In the lower levels of Little Rock’s Statehouse Convention center, there might not be much more to see beyond beige walls and floors in a range of neutral tones. Feb. 25 brought about an otherwise unseen version of the convention floor, presenting a stretch of towers and sprawling gardens.
Prince took the stage at one end of the convention floor as NASA space shuttles prepared for takeoff at the other. A few feet over, visitors look at the Taj Mahal or the Golden Gate Bridge.
At Brick Universe and conventions like it, Lego is the name of the game. It’s a sight of vendors dealing in mini figures, artists showcasing original creations and families finding shared excitement in all things Lego.
For some, years of building and hundreds of plastic multi-colored bricks serve as the foundation of their livelihood, relationships and lifestyle.
In the case of Paul Hetherington, what began as a hobby is now his sole occupation.
“Back in 1991, there was no internet. There were no Lego Clubs, no Lego conventions. So I basically joined my club when it formed,” Hetherington said. “That gave me a reason to build.”
Hetherington spent time building for train shows and local museums before focusing on Lego conventions, where he grew to enjoy the competitive side of Lego building.
“I started winning and that inspired me even more. That’s kind of how we got here,” Hetherington said. “A lot of these models in the gallery were created for conventions. Some of them won the best in show award. I’ve managed to get some commissions and now I do it for a living.”
Hetherington is originally from Vancouver, though he travels around the country attending most of the Brick Universe events and some other Lego conventions like Chicago’s Brickworld. He became thoroughly invested in the Lego community in 1991 — when he was roughly 21 years old.
For Hetherington, the culture around Lego conventions has only continued to grow during his 30+ years in the community.
Melissa Peterson is another long-time Lego fan. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, her and her partner Doug Davis originally connected over a shared interest in Lego. The two operate It’s A Block Party, a business specializing in Lego products.
A woman reaches for a Lego minifigure being sold by It's A Block Party. The couple in charge of the business specialize in hard-to-find Lego sets and minifigures.
The couple travels to Lego conventions much like Hetherington does. But instead of building, they set up shop at conventions and sell hard-to-find Lego sets and minifigures.
“It’s not the general stuff you find in the Lego aisle at Target,” Peterson said. “We just enjoy bringing that kind of experience that people don’t have access to.”
Peterson said that places like Little Rock, Arkansas, or Chattanooga, Tennessee, bring a bit of buzz to their shop that cities like Chicago or New York don’t.
“Brick Universe is excellent about bringing this experience to towns that might not have that experience.It’s really fun and people are very appreciative,” Peterson said. “They just are excited that we’re here.”
For Davis and Peterson, selling Legos started out as a way to support their building. Peterson said the business grew almost out of nowhere.
“We didn’t set out to have this, it just developed as time went on,” Peterson said. The two have been running the business for about 10 years now.
A child points to a Lego minifigure for sale at It's A Block Party. The independent Lego business has been operating for roughly 10 years.
Peterson rediscovered Lego later in life, especially when the pandemic kept people inside. For Peterson, the appeal of Lego comes from its generational reach.
“You can build a basic set or you can create something spectacular. I think there’s something in it for everybody,” Peterson said. “It’s not just for kids anymore.”
A child looks at Paul Hetherington's "Unchained My Heart." The original creation is steampunk inspired and Hetherington's personal favorite build.
Hetherington said that between the colors and the “satisfaction of being able to create something,” there isn’t just one reason for Lego’s appeal.
“I’ve never really developed my drawing skills, so Lego is my vehicle to express what’s in my mind,” Hetherington said. “The advantage to Lego is that you’ve got to create a three-dimensional model, as opposed to drawing or painting where it’s just two-dimensional.”
Hetherington said the process of building Lego is an “all-encompassing experience.”
While many builders focus on architecture and more realistic subjects for their creations, he likes to incorporate fantasy into his designs.
Aside from favorite builds like a steampunk robot entitled “Unchained My Heart,” Hetherington commands some especially detailed builds like “The Edge of Glory” which is a Day of the Dead themed creation.
"The Edge of Glory" by artist Paul Hetherington. The original creation took 195 hours and includes 17,200 Lego bricks.
Hetherington also enjoys creating builds structured around Batman’s The Joker, just because he feels the DC villain allows for crazier and more colorful ideas. Though, at the end of the day, Hetherington never sticks close to one theme.
“It’s just whatever pops into my head is really what I end up building,” Hetherington said.