What I liked about “The Art of the Brick” in downtown Tampa transcends obvious creativity, ingenuity and whimsy. It is its broad appeal. Amid the 100 pieces of art made of Lego bricks by artist Nathan Sawaya there’s literally something for everybody–whether it’s an homage to the Mona Lisa, David and The Thinker, a shout out to Manet, Monet and Van Gogh or an ultra cool, 20-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. Or maybe, it’s just the interactive build space at the end, which is a fun, creative place for young–and much older–kids to build their own Lego projects. The Vinik Family Foundation, which sponsors the exhibit, covers the cost, which means free entry for all visitors. To date, there have been more than 100,000 since late June.
Not unlike last year’s Vinik-sponsored “Beach Tampa” exhibit at Amalie Arena–or the Children’s Gasparilla Parade–“The Art of the Brick” looks like Tampa racially and ethnically. At a time when we need venues and opportunities to come together as a community, the Vinik Foundation has stepped up–again–in a meaningful way.