Eric Harshbarger has been working with his hands and building things since he was a kid. Last year, Harshbarger created a scale-model of Samford Hall, but he is moving toward new projects and ideas - and away from Lego bricks.
Harshbarger, a native of Auburn, graduated from the University with two degrees in mathematics. In 1999, after working a few years in the computer industry, he decided to move back to Auburn, and inspired by Star Wars, attempted to build a life-size sculpture of R2-D2.
"I was determined to complete the project, and it kicked off this quest," Harshbarger said. "Where do I get enough pieces to build this thing?"
After three months of intensive work and many trips to Wal-Mart and K-mart, Harshbarger finished the piece.
As a result of the support he received from the internet community, Harshbarger became inspired to build more models. His immersion into Lego sculptures in 1999 led to a distinct recognition.
"At the time, I was really at that point, the first person outside of the Lego company to build large models out of Lego bricks," Harshbarger said.
By the end of 1999, he began getting requests from individuals and companies who were willing to pay for his services.
"This is when it turned from a hobby to a business," Harshbarger said. "Within 3 years, I could pay all of my bills and make a pretty good income doing all of this work independently."
Harshbarger focused meticulously on the models requested and took pride in using his hobby as a means of livelihood.
"At the height of my building, I had over a half-million pieces in my house," Harshbarger said. "I've since sold most of them, and now I'm much more selective about the projects I undertake, and I only buy pieces for specific projects.
Harshbarger cleaned out his inventory of Lego bricks and sold his sculptures approximately six years ago.
Dan Brown owns and operates an independent and unofficial Lego museum in Bellaire, Ohio. According to Harshbarger, Brown buys and collects Lego pieces and sculptures to display them in his museum.
"He bought every sculpture in my house at one point," Harshbarger said. "He drove down from Ohio and picked all of the sculptures and hauled them back up to his museum."
Brown was excited to receive the sculptures.
"I consider him to be the first professional builder before the phrase was coined by the Lego company," Brown said.
The sculptures still in Harshbarger's house include a grandfather clock, a parrot, a globe, the R2-D2 model and the Samford Hall model which is displayed every year at J&M Bookstore during football season.
"My interests shift every few years, and I'm surprised I've continued doing this amount of Lego work as long as I have," Harshbarger said. "I'm still doing some computer work, even though I'm not in the computer industry anymore, and I'm definitely focusing on puzzles."
In the five years since he has moved away from working exclusively with Legos, Harshbarger moved toward pitching and designing game and puzzle ideas for companies.
He contributed ideas for several games, including "Say Cheese!," "Ambiguity," "Pentomino Puzzles: 365 Teasers to Keep Your Brain in Shape" and "Digits in a Box," all of which aim to challenge the brain and induce critical thinking.
"There was never a project I couldn't do if I tried," Harshbarger said. "I never completely abandon anything. I've been fortunate enough in my life, because I've rarely made plans, and it's a lot of fun to wake up and ask myself, 'What am I going to build today?'"
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