You expect to find animals at a zoo, but what about animals constructed from LEGO bricks? From now through Jan. 2 you can supplement your everyday zoo encounters with the striking artwork that comprises “Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks” at the Phoenix Zoo.
Nature Connects features 27 animal and flora sculptures created by New York-based artist Sean Kenney whose award-winning works have been featured in venues around the globe for more than 10 years.
Kenney, who started out as a graphic designer, has been making LEGO sculptures, portraits and other creations for the past dozen years. He has also written children’s books with photographs of the colorful block creations, including instructions for several of the models found within the pages.
You don’t have to be a LEGO fan to appreciate the sculptures that are tucked in among the exhibits at the Phoenix Zoo. From a distance, you meet a grazing zebra, the imposing silhouette of a rhinoceros, and the towering likeness of a dodo bird, but as you get closer, all the individual bricks become more obvious and you understand the careful engineering behind each creature.
“I’m excited to bring ‘Nature Connects’ to the Phoenix Zoo,” Kenney says. “Everyone can get something out of the exhibit; whether it’s an educational message about conservation and ecosystems, an appreciation for the beauty of nature, or the fun of seeing giant, larger-than-life sculptures built with millions of LEGO bricks.”
Several sculptures in “Nature Connects” highlight animals that are endangered, threatened or vulnerable. The goal is to help guests understand the vital connections between animal conservation and the community. Each sculpture is surrounded by custom plantings designed by the zoo’s horticulturists. Guests will see a hatchling sea turtle, a vanishing rhinoceros, a jeweled chameleon, a crouching snow leopard and many, many more stunning sculptures. One of the most elaborate pieces in the exhibit is a life-size polar bear mother and her cubs made with more than 133,000 pieces and weighing over 625 pounds.
The stunning peacock is the second-largest piece in “Nature Connects.” This piece is nearly 7 feet wide and 5 feet tall. The 68,827-piece creature is the most visually intricate and time-consuming sculpture Kenney has ever designed.
The sculptures will be visible to Phoenix Zoo guests during a daytime visit and will be included with general zoo admission. Some sculptures will also be placed on trails that are part of the annual holiday light show; ZooLights.
The Phoenix Zoo is the only zoo in the Valley accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. As one of the largest nonprofit zoos in the country, the Phoenix Zoo relies solely on the support of guests, donors and sponsors.
Home to more than 1,400 animals and many endangered and threatened species, the zoo provides experiences that inspire people and motivate them to care for the natural world.
