The Search is On for the Best LEGO Creation

Do your child's LEGO building skills amaze you? If so, their original creation could end up on display at The Magic House thanks to a new contest sponsored by The Magic House and the St. Louis County Library.

The contest, announced Wednesday, comes with big rewards for the winners: Having their entries put on public display at The Magic House as part of The Art of the Brick exhibit.

Any child ages 5 to 12 with a valid St. Louis County Library card can enter, and winners will be chosen in two age categories: Age 5 to 8 and age 9-12. All entries must be original LEGO creations.

The Art of the Brick is a new exhibit at The Magic House. It features more than 30 large-scale sculptures created out of nearly one million iconic LEGO bricks by New York-based artist Nathan Sawaya. It's one of the largest and most popular museum exhibits currently on tour and has been called one of the top twelve "must see" exhibitions in the world by CNN.

Sawaya, the artist, says: "I use LEGO bricks as my medium because I enjoy seeing people's reactions to artwork created from something with which they are familiar.  Everyone can relate to it since it is a toy that many children have at home. I want to elevate this simple
plaything to a place it has never been before."

Creative kids can have their own works of LEGO art displayed alongside Sawaya's as long as they complete and drop off their contest entry for judging by Oct. 20.  The creation must be comprised of LEGO bricks only, and be no larger than 17” x 11” x 17.”  The top three entries in each category will be displayed at The Magic House from October 25 to January 27. Winners will also receive a free pass to the Magic House.

LEGO creations can be dropped off at St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 South Lindbergh in Ladue on Friday, October 19 from noon to 4:30 p.m. or on Saturday, October 20, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. There is no entry fee. Judging and notification of the winners will take place on Saturday, October 20.

For more information and a complete list of contest rules, visit the county library's web site at www.slcl.org

To learn more about The Art of the Brick exhibit at The Magic House, go to www.magichouse.org