Nathan Sawaya quit his career as a corporate lawyer to pursue his passion for art full-time, focusing on creating sculptures out of Lego bricks. He began experimenting with Lego sculptures as a creative outlet at home. Over time, his sculptures grew larger and more complex, leading him to create a website to share his work. The positive response to his website convinced him to pursue Lego art as a career. Now Nathan works from two large studios stocked with millions of Lego bricks, where he spends hours creating intricate sculptures that can use tens of thousands of bricks. His Lego art has been exhibited around the world to critical and popular acclaim.
This document contains summaries of artworks created by students from various high schools in the Ottawa Area ISD. Each summary is 1-3 sentences and provides the title of the artwork, the artist's name and school, and a brief description of the inspiration for and process of creating the piece. The artworks cover a variety of mediums including collage, painting, drawing and mixed media.
In dialogue with everyday object. A research of play archetypesTian Tang
This document summarizes a design project aimed at enhancing the play value of everyday objects for children. The designer conducted research on children's play activities and environments. She explored extracting "play forms" from ordinary objects like dice and applying them in new contexts. Two prototype designs were a "dice stool" that children could kick, roll, and sit on, and a "house table" combining the shapes of a house and table to promote imaginative play. Evaluation criteria for ideas included understandability, appropriateness of materials, and product longevity. While refining the house table design, the designer discovered a similar existing product and chose to pursue the dice stool concept instead. The overall goal was to dissolve play into daily life through subtle play
The Chicago Children’s Museum currently has an “Invention Lab” to broaden a child’s perspective on what it means to learn and innovate the world around them. As the second most visited children’s museum in the country, the museum is taking inspiration from the Tinkering School to update their lab to one that can encourage an exploration of open-ended problems, patient problem solving, adventure, and self-directed learning.
How can we create an exhibit for tinkering and innovation?
Esta es una revista hecha por IDEO.
"Puedes prototipar cualquier cosa" es la primera edición. Dentro de ella conocerás a dos amigos que probaron el concepto de restaurante en su habitación. También, la forma en que se probaron más de 100 modelos de mouse para llegar un insight clave de diseño.
Síguenos en https://www.facebook.com/wif.ideas
Esta es la segunda edición de la revista hecha por IDEO.
Se trata de una revista seria sobre cómo ser menos serio ;)
En sus páginas pueden leerse las sabias palabras del Dr. Seuss, conocer a dos hermanos rusos construyendo espacios modulares con robots y explorar el Arte Japonés del "Chindogu" o "extrañas invenciones"
Síguenos en https://www.facebook.com/wif.ideas
Este documento describe un taller práctico sobre 10 claves para la implementación de tendencias y enfoques innovadores en la educación. El taller busca que los docentes identifiquen el cambio necesario para incorporar las TIC en el aula y currículo, y desarrollen las habilidades requeridas para el nuevo paradigma educativo. El taller se centra en temas como las nuevas habilidades del siglo XXI, políticas de acceso a la tecnología y desafíos de la educación actual. Los docentes deben analizar tendencias pedagógicas emergent
This document contains 10 photo credits from various photographers including peregrine blue, H is for Home, Susanica, Werner Kunz, edtechie99, netzanette, an untrained eye, Steve Rhodes, DarkElfPhoto, and Nomadic Lass. It ends by encouraging the reader to create their own Haiku Deck presentation on SlideShare.
This document contains summaries of artworks created by students from various high schools in the Ottawa Area ISD. Each summary is 1-3 sentences and provides the title of the artwork, the artist's name and school, and a brief description of the inspiration for and process of creating the piece. The artworks cover a variety of mediums including collage, painting, drawing and mixed media.
