Illustrating myths: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens

In a location south of downtown Los Angeles, a new establishment has emerged, reminiscent of a distant galaxy. This 300,000-square-foot edifice is none other than the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, housing over 1,300 pieces of art. Co-founders George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, provided CBS News with their exclusive interview.

Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, emphasized that the museum is not a Star Wars museum, but a narrative art museum, focusing on the telling of stories. Despite this, Lucas acknowledged that the sci-fi franchise contributes about seven percent of the museum's art, drawing in fans of the series.

The remaining 90 percent of the museum's collection revolves around the concept of myths, with 33 galleries exploring themes such as motherhood, work, family, and love. According to Hobson, myths are beliefs that are not necessarily true, but are emotionally true. Love, for instance, is not a simple or romanticized concept, but rather one filled with heartbreak, pain, and anguish, yet the myth of love equates it with happiness and joy.

The journey to establish this museum took nearly two decades, faced with numerous challenges, location changes, and requiring over $1 billion of Lucas's personal funds. Despite Hobson's initial consideration to abandon the project, Lucas's determination prevailed, as he firmly stated, "I am building this museum!"

Lucas's motive was to honor illustrators, inspired by his tours of major museums that lacked such institutions. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, a lifelong friend of Lucas and a board member of the museum, praised Lucas for his impact on the world and for creating a platform for artists often overlooked by traditional art institutions. The museum boasts a diverse collection, ranging from Rockwell paintings to Batman, Frida Kahlo, and Lucas's first ever collected piece, a $35 Ally Oop comic strip from his college years.