Sept. 29, 2026 5:30 AM PT <\/p>\n
To the editor: The principal irony of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is that it is founded on a strongly Duchampian premise while almost completely ignoring avant-garde art (\u201cWill the Lucas Museum upend the art world? Depends if the people embrace \u2018the people\u2019s art,\u2019\u201d<\/a> Sept. 9). Referring to his still provocative readymades, Marcel Duchamp said<\/a>, \u201cHere it is, a thing that I call art.\u201d With his new museum, George Lucas echoes Duchamp: Here it is, an illustration that I call art.<\/p>\n Proclaiming<\/a> his museum to be \u201ca temple to the people\u2019s art,\u201d the museum is in fact a monument to Lucas\u2019 own idiosyncratic taste. According to the International Council of Museums<\/a>, a museum \u201ceducates\u201d and \u201cinterprets.\u201d The Lucas Museum does neither. It is simply a context-free collection.<\/p>\n The lack of interpretative text leaves even the most basic questions unanswered. What are underground comix that are on display? Who are all these painters named Wyeth? It is an impressive collection, but lacks the interpretation to prove Lucas\u2019 thesis that the displayed illustration is fine art.<\/p>\n Dave Bryant, Woodland Hills<\/p>\n ..<\/p>\n To the editor: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is actually not of this time, but looks pulled right out of the future (\u201c\u2018I flew 6,800 miles to be here\u2019: First impressions of the Lucas Museum on opening day,\u201d<\/a> Sept. 23). Inside, however, there are art items of the past and present for us to gaze at, to inhale their intrinsic qualities and walk away with cherished memories forever.<\/p>\n