Not long ago, outside of a Capitol building not so far, far away, a group of Star Wars fans invaded our city.
This week, accompanied by Death Star personnel, TIE fighter pilots, squads of Stormtroopers, the nefarious bounty hunter Boba Fett and Sith lord Darth Vader, an all-volunteer group of SciFi activists gathered in front of the Capitol. What purpose does this evil have in our city? To raise public awareness and shoot a promo video for the Museum of Science Fiction.
Although not yet established, the Museum of Science Fiction is undergoing an ambitious campaign to raise $160,000 to open up a small preview museum. Adding to their plans to make this museum a reality, the all-volunteer group said it would house “a diverse collection of artifacts, display objects and interactive exhibits that span many varieties of art forms,” including “robots, time machines, aliens and creatures, as well as costumes, sets, props and model spaceships.”
The campaign has largely been a success. Though they are still $29,000 short of their fundraising goal, the group isn’t worried. “We hope to have a 3,000 square foot preview museum open in 12 months from now,” Executive Director of the Museum of Science Fiction Greg Viggiano said.
While plans for the preview museum seem set, the logistics for the full museum are still being hashed out. Planners are currently working with realtors to find both a preview space and a location for the actual museum, but it’s “tough to say” when the full museum could open. Viggiano believes that will be determined by how quickly they can organize real estate work with commercial property owners.
To add to the SciFi mania, the demonstration has sparked a controversy in the science fiction community: Should Star Wars be considered science fiction or science fantasy? Regardless of what you think, make sure to keep tabs on this story as it unfolds.
May the 4orcE be with you.
