George Lucas Star Wars fans will be happy to know that last week marked the official groundbreaking for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The event took place at the site of the museum and included remarks from co-founders George Lucas and Mellody Hobson along with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, Los Angeles City Council member Curren Price and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art founding president Don Bacigalupi. Other surprise notables in the audience included President of Los Angeles City Council Herb Wesson and famed director producer Steven Spielberg, who is also a board member of the Museum.
The Museum will be located at Exposition Park in South Los Angeles and will celebrate the art of visual storytelling and enable people of diverse backgrounds to experience the power of narrative art across all mediums, including painting, illustration, comic art, photography, film, animation and digital art. Designed by Chinese firm MAD Architects, the $1.5 billion development will act as a gateway to Exposition Park. The Museum will look as though it has landed in Exposition Park with the interior designed as a huge, bright and open cave. The roof and first-floor of the 11-acre building will be public areas.
“The focus of the Museum is to open up people’s imagination and inspire them to dream beyond what is considered possible “stated co-founder George Lucas. “Narrative art and storytelling stirs our emotions, shapes our aspirations as a society, and is the glue that binds us together around common beliefs.”
Lucas’ wife and co-founder Mellody Hobson further stated, “Our goal is to create the world’s most inclusive and accessible art museum. A place that brings together people from every walk of life. We are excited to call Exposition Park home, surrounded by more than 100 elementary and high schools, one of the country’s leading universities, as well as three other world-class museums.”
The futuristic project will transform a series of asphalt parking lots into a museum surrounded by 11 acres of new park land and gardens. Thousands of jobs will be created directly and indirectly as a result of the museum. A talking point supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas championed and celebrated as he spoke. He further stated, “The Lucas Museum will not only display brilliant works of art, but will also teach countless children the science and technological skills needed for careers in film, animation and design industries. It will cement Exposition Park’s reputation as a world-class destination for arts and entertainment.
Mayor Garcetti, gleefully stated, “I thank Mellody Hobson and George Lucas for their incredible generosity and vision, which will inspire countless Angelenos and visitors from around the world.” Los Angeles beat out Chicago and San Francisco as possible sites for the Museum. The project is due to open in 2021.
