The Blues

Lego ® Lust: Part 2

On June 22, 2011, in Friends, News, wot's on, by Rosie

Some visitors to this blog might remember a family attachment to all things Lego, culminating in a great-nephew coming for a sleepover and bringing the highly annoying, dice-less game of Creationary.

The game is actually wonderful. The fact that I didn’t win at it was the issue. The other fact that Mac stole all of the pieces to build his own Lego empire was the other … issues? I have many, and only a couple of them are found within the Lego universe, but more about that another day.

This post isn’t about me. Really.

A few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to visit Nathan Sawaya’s incredible ‘Art of the Brick‘ Lego exhibition. Talk about amazing uses for a simple plastic brick that can clog your drains, imprint small round circles on the underside of your feet, end up in small nostrils (or large ones, sometimes! You know, those little mosaic ones?):

The exhibit showcases many jaw-dropping pieces of art. Apparently, Sawaya is a lawyer by trade, but became a Lego Certified Professional after branching out into the area of construction art. His work is awe-inspiring. Some of the larger pieces — like his model dinosaur — are so huge, they need to be looked at several times to appreciate the fine detail and work involved.

entire scene made from Lego

It was very interesting to hear some of the comments made by observers of Sawaya’s work. There were many Lego Certified Professionals amongst us, it seemed, as several adults mentioned (in adult-volumed voices) that they ‘could do that.’

‘Oh, look at that (a HUGE, pure white, massive model of the Acropolis). That’d be easy.’

‘Jeez. I could easily do that,’ said one observer of a human body without face, a model of perfect anatomical dimension and structure.

‘We can do that (um, see below) at home!’

OF COURSE THEY COULD! With spare Lego pieces over, too.

It appears that some folk lose the concept that they haven’t designed the individual pieces of art themselves and constructed them from scratch. Mocking ridicule of fellow observers aside, the other issue I had at the exhibition was that EVERYONE was allowed within touching distance of the pieces. Whoa! I had the urge to gently encourage children ‘DON’T FREAKING TOUCH THAT!’ Even though signs said ‘Don’t', kids invariably do, and some of them looked like they wanted to tug.

On blocks.

Uncharacteristically, I held my (Lego) piece and said nothing. Just looked at this guy: (I wondered if he had blocked arteries, but it wasn’t my show to joke about. Pity ; )

The Art of the Brick is a fantastic exhibition to visit. It appeals to adult and child alike, but it’s members of the former group that find themselves fantasizing ’bout leaving their corporate/daytime/blood-sucking jobs and applying to be a Certified Lego Professional.

I realized then that I would never challenge Nathan Sawaya to a game of Creationary. Imagine the hogging of the bricks and the massive empires Nathan would construct over the course of the game! Oh, and think of the hideous competitive repercussions between Nathan and someone like Mac. Or Crebie?

Could turn real ugly. Then again, I might just beat Nate with my wondrous construction of a high diving platform!

Man in blue, sitting in a chair? Pfft! I can do this: