IndyCast: Episode 371

Well, after years of anticipation, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has finally opened its doors to the public in Los Angeles.

Founded by George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, the museum officially opened on September 22nd in Exposition Park, following more than 17 years of planning and development.

The spectacular 300,000 square-foot building was designed by architect Ma Yansong and sits within a 13-acre campus of gardens and public spaces, and it looks like it's about to fly off in its spaceship design.

And while for many, the name Lucas and the enormous Star Wars connection might make you think this is essentially just a Star Wars museum, that is only a small part of the story.

The museum is dedicated to the broader idea of narrative art and visual storytelling, with more than 100,000 square feet of gallery spaces spread across more than 30 different galleries.

The collection covers everything from ancient and prehistoric art through to paintings, illustration, children's books, comics, photography, murals, and of course, cinema.

Now, for us Indy fans, there is plenty of reason to be interested.

The museum's collection explores adventure, mythology, fantasy, and storytelling, alongside an enormous range of comic and illustration artwork.

And of course, there is that wonderful Indiana Jones statue in the exhibition.

The inaugural cinema exhibition, though, is called Star Wars in Motion, featuring vehicles, props, and costumes, and artwork from the first six Star Wars films.

And among the objects on display, I'm sure you've seen a lot of these photos online, but there's Luke's landspeeder, General Grievous's wheel bike, and lots more.

The museum also features two dedicated cinemas where visitors can drop in and watch constantly changing programs, covering everything from early silent films and experimental cinema to animation and documentaries.

One of the more interesting aspects of the museum, though, is Lucas and Hobson's approach to what constitutes art.

Rather than separating traditional fine art from popular culture, the museum places paintings, comic art, illustration, and film-related material alongside one another, essentially arguing that storytelling itself is the common thread.

Now, the opening has already attracted large crowds, including plenty of Star Wars fans, and early visitors have been particularly struck by the extraordinary architecture, as well as the sheer variety of material inside.

And of course, this is particularly exciting for us because we won't just be talking about the Lucas Museum from a safe distance.

Oh, no. Mitch and I will be heading to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art ourselves, where we will take a detailed look around, check out the Indiana Jones connections, investigate the Star Wars material, and give you our full in-person review on the next episode of the IndyCast.

So stay tuned because next time we'll bring you the Lucas Museum experience from inside the building itself.