Library Lions A Puzzling Feat For City Artist
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The iconic marble lions at the main branch of the New York Public Library are getting some company to help celebrate their 100th birthday.
Artist Nathan Sawaya has recreated the lions, named Patience and Fortitude, out of Legos.
About 60,000 Legos were used for the lions, which measure half the size of the originals.
The iconic statues have stood guard outside the 42nd Street building since May 1911.
"The lions took about a month to complete. It was a long process of researching the lions, the original marble lions, taking measurements of the dimensions, sketching everything out and then actually creating the lions brick by brick," Sawaya said.
"Patience and fortitude are such a big part of the library. Everybody thinks of the lions everybody imagines the lions," said New York City Public Library Centennial Producer Caro Llewellyn.
The Lego lions will be unveiled to the public Friday to kick off the centennial celebration, which lasts through the weekend.
For more information about the display or the festivities, visit nypl.org/100.