Concept Art for George Lucas' Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
This past June, it was announced that George Lucas' Lucas Museum of Narrative Art would find a home in Chicago. The museum should further drive tourism to the city, especially considering its proposed 2018 opening will be during the release of the next slate of Star Wars films. Beyond that, it'll serve as another museum along the Museum Campus next to the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium, not to mention the neighboring Soldier Field.
For a city known for its skyline, the proposed concept art for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art by Beijing architecture firm MAD will add yet another interesting architectural masterpiece (or eyesore) if its designs are used. Keeping in line with the Star Wars-esque futuristic/space theme, the museum looks very similar to a space headquarters of some sort. It actually fits very well next to Soldier Field, which itself received a very unpopular redesign in 2003 that renovated the upper deck into resembling a spaceship from the street perspective.
Nevertheless, check out some of the concept art for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art below.
[via The Verge]
Chicago Wins Bid for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
While the city of Chicago is politically known for taking few steps forward and plenty more back, it has triumphantly taken a leap ahead in the world of arts and entertainment. Back in April, we mentioned the possibility of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art electing Chicago to serve as the museum’s home base. Now, two months later, Rahm Emanuel has successfully beaten out Los Angeles and San Francisco for the city to accommodate a first-ever interactive George “Star Wars” Lucas museum, which will house a quintessential collection of artwork and memorabilia from Lucas’s films.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, opening in 2018, will be located on Chicago’s lakefront museum campus, situating the $1 billion museum on a 17-acre site located on parking lots between Soldier Field and McCormick Place. The mayor maintains that, “Like Marshall Field, John G. Shedd and Max Adler before him, George’s philanthropy will inspire and educate for generations.” In addition to offering new channels of education and jobs for Chicagoans, the museum will attract international tourists, serving as a monumental contribution to the city’s revenue.
One of the factors contributing to Lucas’s decision to choose Chicago over LA and San Francisco was the ability to house the museum near a body of water, keeping it surrounded by nature while simultaneously retaining a central location. Lucas is planning on placing a majority of the museum parking underground in order to amplify the green space that surrounds it.
This museum will be entirely self-funded, characterized as a “history of storytelling” undertaking that is “dedicated to the power of the visual image” and is predicted to be the world’s largest interactive museum. Check out Rahm’s comments on the Chicago x Lucas victory below.
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[via Chicago Sun-Times]
George Lucas' Lucas Cultural Arts Museum Might Come to Chicago
Say what you will about Rahm Emanuel's questionable tactics and style of shaping Chicago, but one thing is clear: the man has big plans for Chicago as an arts and entertainment destination. I don't want to get too into politics here, but Emanuel has shown that he's focused on heightening Chicago's scope as a city fully embracing all forms of art very recently. Just last month, he was in Austin, TX to attend SXSW with a team to identify the framework of how the festival works to bring a similar Film, Music, and Tech festival to the Windy City within the next year or two.
Now, the next potential piece of the puzzle may be falling in place for the city. Star Wars and Indiana Jones creator George Lucas originally had plans to build the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum, a proposed $300 million museum to house vintage Lucasfilm memorabilia (including a scale model of the Millennium Falco!), in San Francisco. However, the plans have fallen through. Now, Lucas is heavily considering Chicago for the new site for the museum. This also reflects Lucas' growing appreciation for the city, which has become his part-time home after marrying Chicagoan Mellody Hobson last year. The director has also put his money where his heart is, donating $25m to both the University of Chicago Lab Schools and After School Matters last year. Lucas had this to say about plans for the proposed Chicago museum: "The city of Chicago has enthusiastically welcomed me and I consider Chicago to be my second home [...] I look forward to working with community leaders to see if Chicago can become home to the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum."
Emanuel has put together a task force to find a proper site for the museum, which will also display Lucas' art collection. I personally am all for Chicago becoming the destination for the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum. However, Chicago politics might prevent this from happening. We'll keep our eyes open on any developments as they come.
[Chicago Tribune via RedEye Chicago]