Others are inspired by watching nature videos online. When: July 1, 2020 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm Where: The North Carolina Arboretum, The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806, USA Please note: Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks has been postponed until July; however, the exhibit will have an extended schedule and will be open until November 1. They have some nice hiking trails, a nice center with gift shop, info etc. Daytime admission to Nature Connects is free; however, a standard $16 parking fee applies to non-Arboretum members. When and how did you get into building Lego sculptures? Each sculpture can have a different process. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. EXCELLENT Lego Exhibit Review of The North Carolina Arboretum Reviewed December 31, 2013 On a family Holiday outing, to get the 18 month old out of the house, we ventured to see the outdoor Lego Exhibit, large lego constructions that, if you ever built with lego's, can capture your imagination. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. Then when the show arrives — it fills an entire 55-foot long tractor-trailer! National LEGO exhibit returns in May This May, the arboretum is excited to welcome back the widely popular exhibit Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks by Sean Kenney. Composed of nearly 500,000 LEGO bricks, Nature Connects includes 16 nature-inspired sculptures constructed on a larger-than-life scale by renowned artist Sean Kenney. The exhibit is called Nature Connects: Art with LEGO bricks by Sean Kenney. The traveling exhibit was delayed by the pandemic for its planned May opening. The Fullerton Arboretum at Cal. I did, however, have the privilege of being the first person in the world to whom they sold pieces in bulk. The North Carolina Arboretum’s exhibit Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks exhibit checks all three boxes. From I-26, take exit 33; from I-40, use exit #47 (Farmers Market). What was the inspiration for the Nature Connects exhibit? It only takes a moment. Christopher Smith, rector at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA, takes us inside the cathedral for a look at progress on the renovation. I always want to spend a lot of time making sure it’s perfect. Arboretum entrance is … The Lego exhibit … We look forward to seeing you! When outdoors on the Arboretum grounds, guests are encouraged to wear face coverings whenever they are unable to socially distance themselves from others. LEGO® brick sculpture exhibit to open at The N.C. Arboretum July 30, 2016. Having our grandchildren visit again and since they love “LEGO’s” we were excited to visit the Lego Exhibit at the Arboretum. For more information about the Arboretum or Nature Connects, please visit ncarboretum.org or call 828-665-2492. Sweet and savory snacks, along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, are available for purchase from the Arboretum’s Bent Creek Bistro. Depending on the size of the sculpture, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. This year, in light of the COVID-19 crisis, 10% of all proceeds from the ArborEvenings event series will be donated directly to MANNA FoodBank, the Feeding America food bank serving over 100,000 people facing hunger across 16 counties of Western North Carolina. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). It’s a wonderful demonstration of the fact that when we have nothing else, we always have the arts. The nature themed exhibit features 16 sculptures made out of Lego bricks by artist Sean Kenney. In addition to the parking fee admission, there is a special ArborEvenings admission price of $5 per person. Proceeds from ArborEvenings go to support The North Carolina Arboretum Society, the Arboretum’s 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides financial assistance to further support the Arboretum’s mission and educational programming. The Arboretum … Continued Among the fanciful sculptures on display are a 5-foot-tall colorful peacock, a giant dragonfly, a bonsai tree and a massive monarch butterfly. The statue is of Frederick Law Olmstead, the father of American Landscape Architecture. As an added bonus, Nature Connects will take center stage during the Arboretum’s ArborEvenings summer after-hours series. And beyond that — we crave the arts. Their director contacted me with the idea of producing an outdoor display for their garden, but after lengthy discussion, we realized it would be better to have the display tour gardens all around the world. For Sean Kenney, in many ways, it has defined his career. Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks has arrived at The North Carolina Arboretum and it is an exhibit not to be missed. I’m proud that my sculptures are able to be on display for people to enjoy during this time. NC Arboretum LEGO “Nature Connects” Exhibit is shown through October 23, 2016.Displayed throughout the gardens are 14 large-scale sculptures of LEGO nature art using more than 370,000 pieces created by Sean Kenney, the award-winning artist named as the first LEGO … We loved touring the LEGO Special Exhibit throughout the gardens at The NC Arboretum. