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Eric Sophie / ESLC / Biomechanical-Bricks | |
| Biomechanical Bricks on LUGNET  An Online History of Lego Creations by Eric Sophie Biomechanical Bricks
 Biomechanical Bricks literally means, Living Lego. I search for a way to embue my creations with a certain feeling unique to each one. In turn I learn from the smaller Bots and apply the joint placement principles to the Mecha Sculptures. This is where you make the leap. From mechanical mecha models to fully motorized robots. A tool for making robot designs. Eric Sophie 3/2004  Eric Sophie @ the Houston Galleria NASA Challenger Centers Galla, SciBrick Event 10/2003 Bio: I was born in Jamaica Queens NY - 1970. From an early age my brother Adam and I were treated to Museums, Music, and Nature. I have lived all across the United States due to my Father’s Job at Pan American Airlines when I was young. In the course of our travels, I had only my Family and Lego as a child in every new place we went. Building with Lego, in a sad way, became my friend in the new places where we lived in, and in a good way, taught me to become creative and spend time in a constructive way.  From the Ages of 16 to 18, I started to realize that I could make anything I wanted by using the Lego System. I decided when I was 18 that I would use Lego as an Artistic medium. I created many things and got lots of encouragement. I entered my first Model Building Contest around the early 1990’s at the Newport Mall in Jersey City. I won second place! The first place winner had a customized Radio Controlled Car. He was sponsored by a Hobby Shop. At that point I remember saying to myself, “If you’re gonna Build Lego, put your heart into it and be the best!”  Some years later I completed my first purpose built sculpture. A 3ft. tall winged robot. I continue to build large scale robots to this day.  In early 1995 I began an ambitious project. I wanted to build the most difficult and most beautiful robot that I could. As I am inspired by nature, I wanted this work to be like my others; insect like. I looked around in my mind’s eye and realized that one of the most highly evolved insects is the Praying Mantis. I felt this would be the basis from which I would build. I had another reason for wanting to build such a creation. I knew of no one other than myself that was building with Lego in this fashion. I wanted to make a name for myself to show not only what I could build, but moreover to show what the Lego System was capable of.  I worked for 3 years to create a six foot long robotic Praying Mantis. When I completed the Mantis in 1997, I began to bring it to Shows where my friends played music. I had done Community Art Shows with my other Robots in the past, however, showing the Mantis in Night Clubs and Poetry Readings was great! I have many fond memories and the crowds of people encouraged me.  My Friends were very supportive. More and more they were asking me to come to their shows and set up my Robots. This is how I came to be known as the “Legomaster” in my local area.  -Realizing the Lego System- I began to delve into robotics and mechanical design. I wanted to bring more life to my work and really make some fantastic designs. I wanted to use all the motors and gears in the Lego System to further improve my designs and move into ground breaking areas. Around 1998 I began to renovate a house that my Fiancee and I had come into through our Family. I put away the Lego for two years while I built my home. All the while I worked with wood, sheetrock and paint, I dreamed of my designs. In 1999, I noticed that the Lego Company introduced the Mindstorms Robotic Invention System. A way of programming motor control through the use of Computers. I was computer literate, but we did not own a computer. I continued to complete the work on my House until we moved in. A few days before New Year’s Eve 2000, I purchased a computer as a gift for my Fiancee’.  I then got the Mindstorms Robotic Invention System from Lego and began to build my Ultimate Robot. I worked on it for 2 years. In that time I began to use the Internet to find others like me. To my surprise and delight there were many people online that were building with Lego, a few built Robots like me in a similar manner. I discovered a place on the Web called “Lugnet” The Lego User Group Network. I was beside myself! At first I just wanted to know if there was anyone out there like me, then I realized I had no real means of sharing my work over the Internet as I did not own a digital camera. I decided I would build until I could show the others what I have made once I was able to secure a digital camera.  I got back to work on my Robotics Project. I created the most technically advanced Robot I could make. At nearly thirty motors, “The Super Mech-Bot” as it has come to be known, contains Sensors at each joint and has two Lego Cam Vision Command Cameras mounted in the head that act as it’s “Eyes”. I was able to complete half of the Robot before I needed to take a break. The Super Mech-Bot was so large that it’s shoulders were as big as mine! I wanted to make smaller prototypes in order to teach myself the techniques I would need to complete the Robot.  At this time I introduced myself to the world of Lego Builders on Lugnet. With the help of my new digital camera and a free image hosting Web-Site just for Lego Creations called Brickshelf, I began to show other Lego Builders what I do. I first showed my Praying Mantis and posted a message to the Public Forums on Lugnet. It was great! People really liked it and they were very kind. I was so excited!  I began to make friends with other Lego Robot builders that made models called “Mecha” I felt at home. At long last I found others who understood what I was doing; all the effort, the parts hunting, the details and all the painstaking designing that go into my creations. It is good to find a place where you belong.  To my delight I was contacted by some folks from Lego asking if they could use some of my pictures for a story about people that build Lego as Art for the Build Section on the Official Lego Web-Site. I was very happy. I felt like after all these years I was finally getting noticed. Featured are two of my all time favorite works: My Praying Mantis and the Super Mech-Bot.   I recently decided to take the plunge into being a Lego Artist fulltime. With the help and support of Friends and Family I am trying to make my dream job a reality. I just reached a deal with a Comic book store in Bayonne New Jersey to rent some of my Robots for a display in their window. I am also looking to do consultant work for the Lego Educational System.   Looking forward, many new and exciting things are on the horizon. I am planning on attending Annual Lego Fan Events. I hope to meet new people there and continue to forge relationships with people from around the USA and the world. I will be bringing my latest all Mechanical Robot called the Jamocklaquat. I know its a funny name. But I believe in a time when mankind will outgrow primitive disputes when we learn to master such technology. An important aspect of my building is non-violence. No guns and Laser, just natural looking Biomechanoids.   Mindstorms and the Lego System have brought life to my creations. Infact if you want to make something and it seems hard at first, don’t give up! Believe in yourself and you can make it happen. It is the genious of the Lego System that can make it happen all you need is to give it a try! It is my hope that others can make their dreams come true just as I hope to continue to build with Lego and make my dreams a reality. I now teach Lego Building classes 6 days a week. In 4 locations in New York and New Jersey.  Thank you for reading,  Eric Sophie www.biomechanicalbricks.com Member of: LUGNET Member# 1051 Brickshelf User: Legomaster  Eric Sophie - Bricks West 2002, Legoland California After I just walked through the rain with Bryce McGlone. Photo by Brian Heins. Biomechanical Bricks
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