BRATTLEBORO-The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) invites makers of all ages to design and build original Lego creations and display them at the 17th Annual Lego Contest & Exhibit from Nov. 7 to 11.
Having showcased the talents of hundreds of Lego artists of all ages every year since 2008, BMAC will again honor the creativity and craftsmanship of all contestants with an awards ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. In addition to the new categories, prizes will be awarded in six age groups: preschool-kindergarten, grades 1–3, grades 4–6, grades 7–12, adults, and adult-child collaborations.
New this year are special prizes for Most Creative Micro Build, Best Use of Moving Parts, and Most Interesting Use of Color. Winners of the three new categories and Best in Show will each receive a $100 gift card to the Lego Store.
All contest entries must be delivered to BMAC on Monday, Nov. 4, between 4 and 6 p.m. An online entry form must be submitted before drop-off, including a $5 entry fee. (Fee waivers available upon request.) Guidelines and entry forms are available at brattleboromuseum.org.
BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld noted that memorable entries from past years have included a replica of Brattleboro's Harris Hill Ski Jump, busts of Abraham Lincoln and Bernie Sanders, a working ATM and slot machine, an assortment of mechanized marble runs, a six-foot tall pink office building, a ferris wheel, an amusement park, a grandfather clock, a model of BMAC, and spaceships galore.
"This event is so delightful because it's all about celebrating creativity and having fun together," Lichtenfeld said in a news release. "We are particularly excited about the new special prize categories and can't wait to see what this year's builders come up with."
Every entry submitted to the contest will be displayed at BMAC from Thursday, Nov. 7, through Monday, Nov. 11. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 7–8, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 9–11. Admission is "pay as you wish."
The public is invited to take Legos a step further by attending a printmaking workshop at First Proof Press in Brattleboro on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. Participants will learn how to design and construct a unique letterpress substrate, or printing surface, with Legos, then use the substrate to create letterpress cards and posters. All materials will be provided, and no prior printmaking experience is needed. Space is limited, so registration is required at brattleboromuseum.org.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.