Robin Sather does not want to reveal what he plans to build when he comes to Saanich to participate in LEGO Mania March 25 and 26 at Tillicum Centre, a LEGO building competition and exhibition. “It will be a surprise,” he says.
But informed speculation suggests that the scene Sather will build over the course of those two days will likely feature plenty of red and white bricks as Canada’s 150th birthday is the theme that guides the show.
LEGO Mania returns to Tillicum Centre for the eighth straight year and organizers expect that it will draw individuals from all ages and area codes, including the United States.
Last year, 125 youth entered the building competition, with many more finding themselves on the waiting list. For more, see tillicumkids.com.
Judges from The Zone @ 91-3 and 100.3 The Q! will award prices to the wining entries.
Visitors will also be able to check out the works of Victoria LEGO Users Group (VicLug), a group of adult fans of Lego – or AFOL (pronounced “awful”).
But if the show has a star, it is likely Sather, one of 14 LEGO certified professionals (LCPs) worldwide.
While not employees, they work with LEGO as “trusted business partners” who have “turned their passion for building and creating with LEGO bricks into a full-time or part-time profession.”
LCPs have undergone extensive screening processes that see LEGO evaluate them on their building proficiency, enthusiasm for the LEGO brick and building system, and professional approach towards other LEGO fans and the broader public.
But this corporate speak obscures the genuine artistry that Sather – the only Canadian LCP – and his colleagues exhibit.
LEGO bricks as an artistic medium suffer from few, if any, limits, says Sather.
“There are about 50 different colours of bricks, in hundreds of different shapes, including round and curved ones,” he said. “I’m really only limited by the number of pieces I have on hand, and time. Given enough bricks, and enough time, almost anything would be possible.”
Inspiration comes from almost everywhere.
“I personally love to incorporate lots of colour and life into my creations, and I love realism. I rarely do anything too abstract. I much prefer to build a castle, a bear or a locomotive, given the opportunity.”
Childhood, as with many things, was the starting point of Sather’s professional career in LEGO.
“I was a major LEGO kid, and never really grew out of it,” he said. “As a younger person, I trained for a career in computer programming, but I never stopped building and playing with LEGO bricks. After having fun with computers for many years, I decided to see if I could transition my love of LEGO into a second career. That was back in 2004, and I've never looked back.”
In a way, that makes Sather a master builder of a different sort. He has managed to turn his passion into a professional career, a feat that eludes many, through his company Brickville DesignWorks. It uses LEGO products to produce events, exhibits, custom creations and educational opportunities for kids of all ages. Sather’s exhibits have toured prominent Canadian science centres and museums, and have featured giant dinosaurs, a huge Egyptian sphinx, fantastic castles and much more. His work has also appeared on national television and is featured extensively online and in print.
It is not without its challenges and professional obligations. He has to recertify every year and he is on the road throughout the year.
Each month, Sather usually works one event like LEGO Mania, along with smaller events. “In the summer, it gets very busy, and I usually do one every weekend,” he said.
This of course raises the inevitable question. Can you make a full-time living off building LEGO?
“The answer is yes,” he said. “I did it part time for the first few years, and gradually transitioned from my computer career, to my professional LEGO builder career over the space of a couple years.”
It is a career path hat has made Sather the source of inspiration for kids and object of envy among adults.
“Most kids want to grow up to be me,” he said. “Most dads say, ‘If only I knew this was an option, I would have done it too.’ And most everyone else just thinks it's pretty cool. I feel very blessed and privileged to have been able to do what I do for 13 years now.”
While LEGO bricks have shaped lives of all ages for decades, the Tillicum Centre hosts LEGO Mania during a heady period for the Danish-based company that produces the bricks. LEGO ranks among the most powerful brands in the world and its cultural influence matches its commercial success. Engineers and computer scientists working at Fortune 500 companies and NASA alike use LEGO bricks to work out design problems, test scientific theories or engage in creative play. The synergy between LEGO and the popular Star Wars movie franchise have elevated both to unparalleled heights. LEGO itself has become a big player in Hollywood by animating its figures and bricks.
Yet for all of its new-found glamour, LEGO’s enduring appeal remains in the simple act of putting bricks together and seeing where the journey leads.
“LEGO bricks allow for near-infinite creativity, but at the same time, are all part of an elegant system where everything fits together with everything else in specific, sturdy, predictable and consistent ways,” said Sather. “For me, it's the perfect artistic tool, and pure fun.”