The long-awaited Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks exhibit at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is here. Featured sculptures include giant flowers, insects, animals, and a few other surprises. This award-winning exhibit features twenty-seven sculptures in fourteen installations from the renowned New York artist and author, Sean Kenney.
These amazing sculptures are integrated into the natural landscape. Kenney’s LEGO sculptures range from 1,361 bricks (rabbit) to 45,143 bricks (bison). The exhibit is comprised of a half-a-million LEGOS in total.
The works of art are sure to catch the eye of visitors of all ages, as I saw several generations of families marvel at the intricacy and complexity of these sculptures. Viewing a piece from several angles adds to the depth and interpretation of these nature-inspired pieces. For those that prefer to plan out your visit, grab a garden map and scope out all the LEGO creations throughout the garden. My 10-year-old treated the visit like a scavenger hunt, which made the experience even more fun. Alternatively, just stroll through the beautiful garden, happening upon sculptures along the way.
My favorite creation was the Common Green Darner Dragonfly, set up appropriately near a waterfall in the Asian Valley Lower Pond. Art and nature intertwined, we even had the special treat of watching a water snake slithering up the slippery stones adjacent to the dragonfly, as well as a large turtle sunning himself nearby. My 10-year-old enjoyed the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on the Main Garden Walk the most, which is not surprising since the Butterflies Live! is a family favorite.
Young builders can build mosaics at the Make-a-Mosaic and Building STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) displays in the Lora M. Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center Library.
Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks adds even more visual interest to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, an already stunning parcel of Richmond real estate. The exhibit runs through September 18 and is included with regular admission, tickets are available at the door. Members are free. Visit Lewis Ginter for hours and membership details.
Enter to win tickets to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden here.
