Wejustcan’tLego ofourchildhood
ADULTS WHO LOVE THE LITTLE TOY BLOCKS Fans talk about their shared passion for creating projects for enthusiasts’ events I DON’T HAVE ANY KIDS – I’M THE BIG KID
Most kids play with Lego but normally leave it behind when they grow up. But, for some, the love affair with the bricks never ends. There’s even a term AFOL – adult fan of Lego. Events where AFOLs display their creations include Bricklive, which comes to Glasgow’s SEC from July 20-23. MARIA CROCE spoke to three AFOLs who will be showing their work DAN Harris specialises in creating historic buildings out of Lego.
And now his work is in demand by museums and organisations wanting historically accurate models.
Dan, 34, from Nethy Bridge, Moray, is a member of a group called Brick to the Past who make meticulously researched historically themed Lego creations.
He lives with partner Dot Greaves, 31, a personal banker, but jokes that he’s banished to a room at home when he’s building with Lego.
He said: “It’s quite messy but it’s a more organised mess. I was always into Lego as a kid. You grow up and lose interest in that kind of thing.
“Then four years ago, I was doing a masters degree in town and country planning. I was on the internet procrastinating and found images of models that people had built.
“I thought, ‘That looks interesting’ so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s something I enjoy doing and I find it relaxing. There’s also the social side.
“I don’t have any kids – I’m the big kid.”
Dan works as a planner for the Cairngorms National Park – but creates historical models out of Lego in his spare time.
“I’ve always been interested in history and I visit a lot of castles,” he added.
One project he worked on recently was a model for Caithness Broch Project to help raise awareness of archeology.
A broch is an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure and it’s hoped Dan’s model will help get school kids interested in the history.
He’s also been involved in making a Jacobite model.
“Because 2017 is Scotland’s year of history, heritage and archaeology, Brick to the Past are building a massive Jacobite themed model. My part of this will be on display in Corgarff Castle over the summer,” he said.
“I try to build something which is historically accurate. You get kids and adults going to see these models on show and I think it’s a really good medium for getting them involved in history.” ● For Dan’s projects go to www.bricktothepast.com ● Bricklive are also teaming up with WB Games UK to bring some of their hugely popular Lego video games to the tour. For details go to www.bricklive. co.uk/bricklive-glasgow-2017/