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The Works Museum

Museum Exhibit Collaboration - Building Inspiration: LEGO Brick Pixel Pictures and Cultural Icons

Location: MN — Twin Cities Metro
Type: Call for Submissions
Categories:
Any discipline

Deadline: 11/01/2024

Other Criteria:
No entry fee required
Open to artists statewide
Paid opportunity

Apply

Background:
The Works Museum is a hands-on engineering and design museum. Our exhibits, programs, and design challenges engage kids in science, technology, and engineering and make learning memorable and fun.
This exhibit invites LEGO artists to create permanent LEGO brick installations, as well as patterns for 2D LEGO art that will be created by visitors. These artworks will serve as inspiration for children and visitors to add their own creations. Artists are encouraged to design pixelated LEGO pictures that reflect cultural images, community symbols, or personal stories that resonate with the local community. The artwork can be interconnected or stand alone, creating a rich visual tapestry that blends 2D and 3D LEGO art. Additionally, the exhibit will spotlight the contributing artists, sharing their background and how their work is influenced by their community.

The STEM concepts being reinforced through this exhibit are centered around using coordinate grids, recognizing and creating patterns, and different types of symmetry.

Project Goals:
The goal is to create a dynamic and inspiring LEGO exhibition where artists can contribute meaningful cultural images and icons that reflect the local community, while also highlighting the unique talents and stories of the artists themselves. The installation will provide multiple opportunities for visitors—especially children—to work individually or with others, adding their own creations inspired by the permanent pieces.

Visitors will create three different types of LEGO art:
1. a free build LEGO wall – where artists will install permanent art made out of LEGOs to serve as inspiration to visitors to add to the wall as a sort of 3D doodle, built out of LEGO bricks.
2. a community built image – where visitors work together over the course of several days or a week and each visitor uses a pattern and coordinate grid to create a small section of the whole larger piece
3. a pixelated art gallery wall – where each visitor can create their own LEGO art to hang in a picture frame on our gallery wall either from a pattern using a coordinate grid, or from their own imagination

This means there are multiple entry points for artists to collaborate with us on this exhibit – through images you create that will become patterns for visitors to build from, or through building with LEGOS to add to the permanent installations that will serve as inspiration for our visitors.

Response Questions and Opportunities
This exhibit presents several creative opportunities for artists to help shape its direction.

1. What imagery could we use in this exhibit?
(Share any specific visual elements, symbols, or themes that would resonate well with the exhibit’s purpose and goals.)

2. Cultural Images or Community Relevance
(Artists can explore and design LEGO brick images and patterns that reflect significant cultural icons or community symbols. Consider how your designs can convey stories or values relevant to the local community.)

3. What patterns or designs are well-recognized in your community?
(Describe traditional or contemporary patterns that reflect the aesthetics and identity of your community.)

4. Combination of 2D and 3D Designs
(Artists are encouraged to experiment with both 2D pixel designs and 3D LEGO structures. With the permanent installations, you can add depth and texture to the wall by integrating three-dimensional elements that extend beyond the flat pixel pattern, offering a multi-dimensional experience for the viewers.)

5. Artist Spotlights
(Each LEGO installation will also serve as a platform to highlight the artists themselves. There will be an opportunity to share your personal story, background, and how your culture or community influences your work. This is a chance to celebrate both your artistic talent and your connection to the community.)

Budget and Next Steps:
We are seeking collaboration and consultation from artists and the community for this exhibit, which is being fabricated and installed by exhibit design firm Process Curiosity in May 2025. This opportunity could be in the format of an artist consultation, or the creation of physical or digital works for the exhibit. Budget and compensation will be determined in consultation with the artist based on the scope and complexity of the proposed work.

Submission Guidelines:
● Artist Statement and Concept (500 words max)
● Sketches or Visual Representations (optional – up to 5 images)
● Portfolio of Past Works (up to 5 images)
● Artist Biography (250 words max)

Please submit all materials via email to Emily Kinny (she/her) at emily@theworks.org with the subject line: “Building Inspiration Exhibit Artist Submission – [Your Name]”

All materials should be submitted as PDFs, with images included as JPEGs or PNG files (emails should be no larger than 25MB).

Budget and compensation will be determined in consultation with the artist based on the scope and complexity of the proposed work.