Sing, By Brick Artist Nathan Sawaya from The Art of the Brick™
The Art of the Brick™ Opens at the American Swedish Historical Museum
One-of-a-kind Fine Art Exhibit Celebrates the LEGO® Toy
August 23 to November 30, 2008 in Philadelphia
Philadelphia - Anyone who has ever snapped together (or even stepped on) a couple of LEGO® bricks needs to visit the American Swedish Historical Museum this fall to see the exhibition The Art of the Brick™. This special exhibition of artwork by Nathan Sawaya is the only major museum exhibition in the United States to focus exclusively on the use of the LEGO® building block as an art medium. Families will be amazed and inspired by the colorful works of art Nathan Sawaya has crafted from these popular toy building blocks. The Art of the Brick debuts at the American Swedish Historical Museum Saturday, August 23, 10am – 5 pm with special family activities and an appearance by the artist at the opening. The Art of the Brick will be on view through Thanksgiving weekend, November 30, 2008 with special family events planned throughout the exhibition.
Nathan Sawaya is a 35-year-old New York artist exhibiting two dozen works created solely from standard LEGO bricks, with several new sculptures created specifically for this exhibit’s tour. Nearly one million colorful LEGO pieces transformed into a new collection of whimsical and awe-inspiring works will be on display at the American Swedish Historical Museum in South Philadelphia this fall.
Nathan Sawaya's ability to transform these popular toy building blocks into something meaningful, his devotion to spatial perfection and the way he conceptualizes action enables him to elevate a toy for children into art. According to the artist, “The museum exhibit is accessible because it engages the child in all of us…My hope is that families will come to see the art, and then leave with discussions of complex concepts.”
Mr. Sawaya also said that he believes his job as an artist is to “captivate you for as long as I can keep your attention.” In addition to the viewing of Sawaya’s exhibit, the American Swedish Historical Museum will captivate and keep the attention of museum goers with a special interactive room available during the run of the exhibition for children of all ages (adults too!) to build with fun materials. The museum’s Executive Director Tracey Beck considers The Art of the Brick exhibition “a wonderful opportunity for families to take an inexpensive and fun outing.” Ms. Beck adds “ It is sure to get their creative juices flowing as they look at Nathan’s impressive sculptures and have a chance to build something themselves in our creativity centers.”
For more information about the special exhibition The Art of the Brick and its associated programs and events at the ASHM please visit http://www.americanswedish.org, call
215-389-1776. For more information about the artist Nathan Sawaya see http://www.brickartist.com
The American Swedish Historical Museum will be open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday;
The ASHM is located in scenic Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park at 1900 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia near the Sports Complex. Free parking is available. ASHM is easily accessible from Interstates 95 or 76, Broad Street Subway or bus #17.
[Editor's Note: Nathan Sawaya is available for phone interviews. High resolution images are available via e-mail by request.]
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