In dialogue with everyday object. A research of play archetypesTian Tang
This document summarizes a design project aimed at enhancing the play value of everyday objects for children. The designer conducted research on children's play activities and environments. She explored extracting "play forms" from ordinary objects like dice and applying them in new contexts. Two prototype designs were a "dice stool" that children could kick, roll, and sit on, and a "house table" combining the shapes of a house and table to promote imaginative play. Evaluation criteria for ideas included understandability, appropriateness of materials, and product longevity. While refining the house table design, the designer discovered a similar existing product and chose to pursue the dice stool concept instead. The overall goal was to dissolve play into daily life through subtle play
The Chicago Children’s Museum currently has an “Invention Lab” to broaden a child’s perspective on what it means to learn and innovate the world around them. As the second most visited children’s museum in the country, the museum is taking inspiration from the Tinkering School to update their lab to one that can encourage an exploration of open-ended problems, patient problem solving, adventure, and self-directed learning.
How can we create an exhibit for tinkering and innovation?
Esta es una revista hecha por IDEO.
"Puedes prototipar cualquier cosa" es la primera edición. Dentro de ella conocerás a dos amigos que probaron el concepto de restaurante en su habitación. También, la forma en que se probaron más de 100 modelos de mouse para llegar un insight clave de diseño.
Síguenos en https://www.facebook.com/wif.ideas
Esta es la segunda edición de la revista hecha por IDEO.
Se trata de una revista seria sobre cómo ser menos serio ;)
En sus páginas pueden leerse las sabias palabras del Dr. Seuss, conocer a dos hermanos rusos construyendo espacios modulares con robots y explorar el Arte Japonés del "Chindogu" o "extrañas invenciones"
Síguenos en https://www.facebook.com/wif.ideas
Este documento describe un taller práctico sobre 10 claves para la implementación de tendencias y enfoques innovadores en la educación. El taller busca que los docentes identifiquen el cambio necesario para incorporar las TIC en el aula y currículo, y desarrollen las habilidades requeridas para el nuevo paradigma educativo. El taller se centra en temas como las nuevas habilidades del siglo XXI, políticas de acceso a la tecnología y desafíos de la educación actual. Los docentes deben analizar tendencias pedagógicas emergent
This document contains 10 photo credits from various photographers including peregrine blue, H is for Home, Susanica, Werner Kunz, edtechie99, netzanette, an untrained eye, Steve Rhodes, DarkElfPhoto, and Nomadic Lass. It ends by encouraging the reader to create their own Haiku Deck presentation on SlideShare.
Mario Carnesi has been a self-taught taxidermist for over 30 years. He runs his own taxidermy business, Melbourne Taxidermy Services, out of a workshop filled with hundreds of mounted animal specimens. Carnesi discovered his passion for taxidermy as a child and taught himself the art through experimentation. While taxidermy remains a niche field, Carnesi has a diverse clientele including hunters, museums, and movie productions. He emphasizes that the work requires patience and skill to properly preserve and mount animal skins and captures.
The document proposes a new software development method called Iwa that is based on principles from ancient civilizations. Iwa aims to address issues with Agile and DevOps like a lack of community and emphasis on individuals. The core principles of Iwa include good character, mandatory skills/morals training, team-focused goals, and referring to team members as "Onipa." Key practices include team chanting before deployments, reciprocal support between members, and meetings led by an "Iwa Shaman" to foster community over individuals or titles. The document argues Iwa could help improve retention and success by focusing on humanity and teamwork over products or certifications.
This document contains photo credits from various photographers including Darwin Bell, philhearing, Filippo C, Celeste, YourCastlesDecor, RLHyde, Mukumbura, jdtornow, Sergiu Bacioiu, asafantman, mindfulness, and Gwenaël Piaser. It encourages the reader to get started creating their own Haiku Deck presentation on SlideShare.
Dokumen tersebut membahas tentang poligon dan beberapa jenis poligon dua dimensi seperti segi empat, jajar genjang, dan layang-layang. Dijelaskan pula rumus-rumus untuk menghitung luas dan keliling poligon-poligon tersebut.
