Last weekend Toy Photographers and #brickstameet held the Brickvention Charity Silent Auction of LEGO photography, raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. With 27 amazing photographs, by 17 artists, from 11 different countries, I knew it would be a success. But there’s know way I could’ve predicted some of the wonderful moments that happened.
Here are some of my personal highlights from the weekend.
*As the Brickvention Charity Silent Auction is about the art and the charity I’ve avoided naming specific artists in my highlights. All of you helped to make this event a success and a memorable weekend for me.
Recognizing
Visitors to the Charity Silent Auction recognising some of the artists hanging on the walls. Whether it was by their photo or by their name, it was cool to know that toy photographers had reached those outside our toy photographers’ walls. Officials, exhibitors, builders and visitors to the Brickvention knew who you were!
Discovering
Of course some of the artists were new to the visitors of the gallery. However, looking up the Instagram account that was listed below their photograph often resulted in enraptured scrolling, a race to place a bid for a newly discovered favourite artist, and undoubtedly a follow!
Brickvention Charity Silent Auction
Must have I
“Oh, I’ve really got to have a photo by that person!” Artists were not only recognised, they were wanted! One visitor to the gallery just had to have a photograph by a particular artist, even coming back throughout the day a number of times to raise the bidding if their last bid had been beaten! I’m happy to say they won the photograph from the artist they really wanted!
Brickvention Charity Silent Auction
Must have II
The group of bidders hovering around the table with the bid sheets as the Saturday auction drew to close, periodically checking their bids were still the highest. And the audible excitement that the photos they’d bid on were theirs. Yes, photos! Some people bid on and won two or three photos!
Brickvention Charity Silent Auction
Must have III
The disappointment in being outbid on a photo, and the offer to match the wining bid for a chance to own a LEGO photo. One bidder really wanted to win a particular photo, so offered to pay the same money as the person who’d outbid them to have another print of that photo posted to them!
Brickvention Charity Silent Auction
Inspiring
Inspiring and open up a whole new LEGO world to people.
“Inspired by all the Lego minifigure photography at Brickvention 2018, I took a photo of my MOC” Juan De Castro
One exhibitor wrote this on the Brickvention Exhibitors Facebook page, together with a photo they’d taken. You’ve got to remember that Brickvention is predominantly a convention for builders to display their MOCs. Taking photographs of LEGO as art is new to a lot of the attendees and exhibitors. To hear that the Brickvention Charity Silent Auction inspired Juan to give it a go and share it was super cool. Thanks for the highlight Juan.
Thank you
Thanks to all the artists that contributed their works, we’re proud to announce that you helped us raise $875 for the Royal Children’s Hospital over the weekend! Yes, there are still a few expenses to come out of that number, but the result is incredible. Thank you.
– Brett
Andrew (@cheepjokes) and I would like to once again thank all those who contributed their art. We’d also like to thank those who put their hands in their pockets for art and the Royal Children’s Hospital. I’d like to thank those who provided all these wonderful highlights for me. And I’d like to thank Andrew for all his hard work in helping make this year’s Brickvention Charity Silent Auction such a success, and for the spare bed!
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That’s amazing, well done guys! I feel proud to have had my photos as part of an auction on the other side of the world and all for a great cause.
Thank you for participating Chris. Your photos looked amazing and were so well received, especially ‘A Morning Stroll’!
Wow, it’s absolutely great! So nice to see all these great pictures! It’s an honour and great pleasure to be the part of this. You did a great, great job, Brett and Andrew. And of course great thanks to all contributors!
It really was an amazing group of artists this year. The reactions, and the bids, were truly incredible! Thanks again.
Wow, that’s fantastic Brett! I’m glad to hear that the auction went so well. Thank you for including me in this wonderful event 🙂
Lynn
No, thank you Lynn! It went better than just well, they money raised and the reactions to the art were more than we could’ve predicted…thanks to you and all the other wonderful artists.
Winners all round. Well done!
Yep! Everyone was a winner. Thanks for dropping by mate. It was good to catch up.
How wonderful! I did get a glimpse of the wall of photos in the background of a few FB pages covering the event. I’m glad the photos raised funds and appreciation of our art. Thanks Brett and Andrew for organizing the auction.
Thanks Anna. The photos that were donated to the auction were amazing. We knew that! But to hear those sentiments from people outside the toy photography world was even more amazing. And luring some of them into our world? Wow!
Brett what a fabulous event! A big thank you to you and Andrew for putting this together; it was an honor to be a part of it. Im so proud of our toy photography community and how we continue to raise awareness. Its even more gratifying to know that our combined efforts are taking hold. It is so cool to know that my work was seen in Melbourne (literally on the other side of the planet) and people knew my work. Im flattered beyond belief. Thanks again for organizing this and I hope next year is even more successful!
Shelly, there were so my “awww” moments this past weekend. I get a real kick out of seeing my friends’ art being recognized, being wanted, and of course raising money for the charity. I truly get a little giddy with excitement every time one of the artist’s pieces gets another bid. Sure, my mind begins to tally up the total that will be donated to the hospital, but there’s also a feeling of pride and happiness for that artist. Unless that new bid has gazumped me on a piece that I really wanted to own! 😉
Hi folks! I’m so happy to be a part of this event! Million thanks for inviting me! You guys done amazing work! Wish you endless joy and luck with next projects and events!
We were truly grateful that you not only participated but helped us to raise some money for the children’s hospital. Thank you again for helping to make this year’s charity auction such a success!