In celebration of May the Fourth, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art unveiled details Monday about a “Star Wars”-focused exhibition planned for its September opening, offering a closer look at one of the centerpiece installations in its inaugural lineup.
The exhibition, titled “Star Wars in Motion,” will feature props, costumes and vehicle designs from the first six films in the franchise, highlighting the evolution of cinematic storytelling through movement and design, according to museum officials.
“From Luke’s Landspeeder in `Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ to the first physical build of General Grievous’ Wheel Bike from `Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,’ the Lucas Museum’s inaugural Cinema exhibition will dazzle audiences with the possibilities of propulsive motion on distant and exotic worlds,” the museum said in a statement.
Last week, the museum unveiled plans for about 20 inaugural exhibitions spanning a wide range of visual storytelling, from ancient art to modern film.
The approximately 300,000-square-foot complex in Exposition Park features a sweeping, modern design. The project includes about 11 acres of landscaped green space extending onto the building’s roof.
Founded by Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, the institution will showcase a rotating selection from the filmmaker’s extensive collection of narrative art, including works such as comic art, manga and imagery tied to children’s storytelling that are not typically emphasized in conventional museums.
Museum representatives said the opening presentations will feature more than 1,200 artworks displayed across about 100,000 square feet of gallery space.
“George Lucas and Mellody Hobson co-founded the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to honor the universal tradition of telling stories through images,” museum officials said. “Encompassing everything from prehistoric cave paintings to today’s screen art, the Museum explores and celebrates the power of visual storytelling to inspire individuals, give shape to beliefs and ideals, and forge community.”
The inaugural lineup will include a range of thematic galleries, beginning with exhibitions focused on architecture and the design influences behind the museum, as well as works by American painter Thomas Hart Benton portraying scenes of everyday life.
Additional galleries will highlight illustrations from children’s literature by artists such as Beatrix Potter and E. H. Shepard.
The museum will present exhibitions dedicated to comic and graphic storytelling, with works by artists including Jack Kirby and Alison Bechdel, as well as displays highlighting Japanese manga and anime.
Additional galleries will feature illustrations by Frank Frazetta, paintings and prints interpreting historical events, and works by illustrators such as Norman Rockwell and N. C. Wyeth.
Large-scale mural works by artists including Diego Rivera are also planned, along with photography exhibitions featuring images by Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks.
Other galleries will explore genres such as fantasy, romance and science fiction, as well as visual storytelling tied to myths of the American West.
The September 22 opening will mark the first time the public can view the full selection of artworks and experience the galleries as designed.