Las Mejores Practicas del Inbound MarketingMiel Inbound
El documento describe las mejores prácticas del marketing de atracción o inbound marketing. Estas incluyen crear perfiles de compradores ideales llamados Buyer Personas, generar contenido relevante y educativo para cada etapa del proceso de compra, y distribuir efectivamente el contenido a través de múltiples canales para llegar a los compradores. El objetivo es atraer visitantes al sitio web, convertirlos en leads cualificados y fidelizarlos como clientes a largo plazo.
Sumber daya alam akuatik Indonesia sangat beragam dan melimpah, termasuk perikanan, hutan mangrove, dan terumbu karang. Perikanan Indonesia memiliki potensi lestari sebesar 6,4 juta ton per tahun, hutan mangrove memberikan manfaat ekologis dan ekonomis, sedangkan terumbu karang Indonesia merupakan yang terluas di dunia dan memberikan manfaat ekonomi, ekologis, dan sosial ekonomi.
Airbnb is the leading online marketplace for short-term home rentals. The document discusses Airbnb's $1B investment opportunity at a $20B valuation. It summarizes Airbnb's business model, large addressable market across vacation rentals and new markets created, strong network effects and competitive advantages, and financial projections estimating high growth and returns. However, the author recommends passing on the deal given the high $20B valuation limits potential returns to only 0.7-1.1x on investment.
Project Gallery – Who What When Why & HowHari Chakyar
Between 24 Nov and 5 Dec 2014, the creative team at GREY group, Mumbai came together to put up their creative work (outside of work) as part of a pop-up exhibition. They called it Project Gallery came to be. This is the story of Project Gallery.
George Venson On Making His Own Life and His Own Wallpaper | THE QUEER INTERI...David Tomczak
George Venson founded Voutsa, a wallpaper design company known for its bold and colorful patterns. After starting his career in economics, Venson pursued art and received a scholarship to travel abroad. He spent six years working various jobs before launching Voutsa out of his loft in Union Square. Voutsa's daring designs have gained recognition, and the company is now expanding into clothing collaborations. Venson credits his diverse experiences for helping him develop the skills to run his own successful business and "finally make his own life" through his work.
This document discusses the use of augmented reality in art galleries and museums, using the exhibition ReBlink at the Art Gallery of Ontario as a case study. ReBlink reimagined 10 artworks from the gallery's collection by overlaying augmented reality layers that provided modern commentary on each piece. It engaged visitors and doubled their average viewing time. The exhibition was successful and received positive feedback, demonstrating how AR can be used to increase engagement with art in museums.
The document provides details about issue 21 of the magazine Gypsy Chic, including interviews with artists Becky Roesler, Ruth Oliver, and Jenny Hancock. It discusses Depop.com as a platform for selling creative works and vintage items. It also shares an experience visiting a Van Gogh exhibition in London and an attempt to paint in Van Gogh's style.
Digital Ethnography Final Brenna MonsonBrenna Monson
Digital ethnography involves collecting data through interviews and observation, analyzing common themes in the data through content analysis, and comparing findings to other studies. The document describes an interview with artist Rebeca Bashly about her virtual art installation "Queen's Gambit Declined" in Second Life. Bashly creates detailed 3D sculptures using 3D modeling programs and imports them to Second Life. She makes art to express herself and has donated works to charities. Her favorite piece is "Snowcrash," a collaborative project.
The document is the fourth volume of a publication called Gallery & Studio from 2015. It contains articles about various artists, exhibitions, and the art world. To celebrate its one-year anniversary, the publication features interviews with sculptors like Jedd Novatt and profiles of galleries and artists in Singapore. It also covers the Singapore Art Week events like Art Stage and the Prudential Singapore Eye Awards exhibition.
1) In 1971, the author came up with the idea of "Common Drawing" while jogging at MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies - by swinging his arm holding chalk, he could draw different shapes and diagrams on walls depending on his body movements.
2) He invited others to try it and found that people enjoyed participating and were surprised by their own abilities, with the drawings leaving everyone smiling.
3) Thirty years later, now retired, the author rebuilt blackboards to try Common Drawing again with friends - he rediscovered a new beauty in decomposing the basic exercises into their elemental arcs using pastels.