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. Head on an inspirational and moving journey at Nature Connects® — an award-winning, record-breaking exhibition of art made with LEGO® bricks. From both these exits, follow Blue Ridge Parkway (and 191 South) signs to the Parkway entrance ramp. It will be open on weekends only, co-hosted by four local clubs: Kofu Bonsai Kai, Orange County Bonsai Society, Orange Empire Bonsai Society and Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai. Originally set to open in May, the exhibit has been postponed until July, but will have an extended schedule and remain open until November 1. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. I have a whole team of artists and helpers that are a big part of creating this show: building and designing models, welding armatures, etc., as well as people that handle the show logistics and installations. My models slowly became more involved and elaborate as I got older, and in 2005 I started building Lego models professionally as my full-time career. Directions: The NC Arboretum is located off NC Highway 191, south of Asheville. Parents who think their kids have too many Legos haven’t been to Sean Kenney’s studio. Composed of more than 370,000 LEGO bricks, Nature Connects includes 14 nature-inspired sculptures constructed on a larger-than-life scale … Nature Connects was developed in conjunction with Iowa State University’s Reiman Gardens in 2011 and has been on tour since early 2012. As flowers bloom at the North Carolina Arboretum, so do LEGO bricks, and a new boardwalk. Visitors to The North Carolina Arboretum can enjoy a fun, toy-filled outdoor adventure this summer at the 434-acre public gardens’ newest exhibit, Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks. She says with all the sculptures combines there are about 500,000 bricks! ASHEVILLE – Visitors to the North Carolina Arboretum, a 434-acre public garden just south of Asheville, will enjoy a fun, toy-filled outdoor adventure this summer at the Arboretum’s newest exhibit, Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks. It’s been traveling the world since 2012, visiting nearly 100 botanical gardens, arboretums, zoos and science centers across the U.S., Europe and Asia. The LEGO Sculpture Traveling Exhibit, “Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks by Sean Kenney” comes back to the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville with 14 larger than life sculptures that are created with 500,000+ LEGO Bricks, combining the living world, art, play, science, education and entertainment, placed throughout the gardens. The North Carolina Arboretum, the 434-acre public garden located just south of downtown Asheville, is pleased to unveil the one-of-a-kind exhibit Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks, a whimsical, toy-filled outdoor adventure. Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks from artist Sean Kenney, returns with 14 larger-than-life sculptures created with nearly 500,000 LEGO pieces. Ali here, and I recently took off early to visit this remarkable installation, which features 16 larger-than-life sculptures created entirely out of LEGO Bricks by artist Sean Kenney. Visitors to ArborEvenings can sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s beautiful gardens and discover the illuminated LEGO Brick sculptures while listening to live music. N.C. Arboretum's Whimsical LEGO Sculpture Exhibit Brings Nature to Life. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. On display January 16 – May 2 inside the Baker Exhibit Center. They were something that were always there as a way to create and express myself. 109 reviews of The North Carolina Arboretum "This is a great place to stop if you're visiting the Asheville area and want to spend some time outside but close to town. The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Featuring 16 larger-than-life-size sculptures placed throughout the Arboretum’s gardens and created with nearly 500,000 LEGO Bricks, this family-friendly event draws inspiration from the living world. — the installers use forklifts and Bobcats and pallet jacks to unload the truck and move the sculptures around. Originally set to open in May but delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis, the exhibit – of which Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty is a community partner – opened July 1 with an extended schedule, and will remain on display through November 1, 2020. Sixteen nature-inspired sculptures are currently on display through Nov. 1 at The North Carolina Arboretum — which has hosted the exhibit twice before, most recently in 2016 — and features 14 new works alongside the returning hummingbird and monarch butterfly. For those convinced that LEGO Bricks are just building blocks used by children—you’re in for a surprise at The North Carolina Arboretum. LEGO® Exhibit at NC Arboretum Combines Education & Entertainment. - See 2,580 traveler reviews, 1,603 candid photos, and great deals for Asheville, NC, at Tripadvisor. Sean is the artist behind the Arboretum’s newest exhibit Nature Connects®, Art with LEGO® Bricks, an outdoor exhibit … We have three installers and a show director that work together with the local garden’s facilities staff to first determine where each sculptures will be sited and how to best landscape them. The North Carolina Arboretum: Wonderful Lego Exhibit. Fittingly, Nature Connects: Art with Lego bricks by Sean Kenney is The Morton Arboretum’s latest outdoor art