Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume: The Exhibition Opens at Discovery Times Square on November 14th
Smithsonian Exhibition to Feature Costumes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Iconic costumes and other artifacts from “a galaxy far, far away” are presented in the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume: The Exhibition. The exhibition will open at Discovery Times Square on November 14th, 2015 and will be on view through September 5th, 2016.
Culled from the collection of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Star Wars and the Power of Costume: The Exhibition is a partnership of the museum, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Lucasfilm. George Lucas imagined and created a fantastical world filled with dynamic characters who told the timeless story of the hero’s journey. The costumes shaped the identities of these now famous characters, from the menacing black mask of Darth Vader and the gilded suit of C-3PO, to the lavish royal gowns of Queen Amidala and a bikini worn by Princess Leia when enslaved by Jabba the Hutt.
“Craftsmanship and artistry in costume design are valued creative components in the Star Wars saga,” said Lucas. “The detailed precision of a design can be as bold a measure of storytelling as words on a page, leading to truths at the core of a character, situation or shared history. From initial concept drawings to complex physical constructions, the costumes featured in this exhibition serve to further define crucial aspects of worlds created to move, educate and entertain us—to inspire the imagination.”
“There is not a more iconic entertainment property than Star Wars”, said James Sanna, President of Discovery Times Square. “We’re thrilled to host the East Coast premiere of this exciting new exhibit which will connect Star Wars fans to not only iconic costumes and artifacts from the first six films, but also introduces them to the next exciting chapter of the Star Wars saga.”
Presenting over 70 of the finest hand-crafted costumes and dozens of artifacts from the first six blockbuster Star Wars films including a selection from the soon to be released Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the exhibition uncovers the challenges, the intricate processes and the remarkable artistry of Lucas, the concept artists and costume designers.
The costumes reflect an eclectic mix of cultural, historical and mythical sources that add rich texture to the story. Through 15 galleries visitors will explore the creative process from Lucas’s vision through concept drawings by artists such as Ralph McQuarrie and Iain McCaig, to the final costume designs of John Mollo and Trisha Biggar, among others.
Featured costumes include:
· Select costumes and BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
· Jedi masters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Yoda
· Intimidating suit and complex breathing apparatus of Darth Vader
· Military-influenced uniforms of the Imperial Stormtrooper, Senate Guard and TIE Fighter Pilot
· Yak hair and mohair costume of the towering Wookiee Chewbacca and Han Solo
· Intergalactic outfits of Senators Bail Organa, Mon Mothma and Mas Amedda
· Fierce armor of mercenary bounty hunters Jango Fett, Boba Fett and Zam Wesell
· Elaborately detailed gowns of Queen Amidala, Queen Jamillia and their handmaidens
Short films featured in Star Wars and The Power of Costume: The Exhibition provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and include interviews with artists, designers and actors. The visitor experience will be enhanced by interactive flip-books featuring sketches, photographs and notes that capture the creative team’s inspiration and vision. In addition, visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to see themselves in one of the iconic costumes through a unique virtual experience provided by Platige Image, which specializes in designing CG imagery, 3D animation and digital special effects.
Advanced ticket prices start at $17.50. Special savings for groups of 10 or more are available with advanced reservation. Once open, the last tickets are sold 60 minutes prior to closing. For individual tickets and venue hours, visit http://www.discoverytsx.com/exhibitions/avengers or call 866.9.TSXNYC (866-987-9692) or visit the Discovery Times Square Box Office.
About Discovery Times Square:
Discovery Times Square (DTS) is New York City's first large-scale exhibition center presenting visitors with limited-run, educational, and immersive exhibit experiences while exploring the world's defining cultures, art, history, and events. More than a museum, DTS has featured exhibitions of unparalleled breadth, including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Leonardo Da Vinci's Workshop, King Tut, Pompeii The Exhibit, Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition, and most recently, Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China’s
First Emperor.
DTS is located at 226 West 44th Street (between Broadway & 8th Avenues).
REVIEW:
My family had the amazing opportunity to see Star Wars – the Power of Costume at Discovery Time Square. At first, my husband was as bit skeptical. How this could be interesting to him if it was only costumes with no props from the movies or vehicles like the X-wing fighter or the Death Star? His opinion changed quickly from the moment he stepped inside. The staff was friendly and very enthusiastic. We were seated in a mini-theater and saw a short video presentation. Afterwards, a special door opened to start our tour of the exhibit.
My family included our 3 year old son, our 6 year old daughter, our 9 year old son, our uncle, my husband and my father! We were quite a group all at varying levels of interest for this exhibit. However, we were all extremely impressed by how the costumes actually made the actors/actresses get into character and therefore act better. The historical influences from ancient times helped us appreciate the level of care, thought and depth of each costume. It was awesome to be so close to costumes that were actually used in the Star wars movies.Each member of our family was fascinated by the costumes, props and overall design of this exhibit. This is a must see for families of all ages -- for those interested in Star Wars, costumes, history, cinema, fantasy and more!
DTS is located at 226 West 44th Street (between Broadway & 8th Avenues).
REVIEW:
My family had the amazing opportunity to see Star Wars – the Power of Costume at Discovery Time Square. At first, my husband was as bit skeptical. How this could be interesting to him if it was only costumes with no props from the movies or vehicles like the X-wing fighter or the Death Star? His opinion changed quickly from the moment he stepped inside. The staff was friendly and very enthusiastic. We were seated in a mini-theater and saw a short video presentation. Afterwards, a special door opened to start our tour of the exhibit.
My family included our 3 year old son, our 6 year old daughter, our 9 year old son, our uncle, my husband and my father! We were quite a group all at varying levels of interest for this exhibit. However, we were all extremely impressed by how the costumes actually made the actors/actresses get into character and therefore act better. The historical influences from ancient times helped us appreciate the level of care, thought and depth of each costume. It was awesome to be so close to costumes that were actually used in the Star wars movies.Each member of our family was fascinated by the costumes, props and overall design of this exhibit. This is a must see for families of all ages -- for those interested in Star Wars, costumes, history, cinema, fantasy and more!
