TRAVEL

These Are the “Star Wars” Exhibitions You Are Looking For

Grab your light saber and celebrate the art of the movie series at museums around the world

Travel Correspondent

December 17, 2015

Since its debut in 1977, the saga of Star Wars has transported viewers to a galaxy far, far away. But though the films' Wookies, Ewoks, Hutts, and droids look anything but earthly, they remain close to fans' hearts—and now, a series of Star Wars-themed exhibitions is bringing the world of the film much closer to home.

Timed to coincide with the release of the seventh film in the franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the exhibitions showcase everything from original costumes and composite sketches to artwork and other one-of-a-kind memorabilia, each reminding you why Star Wars captivated the world in the first place. Feel "the Force" at these four exhibitions:

Discovery Times Square, New York City

Made of vacuum-form plastic, the Stormtrooper costumes were by far the most difficult to produce and ate up nearly half of the 1977 film's costume budget of $220,000. Paul Martinka for Discovery Times Square/Lucasfilm Ltd.

Concept sketches for Padmé Amidala's Geonosis Arena Costume for Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Costume designers used the finest materials from around the world to create robes for the senators, culling from textile mills based in Hong Kong, India, and China. Paul Martinka for Discovery Times Square/Lucasfilm Ltd.

Polyester and silk were the two main fabrics designers used to create Jedi and Sith robes, as both materials drape well, dry quickly, and resist wrinkling during long days on set. Paul Martinka for Discovery Times Square/Lucasfilm Ltd.

The exhibit features more than 60 handmade costumes from the first six Star Wars movies, plus several pieces from the latest release. Paul Martinka for Discovery Times Square/Lucasfilm Ltd.

Costume designers created an undergarment shaped like an upside-down ice cream cone to make Queen Amidala's gown. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Early concept art for Chewbacca, Han Solo's loyal sidekick. His look was a cross between a dog, a cat, and a monkey. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

R2-D2 and C-3PO, perhaps two of the most recognizable characters in the series. Costume designers made a plaster cast of actor Anthony Daniels' body to form his golden C-3PO costume. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

An early sketch of C-3PO and R2-D2. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Several versions of Princess Leia's infamous slave bikini were made depending on the take. For fighting scenes, actress Carrie Fisher wore a flexible bikini made of rubber, but in scenes where she was sitting still, she wore one made of metal. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

This concept art for a gown from Eposide II of the franchise sports both George Lucas' "OK" stamp and the "Fabuloso" stamp that indicated it was ready to make into a costume. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Director George Lucas may have been the mastermind behind Star Wars, but it was his team of costume designers, model makers, and special effects artists that helped turn his vision into reality. Now much of their handiwork, including more than 60 original costumes spanning all episodes of the saga, are on display at Discovery Times Square in New York as part of a traveling exhibit called “Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume,” a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), the future Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and Lucasfilm.

One noteworthy piece is Queen Amidala’s elaborate throne room gown from The Phantom Menace. The dress took costume designer Trisha Biggar and her team eight weeks to complete and was equipped with a car battery to illuminate the lights that stud the gown’s train. Guests can also view a collection of interactive light sabers in a rainbow of hues and BB-8, a beach-ball-shaped droid that will make its debut in The Force Awakens. But finished costumes are just the beginning: The exhibit also features raw sketches, fabric swatches, videos and more to help visitors put Lucas’ vision into context.

“This exhibition isn’t meant just for superfans,” Saul Sopoci Drake, curator and exhibition project director for SITES, tells Smithsonian.com. “We want viewers to experience the creative process that went into the making of each film and to understand how costumes shaped each character.”

Lucas is infamous for tinkering with the visual elements and even plotlines of his films long after they have been released. This auteur-like sensibility bled over into the costume studio, too. Drake says it often took costume designers many rounds of sketches before George Lucas would approve. He'd do so in the form of a "Fabuloso" stamp, which he'd slap onto each drawing to let his team know a costume was ready to go from sketch to sewn creation. If Lucas though the idea was just okay, he said so with an "OK" stamp that sent the concept straight back to the drawing board.

The traveling exhibit runs through September 5, 2016. In November 2016, it will open at the Denver Museum of Art, where it will continue through April 2017.

Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), Vienna, Austria

Owen Lars’ Swoop Bike, which Anakin Skywalker borrowed to search for his mother. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Costumes worn by Chewbacca, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Costume designers used clay to sculpt Darth Vader's iconic helmet before using fiberglass to make the final piece, which was inspired by helmets worn by the Nazis. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Luke Skywalker's orange pilot costume 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

In addition to costumes, the exhibit also features spacecraft from the films, such as the Podracer flown by Anakin Skywalker. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

A monkey was considered for the role of Yoda, even being trained to hold the character's signature cane. 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

The Star Destroyer and The Rebel Fleet 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Stormtrooper masks peer menacingly from their display case. Leonhard Foeger/Reuters/Corbis

R2-D2 and C-3PO are two of the many characters on display. Leonhard Foeger/Reuters/Corbis

The exhibit houses 200 original costumes, props, models, and pieces of artwork from the films. Leonhard Foeger/Reuters/Corbis

A visitor poses with a Stormtrooper. Leonhard Foeger/Reuters/Corbis

With more than 200 costumes, props, models and other original pieces on display and spanning the entire Star Wars canon, “Star Wars Identities” stands as a dossier of movie memorabilia. The exhibit, which culls much of its content from the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, includes notable pieces such as Han Solo in carbonite and Anakin Skywalker’s full-sized Podracer, plus original Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and R2-D2 costumes.

The exhibition also includes an interactive component called an “identity quest” complete with smart technology bracelets and interactive questionnaires. At the end of the quest, visitors are assigned a unique character profile to share via social media.

“Star Wars Identities” runs December 18 through April 16, 2016.

L’ Espace Villeneuve-Bargemon, Marseille, France

Original works by artist Robert Bruno Cyrille Choupas

An original work by artist Adam Rabalais Cyrille Choupas

Original artworks by artists John Hughes and Rich Davies Cyrille Choupas

"Star Wars: An Art Odyssey" runs through January 17, 2016. Cyrille Choupas

For years, artists from around the world have turned to Star Wars as a source of inspiration. Now, many of their original pieces are on display at L’ Espace Villeneuve-Bargemon in Marseille as part of the exhibit “Star Wars: An Art Odyssey.” The solo exhibition is presented by Acme Archives Ltd. and Lucas Film and features more than 40 original and exclusive works by Poster Posse artists and who have previously created pieces of art for brands such as Marvel, Pixar and Warner Brothers. It includes the artists’ interpretations of much-beloved characters like Chewbacca, Boba Fett and R2-D2 printed on canvas, wood, foil and other materials.

“Star Wars: An Art Odyssey” runs now through January 17, 2016.

Star Wars Celebration, London

The 2015 Star Wars Celebration was held in Anaheim, California. Next year's event will be in London and will take place July 15 through 17, 2016. Star Wars Celebration

The 2016 London event will include exhibits, film screenings, celebrity guests, panel discussions, autograph sessions, and other fan-inspired activities. Star Wars Celebration

The annual event brings Star Wars fans from around the world together. Star Wars Celebration

The three-day event includes activities for all ages. Star Wars Celebration

A young fan during a previous Star Wars Celebration. Star Wars Celebration

This will be the second time that the Star Wars Experience will be held in London. The last time it took place there was in 2007. Star Wars Celebration

Star Wars superfans have something else to look forward to after they see Episode VII this week: Star Wars Celebration, a multi-day festival designed to get fans' hearts pumping. Featuring panel discussions, meet and greets, cosplay contests, exhibits and more, the celebration is eagerly awaited by thousands.

Next year’s event will return to London for the second time since 2007 and will be held at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre July 15-17, 2016. The good news: The Force Awakens will give fans plenty of fodder for the 2016 gathering. The bad news: Three-day tickets have already sold out. Luckily, that's not your only hope—single-day tickets go on sale January 14.

Can't make it to these spots? Don't park your Millennium Falcon just yet: There are plenty of other Star Wars happenings taking place around the world.

LEGO Star Wars at Times Square Mall in Hong Kong features a collection of models built using LEGO bricks, including the Rebel Snowspeeder, Imperial AT-AT and Poe's X-Wing Fighter. The exhibition runs through January 1, 2016.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, has a roster of Star Wars-related events for the months ahead, including Jedi training sessions, special exhibits and an update to its popular Star Tours: The Adventures Continue 3D motion-simulator ride that reflects events from the new film.

Disney Cruise Line has announced Star Wars Day at Sea, a day-long event that will be held on eight cruise ships in its fleet on different dates throughout the first quarter of 2016. Expect deck-side visits by characters like Chewbacca and Darth Vader, plus events like Jedi training sessions.