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Yes, our grandson Little Aussie has been here again...
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and we are still fascinated with Lego.
Behold the new Lego Coast Guard guy.
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The old family collection of 1980s Space Lego, has been revived by Aussie's Dad:
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I know many of you out there have kept the old Lego, and if you are like most of us, the original instructions have long gone.
But thanks to the wonder of the Internet age, help is at hand:
Let's Build it again.com has all the old instructions, handily categorised by year, for you to browse and find - which is exactly what our son, Aussie's Daddy, has done.
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It was so endearing to watch father and son, working together to bring these little space guys back to life in their ships.
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| 'Wingreeguu", 2012, Shirley Macnamara |
This looks a bit like a space craft, but is in fact a piece of sculpture, 'Wingreeguu" by indigenous Queensland artist Shirley Macnamara of the Indilandji/Alyawarre people.
It evokes powerful memories of the traditional shelters of her ancestors in North West Queensland.
The artist uses an upended turpentine bush (Acacia lysiphloia), threaded with strands of golden Spinifex, a native grass (Triodia pungens). The little circles are made from tightly woven spinifex which are threaded onto long strands.
The arrangement sits on a bed of yellow ochre from the western desert land.
It glows in the golden light of the gallery space at GOMA.
"Fascination", a small sculptural piece also made by Shirley Macnamara.
Woven spinifex circles, an emu bone and soft emu feathers, it is displayed as wall art on a little hat stand.
Fascinator, anyone?
Dear daughter in Canada sent me this top - $12 at Walmart!!
I love a bargain.
And a reminder that I still love Paris...
Happy travelling everybody.
XXXX
... And Paris loves you more, I'm sure ! Thank you for regularly showing indigenous art on your blog, it fascinates me and it makes me happy to see all Australians celebrating it ! xx
ReplyDeleteI just realize that that last turn of phrase isn't correct but you know what I mean ... !
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, actually not all Australians like or celebrate the art, but these days most people do.
DeleteThank you so much for the link to that Lego building site! I've bookmarked it, and plan to forward it to my oldest son (he was the big Lego fan in our family). We have multiple old sets in our crawl space, just waiting for a grandchild to play with. :-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a great site, Kristie! Happy that you have found it useful, and I bet your son likes it as much as our 37 year old does :)
DeleteGirls at our house never did get into Lego's but it is fun to see what can be created. Once again I'm delighted to see the art of Australia's indigenous people and that is a great tee shirt you have on.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Thank you Darla - maybe you got to enjoy Barbies and My Little Ponies more than we did in our house. Dear daughter was not into dolls really. She loved to play 'offices'..
DeletePatricia,
ReplyDeleteI really like that shirt that your daughter bought you. Sometimes I will find the cutest things there. How nice of your son to be so involved with the rebuilding of the space legos and spending so much time with his son on this. I think I told you that my son used to love to play with these and built many interesting things with them. Doesn't Kate look sweet in her hat? But I have to say, Diana is still my favorite. She is close to my heart, as we got married and had our kids around the same time.
Enjoy your day, Patricia.
love,
~Sheri
Thanks Sheri, I think it is a great shirt too. One day your son might like the Lego link back to the past too. I used to identify with Diana too, and we had a son William just before she did! Kate was the star of the royal Garden Party this week in her lace dress and new fascinator. xx
DeleteGreat tip re: the lego. "Wingreeguu" is a lovely concept and an interesting piece of sculpture - something that I would enjoy seeing in the garden but it would probably blow away.
ReplyDeleteDon't go wearing out your lovely Paris tee-shirt before your visit - you do look nice in it.
Wingreeguu would look great in the garden, but alas, it would fly away in the first puff of wind. It's delicacy makes it more appealing than if it had been reinforced and bolted down. Good tip re the Paris shirt - I'll make it my lucky charm. Fingers crossed to make the trip in a few months.
DeleteWhat a lovely collection of images..... I particularly like the Wingreeguu sculpture, but can always appreciate a good bit of lego revival...well done for tracking down the instructions.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice. Glad you like the Wingreeguu sculpture, which is a stunning piece. We are all enjoying the lego revival - all three generations of us!
DeleteI didn't have any lego as a child and I so wish that I had, my brother had some, but not like this and I wasn't allowed to play with it. Your new top is lovely, and as you say, a great reminder of your love of Paris!! xx
ReplyDeleteI was introduced to lego by having two sons, Amy, and am glad I kept all those pieces stored away for the last 20 years. They are a big hit with the grandson, and it hasn't cost us a cent! I showed the Paris tee on Facebook, and had lots of Likes :)
DeleteI love that top, so cute! It looks nice on you too. Neat to see the old Lego, I'm so glad you saved it for Little Aussie to play with.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer, love that top! That 80s Lego is sooo cute - even features in the Lego Movie. Can't get better praise than that :)
DeleteShirley Macnamaras sculpture is really interesting ... And the Paris shirt is great!
ReplyDeleteHello Jenny, I'm glad you like the sculpture; I know you have quite an eye for interesting visuals. Paris shirt says Merci!
DeleteHow nice the old Lego designs have been revived and what a cute photo of your grandson!
