George Lucas Announces New Museum as a Tribute to Artistic Expression
George Lucas Shines at Comic-Con
George Lucas made a grand entrance at Comic-Con to a warm welcome from thousands of fans, some waving light sabers as iconic Star Wars music played in the background.
A Humble Appearance
The 81-year-old creator of Star Wars, clad in jeans and a flannel shirt, seemed modest in the face of the crowd’s adoration. This marked his first appearance at San Diego’s pop culture gathering, and the ensuing discussion about his art museum was a refreshing change from the high-energy events typical of Hall H.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Lucas is deeply invested in the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which he co-founded with his wife, Mellody Hobson. This monumental project was announced in 2017 and is set to debut next year in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park. "This is sort of a temple to the people’s art," Lucas expressed to the audience, highlighting the significance of the museum.
Architectural Design
Designed by architect Ma Yansong, the museum resembles a massive space cruiser. Extending over 300,000 square feet, it’s comparably sized to an IKEA store, adding an impressive architectural element to the Los Angeles landscape.
Source: Getty
Celebrating Art in All Forms
The museum will showcase a variety of Star Wars art and artifacts, as evidenced by an introductory video narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. Lucas aims to explore comic art and popular paintings that resonate with the public. He is an avid collector of works by Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish, while Hobson has focused on acquiring pieces from Black artists like Norman Lewis and Kara Walker.
Star-studded Panel Discussion
The panel included well-known figures like director Guillermo del Toro and production designer Doug Chiang, both significant contributors to the legacy of Star Wars. Queen Latifah moderated the event, endearingly referring to herself as a "sci-fi nerd" while energizing the crowd.
A Passionate Collector
Lucas shared that the museum project began from a need to house his extensive collection accumulated since his college years in the 1960s. He fondly recalled purchasing original comic book art for just $30. Among his collectibles are the first drawing of Flash Gordon, original Peanuts comic panels, and early sketches of superhero characters like Iron Man and Black Panther.
Safety Concerns and the Future
Del Toro, also an impassioned collector, addressed the proximity of recent wildfires to his own collection, stressing the importance of preserving such artifacts. "Now that the museum exists, a lot of it may go there," he commented, highlighting the museum’s potential to safeguard valuable pieces of pop culture history.
The Cultural Relevance of Comics
Del Toro emphasized the political importance of comics through history, stating, "Comics were the first ones to punch Nazis—before movies." This insightful discussion resonates with the ongoing themes central to Comic-Con, showing the deeper narrative behind the art.
Source: Associated Press
Looking Ahead
Currently, the exact opening date for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art remains under wraps. However, its location adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum positions it as an essential cultural venue, as it joins several renowned museums and the University of Southern California.
Are you excited about the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and what it will bring to the art community?
