Only in L.A.: Botanic Garden Displays LEGOs to Connect Visitors With Nature

Los Angeles County park planner Clement Lau has the perfect exhibit recommendation for those of you enjoy LEGOs and nature. He recently visited the South Coast Botanic Garden to see the Nature Connects exhibit, which is an interactive art installation consisting of 15 nature-themed sculptures constructed entirely from almost half a million LEGO bricks. Created by New York-based artist Sean Kenney, the sculptures took seven months to build. The pieces are all very detailed and assembled exclusively using LEGO pieces, ranging from a 575-piece statue of a goldfinch to a hummingbird, the symbol of the Garden, which requires 31,555 pieces and stands over six feet tall. 

What Lau likes most about Nature Connects is that it really does help to connect children (and adults alike) with nature. During his visit, Lau observed many children marveling at the colorful exhibits and learning more about nature from the informational displays that accompany the sculptures. This was encouraging to see, especially at a time when a growing number of kids may be suffering from "nature deficit disorder." While LEGOs are typically used to make models of man-made structures like high-rise buildings, fire stations, airports, and other infrastructure, Kenney reminds us of the importance of nature and creative expression. In the article, Lau includes various photos of the exhibit.