4) He believes Common Drawing's re-emergence could now be something new and needed
This document provides details and reflections from an artist on various art projects and creative explorations they undertook. It describes finding inspiration from past artworks, searching through collections of supplies, and experimenting with different materials and techniques. Specific projects discussed include small collages using cross-stitch floss, drawings using both hands, assemblages made from found objects, and abstract interpretations of the beach using textures. The artist reflects on the influences of family members on their identity and love of color, experimenting with different styles and materials, and continually searching for new creative sparks.
Adhesive Artists: BNE and snoeman and space invader .kozakartclass
BNE is a mysterious graffiti artist who has been tagging his tag "BNE" around the world for over 15 years. He uses stickers to proliferate his tag in as many places as possible. While some see him as a criminal for his vandalism, he sees himself as competing against major corporate brands by creating a globally recognized brand through his graffiti without selling any product. His identity and motives remain largely unknown, with even the meaning of "BNE" being open to interpretation. He funds his tagging through part-time jobs and remains a largely solitary figure in the graffiti world.
B.N.E. is a prolific graffiti artist known for tagging his tag "BNE" in public spaces around New York City and globally using stickers. He has been tagging for over 15 years and aims to spread his tag as widely as major corporate logos. Some see his work as vandalism, while others are impressed by his success in creating a globally recognized brand without selling any products. More recently, a website was launched claiming to donate the recognition of the BNE brand to charitable causes, though it is unclear if this is directly connected to the artist.
Ignite your child's imagination with our delightful collection of playhouses for kids at Make It Cute Kids. From charming cottages to adventurous pirate ships, explore a world of endless fun and creativity. Shop now!
This document summarizes and compares the artistic practices of two Sydney-based artists - Luke Temby, who works in a new school, graphic-influenced style, and Jason Benjamin, a more traditional oil painter. It describes their different backgrounds, artistic mediums, studios, commercial approaches, and challenges navigating the changing art world. Both artists are working to sustain their careers and keep their work visible in an environment where galleries are struggling and buyers' habits are shifting.
Mario Carnesi has been a self-taught taxidermist for over 30 years. He runs his own taxidermy business, Melbourne Taxidermy Services, out of a workshop filled with hundreds of mounted animal specimens. Carnesi discovered his passion for taxidermy as a child and taught himself the art through experimentation. While taxidermy remains a niche field, Carnesi has a diverse clientele including hunters, museums, and movie productions. He emphasizes that the work requires patience and skill to properly preserve and mount animal skins and captures.
The document proposes a new software development method called Iwa that is based on principles from ancient civilizations. Iwa aims to address issues with Agile and DevOps like a lack of community and emphasis on individuals. The core principles of Iwa include good character, mandatory skills/morals training, team-focused goals, and referring to team members as "Onipa." Key practices include team chanting before deployments, reciprocal support between members, and meetings led by an "Iwa Shaman" to foster community over individuals or titles. The document argues Iwa could help improve retention and success by focusing on humanity and teamwork over products or certifications.
This document contains photo credits from various photographers including Darwin Bell, philhearing, Filippo C, Celeste, YourCastlesDecor, RLHyde, Mukumbura, jdtornow, Sergiu Bacioiu, asafantman, mindfulness, and Gwenaël Piaser. It encourages the reader to get started creating their own Haiku Deck presentation on SlideShare.
Dokumen tersebut membahas tentang poligon dan beberapa jenis poligon dua dimensi seperti segi empat, jajar genjang, dan layang-layang. Dijelaskan pula rumus-rumus untuk menghitung luas dan keliling poligon-poligon tersebut.
Las Mejores Practicas del Inbound MarketingMiel Inbound
El documento describe las mejores prácticas del marketing de atracción o inbound marketing. Estas incluyen crear perfiles de compradores ideales llamados Buyer Personas, generar contenido relevante y educativo para cada etapa del proceso de compra, y distribuir efectivamente el contenido a través de múltiples canales para llegar a los compradores. El objetivo es atraer visitantes al sitio web, convertirlos en leads cualificados y fidelizarlos como clientes a largo plazo.
