Last week, I pointed out a video of Nathan Sawaya, a former lawyer in New York who quit his job (and six-figure salary) to become a Lego artist. In 2004, he won Lego's nationwide search for a Master Model Builder, and he now builds commissioned pieces for celebrities like Conan O'Brien and entities such as the New York Public Library.We recently took the family to see an exhibit of Sawaya's work. It is amazing what you can do with 1.5 million Legos and enough creativity. One thing that I liked about his approach ... he carries a sketch pad with him everywhere so he can jot down ideas whenever they strike! It is a simple and solid idea that we should all employ.
Sawaya has several recurring themes, including the notion of people breaking through the mundane to discover their full potential. Creativity and the power of the human mind also play major roles in his work.
The Lego artist's story, along with his work, brings to mind the mantra of Wake Forest University's Schools of Business under the leadership of Dean Steve Reinemund: People need to discover their passion and "find their fire" when it comes to pursuing their life's work.
During our tour, we were told that Sawaya does not get any discounts from Lego for his block purchases.
I found that surprising. Lego should find a way to collaborate with Sawaya. Can you imagine the money to be made if they could agree on a licensing deal where Lego gave Sawaya free or discounted blocks in exchange for the rights to market miniature versions of his pieces?They could either be kits, with smaller Legos to accommodate scale, or molded sculptures to resemble his work.
The photos were taken at the Graham Public Library and Children's Museum in Graham, N.C.
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