ReplyDeleteAw, yes, little man is 100% cute, soon to turn five! Where does the time go...
DeleteWe have kept the Lego also, love the look of your new tops.
ReplyDeleteAh, you might find the Lego rebuild website useful some time. I thought it such a brilliant idea, knowing how much lego is stored in people's attics. Hi from Paris top!
DeleteYou are looking quite smart in your new shirt! Thanks for all the photos. Enjoy your visit with little Aussie! And what an interesting sculpture. We can always depend on you, Patricia, to keep us informed about the art scene. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sanda, love the new shirt, and I'm glad you like the unusual sculpture. It is amazing what the contemporary artists come up with. Happy weekend!
DeleteI'm glad you've got a new Paris top to keep you going until you can visit Paris again for yourself, Patricia. Thanks for the link to the Lego site which I've bookmarked for our old Lego and will forward to our grandsons for them to use with their rather large collections of Lego.
ReplyDeleteI love the examples of indigenous art, in particular "Wingreeguu" which is hauntingly beautiful.
Thank you Perpetua, and I'm glad you like the Lego site. I was quite excited by it, as it justified my efforts in holding on to this vast collection of tiny tiles for the last 25 years :)
DeleteI really like you description of Wingreeguu: hauntingly beautiful. I might borrow that phrase next time I guide it. Happy Sunday!
It's great to see lego being played with by little ones - and big ones too!
ReplyDeleteShirley McNamara's art is very delicate. I imagine the first piece is quite large - it's beautiful. Wonderful that they are telling their story through their art.
Well I see you're all set for Paris dear Patricia! I hope you are feeling much better and can book your trip soon!
Glad you like Shirley's art, Shane. I think it has a delicate touch, as you say, and is an excellent contemporary version of the indigenous stories. I am feeling really well thanks, and have one more medical test before I can book a trip. Fingers crossed. x
DeleteI love the aboriginal art of Shirley McNamara.. its so delicate and unique.
ReplyDeleteLove your Paris T shirt.
I kept some of my boys leggo and was amazed when we gave it to little Thomas now 15.. he played and played with it. We all used to add to his collection for years after.
Little Aussie , sure looks happy.
I hope that your health is good Patricia..
sending best wishes ..
happy Saturday.
val x x x
Hi Val, I know what you mean about the old Lego - but here it was the 37 year old who played and played with it - all weekend! he he
DeleteI am feeling really well now thank you; only one more medical test next week. Happy Sunday xxx
My grandson Leo plays with Lego all the time and always ask for more at birthdays etc. I don't think its popularity will ever fade. That's a lovely top your daughter sent you and full of nostalgic memories no doubt.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
It is a brilliant and timeless toy, the old Lego, and popular as ever. I think my top is lovely too :) xx
DeleteIsn't it great that there are still toys like Lego which are pyhsyically and mentally active rather than passive things like computers. Lovely that father and son can be so absorbed together. The art work is gorgeous, Patricia, and I like your Tee-shirt too. Since I also love Paris, it would be one for me. I hope you are well now?
ReplyDeleteI am very well now, Val, thank you; just waiting on one more medical test next week. You make a very good point about the Lego, which encourages both creativity and dexterity. We are pleased our grandson is happy to play with it for hours, and we keep television for 'quiet times'. Glad you like the art work - I'll have to find another piece next week.
DeleteHi Valerie, I think the artist is having some cross-cultural fun. There is another, smaller, one, which would be quite wearable too. love contemporary art!
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting me, and your lovely comments!
Your grandson is a handsome young man....aren't grandchildren awesome?
Can't remember if I saved any LEGO, but I do remember stepping on the odd piece! OUCH!
I read your last post......I also saw the Beatles in Toronto in 1963!
Very exciting indeed!
Enjoy your week...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Hi Linda, welcome to my blog. Grandchildren are Awesome! Exciting to see the Beatles in Toronto; they certainly moved around in the early years. We have been to Toronto: our daughter met her husband there, 15 years ago. :))
DeleteHaving had only daughters, we have never had many legos in our home.
ReplyDeleteInstead, the amount of " My little Ponies " was immense, despite the fact, that my older one had a real pony of her own at the same time.
Great, that there is advice to be found how to gather the old legos once again, and I can imagine the Daddy enjoying the legos too.
Great pieces of art!
The smaller one is very much to my liking, so special!
And you - looking great in that Paris top : ).
We never any of those little ponies, (daughter was not interested) but I always thought they were extremely attractive! I like that little art sculpture too, and especially the way the artist is going contemporary with the ancient techniques. Thank you: loving the Paris top, and hoping it brings me luck (and a trip to Paris)!!
DeleteThank you for your kind comment Patricia! Such a sweet photo of your grandson!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day!
Madelief x
Thank you Madelief, you have a most beautiful blog. Happy Summer days over there! x
DeleteLove your blog! Your little grandson is lovely, and thanks for the tip on lego instructions on the internet, that is very handy, we have lost all our instructions (within about a minute of building the thing). Really like your Paris top, wish we had a Walmart here xx
ReplyDelete