More about "Dream It, Build It:"
Adam Reed Tucker works with a child at a seminar to show the many uses of the LEGO brick. /Courtesy of Adam Reed Tucker
Opening March 1, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will host a LEGO exhibition titled, “Dream It, Build It.” The exhibition will feature the architectural masterpieces created by LEGO Certified Professional Adam Reed Tucker. In addition, there will be stations throughout the exhibition where visitors can design their own LEGO creations using the architecture as inspiration.
Exhibitions featuring Tucker's works have previously been at The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. After doing market research, the museum decided to host its own exhibition.
“LEGOS are one of those things that really have a broad age and audience appeal. For the Grand Rapids Public Museum, it's our mission to inspire passionate curiosity in our visitors and be able to share the experiences of the wider world in the Grand Rapids context. To be able to showcase these exhibits to the public and having them here right in Grand Rapids is very exciting for us.” says Kate Moore, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the museum.
“Dream It, Build It” will include 13 of Tucker's bricked recreations of famous architectural structures. The models on display include Burj Dubai, the Jin Mao Tower, the Gateway Arch and the Empire State Building.
Tucker's Empire State Building model has a height of 7 feet 6 inches, with a design time of 100 hours and a build time of 150 hours. The model uses 12,200 LEGO bricks. The models use no glue and are transported in large pieces. In addition to the 13 models, the museum has also commissioned Tucker to build a scaled model of the Van Andel Museum Center building.
The museum is also partnering with the Western Michigan LEGO Train Club in conjunction with Milton Train Works to create a model of the museum's 1885 trolley car. Other works by the club will be displayed throughout the museum.
The exhibition will be open to members of the museum March 1, from 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. for a member preview. The exhibit will open to the general public that day at 11 a.m. Any non-member interested in the member preview can attend the event by becoming a museum member. Special events on opening day include two walking tours with Tucker at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. with 30 people per group maximum. The tour is $3 or free to members. In addition, Tucker will be conducting a lecture about his inspiration and what it means to be a LEGO Certified Professional at 3 p.m. for $3 or free to members.
More information about admission fees can be found on the museum's website.
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