Bricksplosion 2026
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens. f3.5, 1/60 sec, ISO 1000
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
On Halloween Weekend 2026, it was time for Bricksplosion - the biggest Lego show in the Maritimes. I loved the experience of displaying at the 2025 show, so I was glad to return. This time around, the venue was at the Dalhousie Student Union Building.
For my part, I brought a model of the Panna Meena Ka Kund stepwell in India (along with a book flipped open to a page about it), a Star Trek inspired starbase with a fleet of ships (all on a lazy susan run by a crank), a few more ships in a static display, and a green power park with waterfall, vortex turbine, and wind turbine all driven by a crank.
Unihertz 8849 Tank Mini 1
f1.8, 1/24 sec, ISO 1159
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I absolutely adore seeing all the amazing things that the other creators have made. It might only rate second, though, to chatting with the members of the public. Watching someone's eyes go wide when they catch onto something that brings them joy is a source of joy in itself.
A few conversations really stood out for me this year. A woman asked me if I thought AI would take away all the architecture jobs (I optimistically think that is not the case!). The boy who had a table beside mine last year came by, this year as just a spectator. He told me he has a dragon in mind to build for next year's show.
There was a boy who got very excited when I turned the power plant around so he could take a look at the gears which run it. Many people, kids and adults alike, were gobsmacked to turn the power station crank and have the waterfall move. One little girl must have stood and turned the crank for minutes on end, just so happy to be doing it.
There was a man who is originally from a town near Panna Meena Ka Kund who seemed very touched to see my model. Maybe I just imagine that his eyes misted up slightly, but he certainly gushed over it.
Then, of course, there were many people who were excited to see my Star Trek station and ships. Many people commiserated about the recent passing of Patrick Stewart and Walter Koenig. A young man really wanted to know how the ships were made, so I got his e-mail address and sent him some tips. One woman told me it was her favourite model of the whole show! Then, there's the guy who came on Halloween dressed in a Starfleet uniform. I had to ask him for a photo.
Unihertz 8849 Tank Mini 1
f1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 940
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.8, 1/80 sec, ISO 1000
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Zachary Steinman is a local businessman who owns a bicycle shop. He has a truly fantastic mind for Lego sculpting. He's well known (well, at least by the local Lego nerds!) for cube-based models that play with texture and shape transitions. Some of his work has even been displayed at Lego's gallery in Denmark.
This year, in addition to his mindbending cubes, he brought a collection of massive buildings. They make for an offputtingly dystopian skyscape, but I can't help but be fascinatinated by them.
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f4.8, 1/40 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.7, 1/13 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
The person with a table beside mine this year was Robert McAvity from Hampstead, New Brunswick. We are somewhat similar in age; both having had the same submarine set as kids (and both absolutely loving it!). During Covid-19, Robert rebuilt the set, which rekindled his love of Lego. At some point, he decided it needed a backdrop, and he started building his "aquarium". He's well on his way to his quest of incorporating every sea creature ever set in plastic!
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens. f4.3, 1/50 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f4.5, 1/60 sec, ISO 1250
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Since Bricksplosion fell right on the cusp of October and November, Robert also made a Remembrance Day display.
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5, 1/60 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.6, 1/80 sec, ISO 1000
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I was very impressed with the way this Brick sculptor rendered the background of the Madeline cover with diagonal plates. I find it a very attractive effect.
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f4.5, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.2, 1/30 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Models do not always have to be big to wow. Coming across this treasure box of a Men Of The Deeps concert was a true pleasure.
On the same table was a collaboration between two people: They are variations on the same theme, but taken in different and delightful directions...
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.1, 1/50 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f4.3, 1/30 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.1, 1/60 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens. f4.3, 1/25 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.2, 1/60 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f4.5, 1/60 sec, ISO 800
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I am consistently impressed with how people are able to take the same general kit and come up with such very different results. I think it takes an event like Bricksplosion to really highlight just how much personality comes across.
Unihertz 8849 Tank Mini 1
f1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 1223
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Unihertz 8849 Tank Mini 1
f1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 706
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Unihertz 8849 Tank Mini
f1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 551
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5.7, 1/13 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
One fun thing which happens at big Lego shows is that creators sometimes make little tokens to give away. Tokens are micro-scale builds, often representing a model that the person is displaying. The tradition is to sneak a token near or even on other displays that one likes. Next up is a gorgeous wizard's tower by Lego Master Maia Hughes Martin (who also did the pretty white bird in the previous photo), and then her token of it that she slipped onto my table.
Olympus Pen-F, 12-200mm telephoto lens
f5, 1/20 sec, ISO 1600
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Unihertz 8849 Tank Mini 1
f2, 1/30 sec, ISO 550
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