Sumber daya alam akuatik Indonesia sangat beragam dan melimpah, termasuk perikanan, hutan mangrove, dan terumbu karang. Perikanan Indonesia memiliki potensi lestari sebesar 6,4 juta ton per tahun, hutan mangrove memberikan manfaat ekologis dan ekonomis, sedangkan terumbu karang Indonesia merupakan yang terluas di dunia dan memberikan manfaat ekonomi, ekologis, dan sosial ekonomi.
Airbnb is the leading online marketplace for short-term home rentals. The document discusses Airbnb's $1B investment opportunity at a $20B valuation. It summarizes Airbnb's business model, large addressable market across vacation rentals and new markets created, strong network effects and competitive advantages, and financial projections estimating high growth and returns. However, the author recommends passing on the deal given the high $20B valuation limits potential returns to only 0.7-1.1x on investment.
Project Gallery – Who What When Why & HowHari Chakyar
Between 24 Nov and 5 Dec 2014, the creative team at GREY group, Mumbai came together to put up their creative work (outside of work) as part of a pop-up exhibition. They called it Project Gallery came to be. This is the story of Project Gallery.
George Venson On Making His Own Life and His Own Wallpaper | THE QUEER INTERI...David Tomczak
George Venson founded Voutsa, a wallpaper design company known for its bold and colorful patterns. After starting his career in economics, Venson pursued art and received a scholarship to travel abroad. He spent six years working various jobs before launching Voutsa out of his loft in Union Square. Voutsa's daring designs have gained recognition, and the company is now expanding into clothing collaborations. Venson credits his diverse experiences for helping him develop the skills to run his own successful business and "finally make his own life" through his work.
This document discusses the use of augmented reality in art galleries and museums, using the exhibition ReBlink at the Art Gallery of Ontario as a case study. ReBlink reimagined 10 artworks from the gallery's collection by overlaying augmented reality layers that provided modern commentary on each piece. It engaged visitors and doubled their average viewing time. The exhibition was successful and received positive feedback, demonstrating how AR can be used to increase engagement with art in museums.
The document provides details about issue 21 of the magazine Gypsy Chic, including interviews with artists Becky Roesler, Ruth Oliver, and Jenny Hancock. It discusses Depop.com as a platform for selling creative works and vintage items. It also shares an experience visiting a Van Gogh exhibition in London and an attempt to paint in Van Gogh's style.
Digital Ethnography Final Brenna MonsonBrenna Monson
Digital ethnography involves collecting data through interviews and observation, analyzing common themes in the data through content analysis, and comparing findings to other studies. The document describes an interview with artist Rebeca Bashly about her virtual art installation "Queen's Gambit Declined" in Second Life. Bashly creates detailed 3D sculptures using 3D modeling programs and imports them to Second Life. She makes art to express herself and has donated works to charities. Her favorite piece is "Snowcrash," a collaborative project.
The document is the fourth volume of a publication called Gallery & Studio from 2015. It contains articles about various artists, exhibitions, and the art world. To celebrate its one-year anniversary, the publication features interviews with sculptors like Jedd Novatt and profiles of galleries and artists in Singapore. It also covers the Singapore Art Week events like Art Stage and the Prudential Singapore Eye Awards exhibition.
1) In 1971, the author came up with the idea of "Common Drawing" while jogging at MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies - by swinging his arm holding chalk, he could draw different shapes and diagrams on walls depending on his body movements.
2) He invited others to try it and found that people enjoyed participating and were surprised by their own abilities, with the drawings leaving everyone smiling.
3) Thirty years later, now retired, the author rebuilt blackboards to try Common Drawing again with friends - he rediscovered a new beauty in decomposing the basic exercises into their elemental arcs using pastels.
