24-25 Brush Strokes.indd - United Arts of Central Florida

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What’s news in Culture
Where Fiction
Meets Fact
Orlando Science Center welcomes a blockbuster exhibition
that combines pop culture and real science.
By Jessica Chapman
F
The largest exhibit that OSC has
hosted since Bodies was there in the 20062007 season, the nationally touring Star
Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination
opens on October 13. It’s taken months of
planning and work to prepare for the
10,000-square-foot exhibition, which features costumes, models and props from
all six films, as well as extensive video
interviews with filmmakers, scientists and
engineers. It also has hands-on components, such as engineering design labs,
where visitors can build and test their
own speeders and robots. “For a fan, it’s
‘nerdvana’,” says Jeff Stanford, OSC’s vice
president of development.
OSC is known for offering fun, educational programming that appeals to a
variety of ages, but Star Wars, which has
been drawing record-breaking crowds, is
going to take that to a whole other level.
“It’s amazing, the multi-generational
impact of Star Wars,” says Stanford, “It is
an enduring legacy and every generation
owns a piece of it. This is an opportunity
to bring them all together.”
museum of science, boston (3)
rom sophisticated robots to hovercrafts, George Lucas showcased a
fast-paced, high-tech world in his Star
Wars films, and one that, as it turns
out, may not be too far out of reach.
Now, a blockbuster exhibition that
explores the real science behind the
technology depicted in the films is
making its first Florida stop at the
Orlando Science Center (OSC).
Robots play a large role both in the Star Wars films and in the exhibition, where guests can
see some of their favorites from the series, as well as build their own.
Developed by the Museum of Science,
Boston, in collaboration with Lucasfilm
Ltd. and presented by Bose Corporation,
Star Wars explores everything from transportation to robots to environmental
issues, and includes modern research that
may someday lead to real-life versions of
the technologies seen in the film series.
While most exhibits built around films
have focused on the art and process of
the actual filmmaking, Star Wars delves
much deeper.
“It’s a science exhibition through and
through,” says Stanford. “It shows how
Star Wars science has impacted real science, and how science fiction can inspire
science fact. It’s going to be a big experience—in terms of its presence, and in
terms of its impact on science.”
Transportation is a big component in
the films, and thus, in the exhibition.
Highlights include Luke Skywalker’s
Landspeeder and a flight simulator that’s
a full-size replica of the cockpit of the
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brush
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What’s news in Culture
Millennium Falcon. Inside, a multimedia
presentation narrated by actor Anthony
Daniels (who played C-3PO) explores
what we know about our own galaxy.
Special effects give the illusion of rocketing through space.
The multistation Maglev (magnetic
levitation) Engineering Design Lab allows
visitors to design and build their own
floating cars, while learning about magnets and magnetic levitation. They move
through three stations, assembling and
testing speeders and then using electromagnets to propel their creations.
Guests will also enjoy the interactive
air chair, where they can try their hand at
steering a hovercraft. In addition, there
are scale models of a wide variety of craft
from all of the films, including X- and
Y-wing Fighters, Imperial TIE Fighters,
Podracers and Queen Amidala’s Regal
Nubian Starship. Many are accompanied
by video displays with film footage and
interviews.
As for the real-world connection, a
display case featuring artifacts related to
today’s aircraft is also on view. It includes
a Daedalus model and designs for ion
engines, antimatter drives and nuclear
engines that are actual propulsion mechanisms under consideration today for use
in spacecraft.
Stanford says, “The exhibition uses
significant artifacts from Star Wars to get
people excited about science, technology,
engineering and math.” It’s a natural fit for
OSC, which seeks to influence the next
generation of scientists and engineers
with innovative programming. “We want
to inspire, encourage curiosity, engage
kids,” says Stanford. “We want our young
people to be excited about technological
innovations.”
Robotics is another main theme for
the exhibition. Guests meet C-3PO and
R2-D2 and explore how people relate to
the droids in Star Wars. At the Engineering Design Lab,
they can create their very
own robot and program it to navigate
through a course. The area also includes
examples of modern-day robots that are
currently in use and that sense the world
The exhibition includes plenty of hands-on activities and also touches on the effects of
technology on the environment.
around them, such as the dinosaur-like
Troody and a floor-vacuuming Roomba.
Those who like props will enjoy the
Yoda puppet, several lightsabers and a
collection of costumes that includes those
of Darth Vadar, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan
Kenobi, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and more.
To see some great replicas up close, be
sure to visit on opening day when members from the Star Wars costume club, the
501st Imperial Legion, will be on hand.
Dubbed “the world’s definitive imperial
costuming organization,” the group is
known for having the most authentic Star
Wars costume replicas and is even used
by Lucasfilms at some of its events.
Star Wars the exhibition will be on
view at OSC through April 7. Admission
is $27 for adults and $20 for kids ages
3 to 11. Tickets include access to all four
floors of exhibits, giant-screen films and
live presentations. For more information,
call 407.514.2000 or visit osc.org.
Jessica Chapman is the managing editor of
Orlando Arts Magazine.
A Yoda puppet is just one of the numerous
props that will be on display, which include
costumes and props from all six films.
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