exhibit, featuring figures from bonsai to butterfly. Creating a spindly little nose and paper-thin wings built out of chunky Lego pieces seemed like a wonderful challenge and, if done right, something that would look amazing. https://mountainx.com/arts/nature-connects-lego-exhibit-opens-at-nc-arboretum Where and when were they constructed, and who helped you? For example, the design of the hummingbird sculpture just “popped” in my head the minute someone said “hummingbird.” I immediately had this vision of something that you could actually walk under, suspended as if by magic. We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Just as Lego pieces interconnect, everything in nature is interconnected in a delicate balance — insects and plants have important relationships; different species of animals have special relationships with each other; animals have connections with their families just like we do. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. Even as a young child, drawing and designing were a big part of my life. Posted on June 22, 2016 June 22, 2016 — Thomas Calder. Fr. Is there glue or anything else holding the sculptures together — or simply the Legos themselves? All of that, combined with the multitude of colors, makes it one of the most visually complex sculptures I’ve ever created. See here for our terms of service. The Arboretum enters its next decade of growth with more special exhibits, the addition of a new outdoor educational site, and several facility upgrades. The exhibition displays the work of acclaimed artist Sean Kenney—known for his incredible ability to create striking and … Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. Performance art moved online, Broadway singers united over Zoom video, theatrical movie releases went straight to streaming video services, children’s book authors doodled with kids over lunch, celebrities and political figures hosted read-a-longs, and more. I spent about four weeks designing and planning this specific piece, researching images of hummingbirds in nature, choosing the perfect colors and designing the internal steel reinforcements, then about five-plus weeks building it. This year, the Arboretum is extending the dates and times of ArborEvenings: The event will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July through September, from 8 to 11 p.m. (some exclusion dates apply; please check the Arboretum’s website for details). Comments are moderated. The Lego Group does not sponsor or endorse me or my work. The beautiful bricks are finally back at The North Carolina Arboretum. Specifically this is a very popular traveling exhibit that has 500,000 Legos. COVID update: The North Carolina Arboretum has updated their hours and services. They have some nice hiking trails, a nice center with gift shop, info etc. Learn More The North Carolina Arboretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Asheville, NC 28806-9315 Phone 828-665-2492 Fax 828-412-8503. Which sculptures were particularly challenging to conceive and complete? One of the things that the lockdowns have shown us is that the arts are a critical part of our social well-being. I was a total “Lego maniac,” and Lego toys were usually the only toys I ever asked for when my birthday would come around each year. Enjoy A Special Exhibit Or Event Just like a museum, the NC Arboretum hosts special exhibits. Chris and I took an early morning trip to the Arboretum located at 100 Fredirick Law Olmsted Way in Asheville last week to view the amazing exhibit that is currently on display until November 1st. Not only is the sculpture incredibly large and gravity-defying, but I took the trouble to model and construct the details of every feather, down to the textures of the quills. Thank you. and a really cool bonsai exhibit that is one of the coolest things we've seen in a while. The Brooklyn-based artist’s Nature Connects exhibit contains over half a million Lego bricks and took approximately 4,700 hours to design and build. Installing the show is quite a huge feat. Please be patient if your comment does not appear immediately. Asheville Fringe Arts Festival embraces digital format, Green in brief: SAHC conserves nearly 3,000 acres; OGS gets social, Submit student art, writing for 2021 Kids Issue, Corrective lens: Edwin Arnaudin’s favorite articles in 2020, A&E Roundup: YMI, local artists celebrate Kwanzaa. Taking a break from designing additional Nature Connects sculptures and personal projects “that are pushing the boundaries of what [he] thought was possible with the Lego brick as an art medium,” Kenney spoke with Xpress about planning, creating and transporting the exhibit, plus his hopes for people who experience it during the COVID-19 pandemic. The central mission of The North Carolina Arboretum… 113 reviews of The North Carolina Arboretum "This is a great place to stop if you're visiting the Asheville area and want to spend some time outside but close to town. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. Whitney tells us this exhibit features 16 nature-inspired sculptures made entirely out of lego bricks. The self-guided tour meanders through the gardens, which begin outside of the Baker Exhibit Center. This is a fabulous day trip from Greenville and there’s plenty of space to spread out and safely enjoy the arboretum! 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