4) He believes Common Drawing's re-emergence could now be something new and needed
This document provides details and reflections from an artist on various art projects and creative explorations they undertook. It describes finding inspiration from past artworks, searching through collections of supplies, and experimenting with different materials and techniques. Specific projects discussed include small collages using cross-stitch floss, drawings using both hands, assemblages made from found objects, and abstract interpretations of the beach using textures. The artist reflects on the influences of family members on their identity and love of color, experimenting with different styles and materials, and continually searching for new creative sparks.
Adhesive Artists: BNE and snoeman and space invader .kozakartclass
BNE is a mysterious graffiti artist who has been tagging his tag "BNE" around the world for over 15 years. He uses stickers to proliferate his tag in as many places as possible. While some see him as a criminal for his vandalism, he sees himself as competing against major corporate brands by creating a globally recognized brand through his graffiti without selling any product. His identity and motives remain largely unknown, with even the meaning of "BNE" being open to interpretation. He funds his tagging through part-time jobs and remains a largely solitary figure in the graffiti world.
B.N.E. is a prolific graffiti artist known for tagging his tag "BNE" in public spaces around New York City and globally using stickers. He has been tagging for over 15 years and aims to spread his tag as widely as major corporate logos. Some see his work as vandalism, while others are impressed by his success in creating a globally recognized brand without selling any products. More recently, a website was launched claiming to donate the recognition of the BNE brand to charitable causes, though it is unclear if this is directly connected to the artist.
Ignite your child's imagination with our delightful collection of playhouses for kids at Make It Cute Kids. From charming cottages to adventurous pirate ships, explore a world of endless fun and creativity. Shop now!
This document summarizes and compares the artistic practices of two Sydney-based artists - Luke Temby, who works in a new school, graphic-influenced style, and Jason Benjamin, a more traditional oil painter. It describes their different backgrounds, artistic mediums, studios, commercial approaches, and challenges navigating the changing art world. Both artists are working to sustain their careers and keep their work visible in an environment where galleries are struggling and buyers' habits are shifting.
Dexter Navy is a filmmaker and photographer known for his psychedelic, cinematic style. His career began when i-D Magazine discovered his photos on Tumblr and he began regularly contributing to them. One of his most notable works is the music video for A$AP Rocky's "L$D" which earned him a Grammy nomination. Navy cites the 1990 film La Haine as a key influence and aims to capture the youthful energy and curiosity he sees in it. While social media was integral to his early success, he continues to draw inspiration from the diverse cultures he encounters in his hometown of London. Navy's goal is to apply the skills he develops in photography and music videos to creating his own feature film.
This newsletter provides updates on Tony Nero's art activities and local art events in Peterborough, UK. It describes Tony's involvement in various art exhibitions and workshops, including juried shows, teaching an abstract painting workshop, and creating cover art for a musician. It also announces an upcoming art festival and profiles a street artist creating sand sculptures. In addition to news, it shares photos of Tony's recent paintings and previews new works he is creating in 2014.
Lon Levin's art and photography magazine featuring top illustrators and photographers around the world. Featuring Bruce Munro, Bob McMahon, James Vaughn and Justin Rosenberg
The Jenkintown Festival of Arts and Crafts Show featured works from over 50 artists in a variety of mediums including painting, photography, jewelry, and textiles. Last year nearly 5,000 people attended the one-day event held in Jenkintown Town Square on September 21st. The festival aims to provide a space for local artists to showcase and sell their original handcrafted works while also offering music and dance performances for attendees. One artist creates unique fruit-themed jewelry by preserving fresh fruit in resin, while another makes tribal-inspired jewelry from clay, glass, and recycled wood. A student exhibit included paintings, drawings, and sculptures replicating everyday objects. The festival exposes visitors to the talent of
The Jenkintown Festival of Arts and Crafts Show featured works from over 50 artists in a variety of mediums including painting, photography, jewelry, and textiles. Last year nearly 5,000 people attended the one-day event held in Jenkintown Town Square on September 21st. The festival aims to provide a space for local artists to showcase and sell their original handcrafted works while also offering music and dance performances for attendees. One artist creates unique fruit-themed jewelry by preserving fresh fruit in resin, while another makes tribal-inspired jewelry from clay, glass, and recycled wood. A student exhibit included paintings, drawings, and sculptures replicating everyday objects. The festival exposes visitors to the talent of
The document discusses Van Gogh Alive, an immersive digital art exhibition that projects Van Gogh's paintings onto boards and boxes to create an engaging experience for viewers. The author believes art exhibitions should be as exciting as the art itself. Van Gogh's use of bold color was influenced by color theory and helped establish his distinctive style. For her own project, the author considers incorporating elements like varying light levels, 3D maps, and virtual reality to create an immersive presentation.
