by Deborah Rogers | photos by Amanda Cribdon Photography –
What is it about Lego that makes it so popular? The little Danish plastic building blocks have been around for over 70 years. Today Lego is the largest toy company in the world with movies, games and amusement parks under its brand. But it’s those oh-so-simple, yet endlessly creative, interlocking plastic bricks that are my focus as I had the chance to go Behind the Scenes of the annual Lego exhibition at the Sidney Museum.
Around 15 years ago Peter Garnham had the idea to include some of his family’s Lego in the museum’s collection. Since then it’s become an annual tradition to host a Lego exhibit in the quiet months of January to March. It might have started small, but the exhibition has quickly become not just a tradition for many families on the Peninsula and beyond, but also the source of the largest numbers of visitors for the museum.
Typically the museum closes for just one day for the mammoth task of setting up the hundreds of Lego models that make up the exhibition. Due to the snow that blanketed Sidney after Christmas, the museum was closed for an extra couple of days, allowing me the chance to witness the great “build” in person! The newly-named downstairs “Garnham Gallery” will house most of the Lego this year.
I’ve done my fair share of Lego building over the years, I loved it as a child and my parents still have our old sets for the grandchildren. At my house currently there is Star Wars Lego and Lord of the Rings; space sets, Ninjago, Bionicles, Lego Technic and many, many vehicles, and of course hundreds of the all-important minifigs. These are the little characters that bring the sets to life. I think if I were to tally the amount spent on the Lego that fills my kids’ closets I might feel a little sick! But what I know for sure is that Lego has occupied an important place in our lives, providing hours of pleasure, not to mention the fine motor skills and creativity that it promotes.
I understand then that Lego has enduring appeal, but I was intrigued to ask Alyssa Gerwing, Sidney Museum’s Executive Director, why she thinks the annual exhibit is such a success. She admits to having been a bit perplexed herself when she started her role. But as a museum person, what she witnesses each year makes her very happy, especially in the way that the exhibit creates connections across generations and cultures. She enjoys the conversations that people have, and the very fact that it brings people into the museum who then interact with the staff and the other permanent exhibits.
Setup day is a sort of organized chaos. Tucked away in storage closets is a huge volume of built sets, only a fraction of which are put on display. Themes and a focus are selected and then staff and volunteers help fill the display cabinets with the relevant pieces. Each year there are new additions, and a rotation of the old favourites. One special volunteer is Ray Konrath, known in his neighbourhood (he tells me) as the “Lego Man.” Ray plays an integral part, personally purchasing and assembling a large set each year, as well as constructing and rebuilding many of the other displays. This year Ray’s stunning contribution is a huge replica of the Titanic. This set cost $800 and is incredibly detailed, including moving crank shafts and propellers. Some of his other major contributions are the ever-popular Star Wars models of the Death Star and the Millenium Falcon.
What else will you find? Well there’s Lego through the ages with themes like space and pirates that have been produced and evolved since the 1970s. There’s Harry Potter, a new Friends set with Central Perk and Monica’s apartment. There’s architecture from around the world and new this year a 3D map created in a mosaic style.
I was impressed by the ability of the staff to put this exhibition together without getting distracted by each of the models as they come out of storage. The detail in some of the sets is exquisite.
Make sure you take a look before the end of March. This year you will need to book a time slot (www.sidneymuseum.ca), and any time you visit the museum you can see the affection for the funny, vibrant world of Lego in the enormous new train table display.
