Hello! On Saturday, August 3, and Friday, August 4, I had the pleasure of visiting Lecco, a town overlooking Lake Como in Lombardy. This charming location hosts ItLUG Lecco every year, an exhibition of LEGO brick creations organized by the first historic official LEGO fan group in Italy: ItLUG.
The lake’s beauty, the excellent spaces provided by the Politecnico di Lecco, and ItLUG’s professionalism all contributed to a fun and engaging weekend for both visitors and exhibitors. Over 6,000 people attended the event, and there were 204 exhibitors, including participants from Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, and the Netherlands.
I exhibited my creations from the Dream Harbour series, my tribute to Heartstopper (the Netflix series) titled Charlie’s Room, and the Handcrafted Houseboat. The public’s reaction truly warmed my heart. Displaying creations that I crafted in my studio to such a large audience is always emotional. Seeing the surprise, smiles, and affection in their eyes brought me immense joy and satisfaction.
Special Moments with Visitors…
Some interactions with visitors left a lasting impression on me.
I fondly remember a middle-aged lesbian couple and their two children, who thanked me for my work. They told me the message of love and respect that defines my creations made them unique and brought happiness to their kids, who saw a family like their own represented. They wished me good luck.
An elderly woman, a retired literature teacher, approached me for a chat. With tears in her eyes, she shared that her son, now an adult, would have greatly benefited from seeing a LEGO exhibit featuring a gay couple like the one in the houseboat when he was younger.
A young man in his twenties initially stopped by my exhibit briefly with a group of friends, observing my works timidly. Two hours later, he returned alone to thank me. He explained that he couldn’t express his gratitude earlier because his friends didn’t yet know he was gay, but he deeply appreciated the positive representation I bring to LGBTQ+ lives.
A mother and her young daughter also stood out. The mother read aloud the summaries of the characters’ stories from Dream Harbour, emphasizing themes of sexual orientation and gender identity. She ensured her daughter understood the normality of these stories and the importance of respect for everyone.
My heart truly overflowed with joy. Many young fans of Netflix’s Heartstopper stopped by to photograph my tribute to the series, greeting me with smiles, and some shared that they supported my project on LEGO Ideas. I also had conversations with couples—both men and women—and saw in them surprise, happiness, and gratitude.
Of course, there were a few visitors who initially showed interest in my works but, after reading the presentation materials, suddenly darkened their expressions and walked away in disapproval. Unfortunately, we know all too well that understanding doesn’t come naturally to everyone.
…and New Connections with Exhibitors
I also met some friendly and kind exhibitors. First and foremost, I’d like to thank the organizer, Marco Chiappa, who, together with his family and the ItLUG volunteers, ensured that both exhibitors and visitors had a wonderful time filled with awe and enjoyment. My heartfelt thanks go to him. I also want to mention Stefano and Gioele, a father-and-son duo who are LEGO enthusiasts and collectors. They were my neighbors in the exhibition space and brought interesting insights and great energy with their cordiality and passion.
Additionally, I had the chance to greet and chat with some Italian exhibitors and artists I had met online or at past Model Expo Italy events. It was a true pleasure to see them and their works in person again.
I hope to participate in ItLUG Lecco 2025 if possible, to meet more LEGO creation enthusiasts and perhaps even some of you reading this newsletter on my new website!
Thank you for your attention,
Warm regards,
Feacebricks
