the sand as hard as bricks
Which they then carved.

At Harrison these champs convened
To match their wits and skills and schemed
To battle for the bragging rights
To planet earth’s best sandy sights
For days they sweated in the sun
And thousands came to see the one
Who’d be world champion

As member of some winning teams
A solo champion and it seems
Joe, master of the fun and frolics
Tried hard to make them alcoholics
By serving shots of wicked brew
With names that only JoJo knew
Disguised as jellies and dessert
Rendering some of them inert
But smiling sunbeams

Now Joe has gone and we remain
To carry on this sculpting game
Around the world, but annually
We gather here in sweet BC
To play on Harrison’s golden strand
And celebrate the world of sand
Which Joe rejoiced in

Let’s all remember, when we play
Our old companions and that they
May well be gone from this round sphere
But will live on in memory here
If we ensure this lovely show
Goes on forever.
God bless Joe
And all the sculptors.


JA Sept 7 2006

John Allen (Canadian host & friend) September 7, 2006

A sculptor and friend to be missed

I will miss Joe. He was a great sculptor and entertainer for us all. He was the life of the party and if there wasn't a party, he always made sure he brought it. It was a pleasure to watch him carve over all these years and to put up with his antics. I'm sure he'll be raising hell, as always, no matter where he ends up.

David Billings (Friend) September 7, 2006

MEMORIAL AT THE BEACH

JOE WE DID NOT EVEN KNOW YOU BUT WERE ON VACATION IN HAWAII AND WAS ON THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL. WE MET YOUR FAMILY AND MANY MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS THAT DAY. WE PARTICTIPATED BY HELPING BUILD YOUR MEMORIAL TRIBUTE. IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE THERE AND WITNESS THE LOVE AND COMPASSION AND RESPECT THAT YOU HAVE EARNED OVER ALL THE YEARS OF YOUR GREAT GIFT AS A AWESOME ARTIST. MY SCHULPTURE PALES IN COMPARISON TO YOURS BUT WE TRULEY WERE BLESSED TO BE THERE AT THAT TIME FOR YOUR SEND OFF IT TRULY WAS A GREAT HONOR HOPE YOU ENJOY THE WHALE AND THE STARFISH. EVERY TIME WE SEE SAND OUR HEARTS WILL REMEMBER YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU IN HIS HANDS. LOVE YOUR FRIENDS IN PA. TO YOUR FAMILY THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US. TILL WE MEET AGAIN ALOHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin Amp Douglas Ellison (Friend) September 7, 2006

Jackie and Family,
I wanted to send you my condolences for the lose of your brother. I heard about his passing and was looking for his obituary, Im on my way to Honolulu next weekend and I thought I would see where his services were held. Then I found this site, what a wonderful tribute to him. I remember as a kid at the Imperial Beach Sandcastle competition, going over and saying Hi to Jackie’s brother and checking out his awesome sandcastles. The messages people left on this site are amazing and from all over the world. We should be so lucky to have a life so rich in experiences, always doing what you love, and to have touched so many as he did.

Michelle Arringdale September 7, 2006