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Feb. 8, 2022, 9:37 p.m.

Activity: Remake classic works of art with everyday materials

Directions: Watch the video, answer the discussion questions and then try the activity at the end of the lesson!

Summary

A merger of pop art and surrealism has created a stunning entry in the world of contemporary art. As special correspondent Mike Cerre reports, the components in the work may look very familiar to many of you and might bring back some childhood memories. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Five Facts

  • Who is the the "Leonardo d'Vinci" of Legos, according to this piece?
  • What artworks has Nathan Sawaya recreated in Legos?
  • Where has Sawaya shown his Lego art collection?
  • Why did Sawaya decide to focus on classic artworks to recreate in Legos?
  • How does remaking famous artworks in Lego lead to greater appreciation of those works, according to Sawaya?

Focus Questions

How did the lego adaptations make you think differently about famous adaptations? Did the use of a common material help you see the work in a new way? Media literacy: Would you have liked more background on the original artworks being imitated in legos? If you wanted to find out more, where would you go?

For More

Inspired by Sawaya's recreations? Sawaya aims to show that beautiful works of art can be made by those without formal training or traditional art materials. Not even Lego bricks are needed!
  1. As a class, choose one material on hand to work with — this could be legos or other building blocks, scrap paper, mosaic pieces or other materials that are suitable for reusing or repurposing.
  2. Choose one of Sawaya's recreations to recreate all over again in your chosen material. Remember, just like the Lego recreations offer something different than the original, your creation will offer something new entirely based on the media you choose. You can work as individuals or in groups.
  3. Once you've finished your recreation, discuss: What do these recreations do differently than the original artworks, or Sawaya's recreations? What have you learned about the originals in the act of trying to recreate them?

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