Feb

Rebel. Jedi. Princess. Queen…and Acting Secretary?

From left, unidentified Imperial stormtrooper; Myriam Springuel, interim director of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service; Acting Secretary Al Horvath; Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces Darth Vader; Claudine Brown, Assistant Secretary for Education and Access; and an unidentified Imperial stormtrooper at the premiere of “Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume.” (Photo by Brady Harvey, courtesy of EMP Museum)

Created by the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service in partnership with the Lucas Narrative Arts Museum and Lucasflm Ltd, the new exhibition Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume takes visitors on a unique journey through the challenges and triumphs of dressing the Star Wars universe. Featuring nearly 60 costumes from the first six iconic films in the saga, the exhibition explores the creative process from vision and concept to final costume.

SITES Interim Director, Myriam Springuel, and the SITES project team were joined by Acting Secretary Al Horvath and Assistant Secretary for Education and Access Claudine Brown at Seattle’s EMP Museum in January to celebrate the national premiere of Star Wars and the Power of Costume. The grand opening party not only gave visitors the opportunity to see the exhibition before it opened to the public, but also featured spotlight talks by golden Protocol Droid C-3PO and Cloud City’s charming gambler Lando Calrissian—in the forms of actors Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams—as well as Return of the Jedi costume designer Aggie Guerard Rodgers. More than 1,000 guests, many dressed as their favorite Star Wars characters, learned how to wield a lightsaber, honed their knowledge of Star Wars trivia, and participated in craft activities inspired by a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars and the Power of Costume will be on view at EMP through Oct. 4.

: Anthony Daniels, the actor who brings to life the golden Protocol Droid C-3PO, admires Acting Secretary Al Horvath’s choice of tie. To Daniels’ right are Claudine Brown and Myriam Springuel. (Photo by Brady Harvey, courtesy EMP Museum)

: Tusken Raider, Female Costume, from Star Wars™: Attack of the Clones. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization

: C-3PO, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ and R2-D2, Star Wars™: A New Hope. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization

: Lake Retreat Dining Gown with Feathered Cape, worn by Padmé Amidala in Star Wars™: Attack of the Clones. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization.

: Mas Amedda in his Senate Office Outfit, from Star Wars™: Revenge of the Sith. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization

: Luminara Unduli in Jedi Robes, from Star Wars™: Attack of the Clones. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization

: Princess Leia, Jabba Slave Outfit, from Star Wars™: Return of the Jedi. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization

: Darth Sidious in his Red Senate Robes, from Star Wars™: Revenge of the Sith. TM &©2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization