Saskatchewan Lego Users Staying Busy While Stuck at Home from Brickspo

The annual Brickspo exhibition at the Western Development Museum might be something a little different this year, as the Saskatchewan Lego Users Group tentatively postponed their favourite event for the public’s safety. Brickspo usually takes place near the end of July, and features elaborate displays made entirely out of Lego blocks by members of the local Lego builders group. Every year, Brickspo features plenty of cars, planes, and other things that move on display. (file photo) There’s no limitation on what kind of displays are allowed at Brickspo each year, and the annual showcase is always ripe with pop culture references and impressive builds in both 2D and 3D. SLUG members always go all out for Brickspo, with no limits to their imagination and enthusiasm, but the future of this year’s event remains a bit of a mystery. This build by Kevin Lariviere from the 2019 Brickspo show depicts the Battle of Geonosis from the popular Star Wars TV show The Clone Wars, (photo by Randy Palmer) With all of the concerns regarding large crowds in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers chose to postpone the popular event until potentially later in the year or even to a different format altogether — which leaves SLUG members with plenty

of time to come up with new and interesting displays in the meantime. The club is made up of Lego enthusiasts from all over Saskatchewan, who meet once a month to talk shop about their current projects. With all the limits on social contact in 2020, SLUG members have been doing their best to stay in touch digitally and through messages. Being at home for so much of the spring has prompted a Lego renaissance for many members of the Saskatchewan group, who have found the extra time to be perfect for diving back into their Lego collections for some new projects. The trick to being a true Lego enthusiast is creativity, agree most members, as the challenge is designing new builds entirely from your own imagination — no instructions included. Lego builders are part of a widespread community that shares tips on builds, sources of rare and unusual bricks, and a love for the challenge of creating

something new.

SLUG member Nicole Gent has used her extra time to finish this piece, depicting a bustling games room full of tiny Lego figures enjoying each other’s company while the real world avoids doing the same. (supplied by Nicole Gent)

Brickspo is just one of the beloved opportunities that local Lego builders have to get together each year, not only to share their passion for the enjoyment of the public but also to catch up with each other. As the pandemic progresses, SLUG members are hopeful to reschedule Brickspo in the fall to keep up that tradition. Keep up with the Saskatchewan Lego Users Group and the Western Development Museum through their respective Facebook pages.