#SHOWBIZ: 'Star Wars' fans and art lovers line up for new Lucas museum

LOS ANGELES: Devoted Star Wars fans and art connoisseurs flocked to George Lucas's promised Museum of Narrative Art upon its opening on Tuesday, lining up to explore the expansive structure reminiscent of a spaceship. The museum, built by the 82-year-old franchise's creator alongside his wife and business partner Mellody Hobson, aims to serve as a "people's temple of art," according to its creators.

As the first 100 visitors were welcomed through the biomorphic building's entrance, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson personally greeted each guest, shaking hands. Upon entering, Eric Cheung, a dentist and realtor dressed in a Star Wars X-wing pilot costume, decided to become a museum member and volunteer. Cheung remarked that each art piece in the museum tells a unique story, allowing viewers to create distinct narratives.

Situated on a former parking lot adjacent to the University of Southern California, Lucas's alma mater, the museum holds particular significance for Brenda Chambliss, a long-time resident of the area. Chambliss emphasized that the museum's presence in the neighborhood, known for its association with crime and poverty, brings a positive attraction to the region.

As visitors enter the museum, they are greeted by the iconic yellow Naboo N-1 starfighter from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). However, the museum's offerings extend far beyond the beloved saga, with more than 30 galleries housing works by renowned artists like Banksy, Frida Kahlo, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White, and Robert Colescott, alongside comics by Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, and Frank Frazetta, as well as illustrations by Norman Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith, and N.C.

Wyeth. Sandi Granados, a 30-year-old cosmetologist working in the film industry, expressed her appreciation for Lucas's decision to bring both local and renowned artists together, acknowledging that the museum is using his name to support artistic growth.