Lego fans from across the province were in Estevan on Saturday to show off their creativity and demonstrate the potential that exists using the popular building blocks.
The Saskatchewan Lego Users Group brought their Brickery event to the 60 and Over Club’s room inside the Estevan Leisure Centre. People turned out to view some of the unique creations that were on display.
Local Lego aficionado Chris Ursu said Brickery featured a number of special projects, including a map of Canada that was created to celebrate the 150th birthday of the country.
“It has been a neat addition that we have been bringing around all year to different shows,” said Ursu.
The map was created by 45 members of SLUG. Each person contributed a landmark or a piece of topography made of Lego.
A couple of contests were offered at Brickery. One involved potential fears and phobias that members created in celebration of Halloween. And they held a competition in which children made crazy creatures, the winner receiving a prize from Whistle Stop Toys.
Ursu hopes Brickery can inspire others, and show them what can be done using Lego.
“All of these bricks are really just from our own collections, from buying sets,” said Ursu. “Some of our childhood collections have come into play.”
They also want people to see that Lego isn’t just for children, although there were many children in attendance.
“We see it as an artistic medium,” said Ursu. “It appeals to the kids the most because they play with ... the Lego, but at the same time, I think it’s something a lot of people remember from when they were younger … and we’re hearing more and more people say ‘I’m into Lego, and I collect still.’”
Some people have switched from collectors to builders through SLUG’s events, he said.
Ursu said many people were fascinated by the different structures on display at Brickery.
“They seem to appeal to all ages, young and old, and so that’s been a rewarding experience, to see people get excited about Lego,” said Ursu.
Ursu said he enjoyed building with Lego when he was a child, but strayed from the hobby when he was older. A friend, Adam Dodge, was into it, and after seeing what Dodge could do, Ursu resdiscovered his love for the blocks.
His wife Jillian is also into Lego.
Other local SLUG members include Cooper Monroe and Waylon Kline.
He noted SLUG has no affiliation with Lego, other than Lego has supported them in the past.
One of the builders at Brickery, Caleb Fluter of Regina, brought a cathedral that he deconstructed at the end of Brickery. He said the idea for the cathedral came during a train show that SLUG was involved with. He built a smaller cathedral with a square, and decided to create one that was four feet in height.
“It’s been a really long process, so there have been some ups and downs, and sometimes I’ve been bitterly frustrated with it, but overall I am really pleased with how it did turn out, and there’s nothing I really want to change or add to it; it’s as good as I feel I can get it,” said Fluter.
But it takes up a lot of his grey bricks, and he wants to build other structures, so he knocked it over at the end of Brickery.
A great ball contraption, posters and other structures were also on display at Brickery.