The document outlines the goals and results of the first phase of prototyping an "Art Cart" program at the Art & Nature Center from July 2012 to April 2013. The Art Cart is meant to activate galleries through multisensory art activities and encourage social interaction. Based on positive feedback from nearly 900 visitors, the next steps include expanding the program with a second cart, training docents, and exploring marketing and funding options to continue the program.
The document describes an urban sketching event in Sunderland with Keith Nevens and Kevin Petrie on November 14, 2016. Urban sketching involves drawing scenes on location rather than from photos. The group was founded in 2007 and aims to share sketches from around the world to showcase places through drawings. The event featured sketches of local buildings, gardens, and other scenes completed on site to practice observation and recording of details.
1. 1 4 M A N S PA C E M A G A Z I N E I N S I D E T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T G A R A G E S , S H E D S A N D M A N C AV E S
A
former corporate lawyer
from New York City, Nathan
Sawaya quit this lucrative
occupation to pursue a career as a full
time artist. But what makes his career
change even more unlikely is the
medium Nathan chose to work with –
those ubiquitous plastic bricks almost
all of us played with as kids – Lego.
“The transition happened
gradually,” Nathan tells. “I
would come home after a long day
and I would need some sort of outlet.
So from time to time I would do
something creative – sometimes it
was drawing, painting or writing and
sometimes sculpting.”
One night Nathan got the idea in
his head to try and build a large scale
sculpture using only Lego bricks. So
he hauled out some old Lego he’d
had since childhood and began to
experiment by trying to recreate
the things he saw in and around his
apartment.
Over time the sculptures grew
larger and larger until Nathan
decided to put a website together: a
kind of virtual gallery to share what
he was working on.
RIGHT: Nathan
Sawaya’s fascination
for the popular plastic
bricks has earned
him plaudits from art
critics and Lego fans
alike.
“People really took to it and I
started getting commission requests
from folks all over. So I would spend
long days at the law firm and then
come home at night and have long
nights making Lego artwork. It was
when my website crashed from too
many hits that I decided it was time
to make a change, and I left the
practice of law to go and play with
toys full time,” Nathan says.
Looking at Nathan’s creations
though, it’s plain to see that there
is a whole lot more going on than
mere child’s play. The mind-blowing
complexity and scale of his works
require detailed planning and no
small amount of patience.
“I had Lego bricks growing up as
so many kids do and they were a
great construction toy. My parents
were always encouraging creativity
so a toy like Lego was perfect. But
it was rediscovering the toy as an
artistic medium later in life that really
allowed me to take it in a whole new
direction.
“When I’m working on specific
sculptures, like for my new exhibition
that’s coming to the Sydney
Powerhouse Museum based around
DC comics, I have to have a pretty
good idea in my mind of how the
sculpture is going to come together
before I put down that first brick.
There’s a real difference from a
process point of view. Now there’s
more planning, more to figure out.
I also glue the bricks together as I
go these days so you need to have a
clear idea of where you’re going.”
Nathan now works from (and lives
between) two sizable studios in Los
Angeles and New York that he keeps
stocked with around five million
bricks each. These are all organised
Nathan Sawaya’s sculptures have been making quite a stir of late.
Revered by art critics and pop culture enthusiasts alike, and with multiple
exhibitions all over the globe, he’s been credited as being the first artist to
take Lego to the art world. Jacob Harris explains.
2.
