Way back in 2015, my cousin Jerry and I took a trip to Union Terminal to check out Nathan Sawaya’s “The Art Of The Brick.” Come on in and get your brick on!
In case you aren’t from the Cincinnati area, this is Cincinnati Union Terminal, and it is a work of art itself. Built from 1928 through 1933 in the art deco style, at the time of its construction it was the largest half dome structure in the world. It remained so until the construction of the Sydney Opera House in 1973. Union Terminal remains the largest half dome structure in the Western Hemisphere. And, yes, it was the model for the Hall Of Justice in Super Friends.
A photograph of a Lego model of Union Terminal decorates the walls of the Museum Center. This model was not part of “The Art Of The Brick” exhibit, but rather was built by a local artist for the 2013 CincyComicon.
Here we see the full model on display inside Union Terminal, at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s annual Holiday Junction exhibit.
Okay, enough intro. Let’s get to it!
Northern Rose Window At Chartres
The fact that this unbelievable sculpture was lit from behind made it impossible for my phone’s shitty camera to capture how beautiful it really is. It’s made entirely of transparent Lego elements in a black Lego frame. This belongs in a cathedral.
Northern Rose Window At Chartres, courtesy of India Behrens
It never occurred to me to take a picture of the floor. This is the light shining through the “stained glass” window made of 17,842 Lego bricks. Just amazing. I stole your photo, India. Please don’t be mad.
Northern Rose Window At Chartres, courtesy of Williw0w
I’m trying to stick to using my own photos in this article, but I found this image that shows off the detail of this build. Absolutely incredible.
Mona Lisa
Self Portrait
Self Portrait
Vitruvian Man
Starry Night
Quite a bit more impressive than the Brick Loot version.
San Giorgio Maggiore At Dusk
Monet done in tiny plastic bricks. Very impressive.
American Gothic
The Scream
This was my least favorite piece of the day. I’ve always thought The Scream was an overrated painting, and this interpretation, likewise, did not impress me.
Arrangement In Grey And Black No 1
This was one of the most impressive pieces in the entire exhibit. A complete 3D Lego sculpture of Whistler’s mother in her room. This one really blew me away.
Ajax And Achilles Playing Dice
Ajax And Achilles Playing Dice
Benin Mask
Benin Mask
Nathan Sawaya is honest about his media. He makes it well known that he works in Lego bricks and glue. So I can’t say I caught him lying. However, although I didn’t realize it until I got home, I think I may have caught Mr. Sawaya cheating here just a bit. Unless he’s using a Lego element I’m not familiar with, which I doubt, there’s no way these minifigs are attached via standard Lego connection points. These things were just glued on. I’m sure in the world of sculpture that’s perfectly acceptable. It clearly got the job done. Just don’t try pulling this crap with any actual Lego builders, Nathan. Those ruthless bastards will eat your ass alive for pulling a stunt like this.
Double-Headed Serpent
The Thinker
Great Sphinx Of Giza
Nefertiti
Venus De Milo, Augustus Of Prima Porta, David, Moai
Venus De Milo, Moai (background), Augustus Of Prima Porta, David
David
Moai
Moai
Moai
Moai
Seventy-five thousand pieces. 75,000. Seventy. Five. THOUSAND.
Moai
Moai
Jerry standing in front of Moai for size reference.
Courtney (Yellow)
Untitled
Peace By Pieces
This whole exhibit was pretty phenomenal. But this piece, with the mishmash of colors making the peace sign, had the most straightforward message. This exhibit was REALLY good. And that’s coming from a guy who generally doesn’t care much for modern sculpture.
Untitled
title unknown
Hands
Rain
Swimmer
Swimmer, photographer unknown
FaceMask
FaceMask
FaceMask
Circle Torso, Square Torso, Triangle Torso, 2008
Sing, 2007
Crowd
Crowd
Crowd
Inside
Doorway
Doorway
Everlasting
Step Ladder
Disintegration
title unknown
Skulls
Skulls
Skulls
Breaking Free
Mask
Mask
Trapped
Underneath
Underneath, courtesy of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com
Ascension
Ascension
Grasp
Grasp
Grasp
Yellow
Yellow
title unknown
I don’t know this kid, and we never spoke, but it was clear by the way we were circling this thing without looking directly at it that we were both trying to figure out if we could get away with touching it. I once tripped a museum alarm by touching a very, very old Chinese temple bell that I was clearly not supposed to touch. I thought I could get away with it. I most definitely did NOT. Based on that experience, I can tell you that it doesn’t take much to trigger those alarms. The slightest contact was all it took. So I chickened out with the dino bones. But I’m hoping this kid made a little surreptitious contact. Legos are made to be played with.
title unknown
title unknown
title unknown
Mannequin, 2012
Dress, 2012
Dress, 2012
This was the dress the model “wore” in the previous photo.
Umbrella, 2012
Umbrella, 2012
Dog, 2012
Dog, 2012
Flying Pig
Flying Pig
Sawaya creates a new sculpture specific to each city his exhibit visits, and Cincinnati was no exception. Flying Pig honors the historical nickname “Porkopolis,” given to Cincinnati in the mid nineteenth century when The Queen City was home to the country’s leading meat packing industry.
2022 UPDATE: And with the Flying Pig Marathon turning 25 next year, I expect to see a lot more flying pig statues appear around town.
Hugmen
Hugmen
Almost every brick had someone’s name written on it. The artist builds these and places them in public places around the world, and people sign the bricks. It’s really cool.
Hugmen
Hugmen
Hugmen
Green Man Sitting
Green Man Sitting
Thanks for joining us!