Achi news desk-
Newfoundland’s largest museum has been transformed into a giant Lego playground, featuring designs made by creators young and old.
While there is a class out for school children in St. John’s, it’s Lego week at The Rooms. The week-long event includes plenty of play, and some impressive miniature recreations of St John’s iconic buildings.
“One of the main comments I’ve heard from families, parents all this week… is that this is not the Lego I grew up with,” said Sarah Ryan, education and public engagement officer at The Rooms.
“People are taking it and doing their own thing and turning their own creativity, and I think that’s great.”
The event features a 9,000 brick adaptation of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, the largest Catholic Church in Newfoundland and Labrador, along with versions of the Confederation Building and The Rooms itself.
Many of the impressive buildings were created by members of the Lego Newfoundland User Group.
There are also several Lego murals, one depicting an iconic scene of the colorful houses of downtown St. John’s from a vantage point at the top of Holloway Street in the city.
A play area for budding LEGO artists opens every day with a new theme. (CTV News)
A play area for budding Lego artists opens every day with a new theme. It will end on Sunday with the theme “Fabricating Deiliage”.
The event will also end on Sunday, as children head back to school after the Easter holidays end on Monday.
It is part of a campaign by The Rooms staff to make their museum an attractive place for families.
“We want people, when they leave our building, for it to change their journey home and see life, even the mundane parts of life, in a new and interesting way,” Ryan said. “Lego kind of forces you to slow down and think.”
The event features a 9,000 brick adaptation of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, the largest Catholic Church in Newfoundland and Labrador, along with versions of the Confederation Building and The Rooms itself. (CTV News)
The Rooms also display a pair of Lego trees created by Robert Rees in St. John’s. He submitted his creation to the LEGO IDEAS platform, where, with enough votes, it could potentially be made into a commercial set.
“That’s a local builder doing great things,” Ryan said.
Most Lego creations are broken apart each night to be reused the following day. The Lego bricks were loaned by Bricks & Minifigs, a local retailer.
“It’s nice to have that slow moment and observe what’s around you … what colors look nice together,” said Ryan. “And it’s a great way to, you know, be off your phone and then enjoy what’s around you and appreciate the people you came here with.”