3. 1 6 M A N S PA C E M A G A Z I N E I N S I D E T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T G A R A G E S , S H E D S A N D M A N C AV E S
4. I N S I D E T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T G A R A G E S , S H E D S A N D M A N C AV E S M A N S PA C E M A G A Z I N E 1 7
by size, shape and colour so he knows
exactly where to go when he needs a
specific brick – after all, when you’re
working on projects of this scale, that
mixed bag of bricks you had as a kid
isn’t quite going to cut it!
“It’s like walking in to a rainbow,”
Nathan says. “There are lines and
lines of colour filling a whole lot of
different shelves. It’s a fun place to
work.”
The way Nathan describes it
does make it sound like a lot of fun,
but making large sculptures out of
thousands upon thousands of very
small bricks isn’t always going to be
a walk in the park. He tells me a life-
size human form will take around 2-3
weeks to complete and uses 15,000-
20,000 bricks; an undertaking that
would stretch the limits of patience
for most of us.
For Nathan though it’s calming,
even therapeutic, and he’s happy to
sit in the studio for as long as it takes.
“I have been told I go into a
bit of a trance when I’m working.
I can sit for hours just plugging
away at something. For me to just
click away, brick after brick, in the
studio with my music going is a
great way to spend my day. It’s a
completely different environment
from practicing law in an office with
people coming in and out all day
long.
“What I’m doing now is so much
more enjoyable and in tune with
what I want to do with my life -
just sitting in the art studio creating
something with my hands.”
Even when things go
wrong Nathan is happy to resolutely
break out the hammer and chisel
and start chipping away if things
don’t look quite right; as far as he’s
concerned it’s all just part of the
process. Many would argue that it’s
this tenacity, along with the obvious
skill involved that sees his career go
from strength to strength. But the
artist attributes at least some of this
success to his chosen medium.
“To be honest, I thought my first
exhibition was also going to be my
last. It was a solo show, of just a few
pieces, and I really didn’t expect
that much would come of it. But
when the exhibition opened, we got
an overwhelming response – over
2 thirds of the museum’s annual
ABOVE & LEFT:
Nathan’s latest
exhibition,The Art of
the Brick: DC Comics,
will open at the
Sydney Powerhouse
Museum on November
21.
5. 1 8 M A N S PA C E M A G A Z I N E I N S I D E T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T G A R A G E S , S H E D S A N D M A N C AV E S
Contact:
Nathan Sawaya
www.nathansawaya.com/
visitors in the six weeks the show was
open – so many people connected
with the art immediately and I think
that’s a testament to Lego being a
universal toy that makes the art very
accessible,” Nathan says.
After this initial success Nathan
started touring the exhibition. In
time, this expanded into multiple
exhibitions and has now become a
global touring company. Fortunately,
the lifestyle that comes with this
kind of artistic success only serves to
inspire Nathan further.
“Inspiration can come from
anywhere or anything, but having
multiple exhibitions on tour all over
the globe is a real benefit because I
get to travel around the world. I go
to different countries, meet different
people, experience different cultures
and use those as resources for
inspiration. I carry a little sketch pad
with me wherever I go and I’m always
jotting down different ideas.”
Nathan is constantly trying to
push the envelope with what can
be done with Lego, and it has to be
said he’s been quite successful in
this endeavour. One of the recent
examples of this is his collaboration
with Australian hyper-realistic
photographer Dean West, which
involved integrating Nathan’s Lego
sculptures into Dean’s photography.
“The works are a commentary
on the construction of identity.
When you look at the construction
of the sculptures that have been
integrated into the photography
they do have a pixelated, digital look
to them which works seamlessly
into his photography. So that was
an opportunity to take Lego in a
different direction, and I want to
keep doing that, keep trying different
things.”
The Art of the Brick: DC Comics
will open at the Sydney Powerhouse
Museum on November 21.
ABOVE: A life-size
human form takes
Nathan 2-3 weeks to
complete and uses
15,000-20,000.
Icarryalittle sketchpadwithmewhereverIgo
andI’malwaysjottingdowndifferentideas.