The Celebrity Crowd at the Lucas Museum Opening
When George Lucas throws a party, everyone comes around. Saturday marked the grand opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art with an event that rivaled an Academy Awards after-party in star power. As the evening unfolded in the museum’s majestic courtyard, guests such as Oprah Winfrey and Robert De Niro mingled, while Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart had a chat with Spike Lee before bypassing the red carpet.
Among the notable names were Laura Dern and Greta Gerwig, who shared some laughs near the entrance. Samuel L. Jackson relaxed on a curved bench, jokingly declaring his achievement. James Cameron was not present, contrary to prior reports. Guests Owen Wilson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Meg Ryan, Jack Quaid, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi added to the star-studded guest list.
Inside the Event
Pharrell Williams co-founded a vocal collective that delivered a memorable performance in the museum’s lobby. Mellody Hobson, Lucas’ wife, humorously recounted her husband’s doubts about attendance, reassuring him that every invited guest would indeed appear. As guests gathered inside the posh fifth-floor Skywalker Grill, a noteworthy photo was taken featuring influential directors. This group included notable names like Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Christopher Nolan.
Mark Hamill and wife Marilou York were among those socializing at the event. Artists like Jeff Koons, Refik Anadol, Judy Baca, and Takashi Murakami also roamed the crowd.
Addressing Criticism
Lucas and Hobson explained the significance of the Lucas Museum and its distinction from other museums. Despite acclaim, critics have challenged the museum’s narrative art concept and the mix of masterworks with pop culture items. Lucas emphasized the personal nature of art, noting, “If it is emotional to you, then it’s art.” He expressed hope that the museum would pave the way for recognizing illustrators as artists on a broader scale.
Queen Latifah, co-hosting with Lucas, likened the Lucas Museum to esteemed institutions like Paris’ Louvre and New York’s Met.
The Museum Journey
The Lucas Museum faced over a decade of obstacles before establishing in Los Angeles, including a search in Chicago and San Francisco and legal challenges over public parkland. Hobson humorously reflected on this journey, advising against readily accepting such ambitious projects.
Hobson praised Lucas’ unwavering dedication to showcasing brilliant illustrators often overlooked.
An Eventful Conclusion
The evening concluded with a drone show narrating various artistic images, and a performance by the Black Eyed Peas capped off the celebration. The optimistic tone of the night resonated with the guests as a testament to the intersection of cinematic storytelling and fine art.