Dear Members of the Presidio Trust,
As a travel author and journalist it is my
job to find venues that will be of the highest interest to my readers and
tourists. One of the challenges of my work is to find the sights and attractions
that are not merely historical or famous, but actually remain popular and
relevant to contemporary and future audiences. Destinations that were popular
with previous generations do not always sustain their public interest.
There is no question that the name of
George Lucas alone, attached to anything, attracts attention. Through his
beloved films, George Lucas has fostered a reputation for enduring quality and
imagination. However, it is the choice of subject matter that sets the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum apart as an enduring attraction for tourism, education and
inspiration. Illustration has been a universally mode of story telling since
the beginning of civilization in cultures across the planet. Unlike other forms
of visual art, which come in and out of vogue, the art of Norman Rockwell, N.C.
Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish and others in the collection of the Lucas Cultural Arts
Museum have unquestionably resonated with the general public over the past
century and continue to inspire, unite and encapsulate the emotions of our
culture.
The Lucas Cultural Arts Museum is precisely
the sort of area attraction that I want to feature in a guidebook, magazine
article or other media outlet. More directly: it is the sort of place that I
already know I want to visit, and bring my family and friends. It has appeal in numerous spheres, from
education to entertainment, and engages lovers of art, cinema, and above all,
good stories.
There are some commonalities in what George
Lucas is striving for with this museum, and my friend Sir Richard Taylor has
done with the ‘Weta Cave’ in Wellington, New Zealand, albeit on a smaller
scale. The Weta Cave is a mini museum and shop showcasing the artwork of Weta
Workshop and Weta Digital in film and television, including features like The Lord
of The Rings, The Hobbit, King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia. The Weta
Cave, which includes a limited tour, an exclusive film documentary, periodic
book signings, artist demonstrations and other special events, also promotes
the independent artistic endeavours of Weta artists, including sculptors,
illustrators, authors and computer effects artists. The Weta Cave has become a
focal point not only for tourism in the nation’s capital but a creative heart
for the local artist community.
On a much larger scale, The Lucas Cultural
Arts Museum will become a core cultural arts attraction for not only the
Presidio and the San Francisco Bay Area, but will undoubtedly become one of the
celebrated museums of the country.
As such I enthusiastically give my professional
recommendation to the Presidio Trust that the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum should
be awarded with development of the former Commissary site at Crissy Field. The museum
will be a valuable asset for tourism, education and culture for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Adam Bray
Contributor to CNN Travel, BBC Travel and more than 30
guidebooks for Insight Guides, DK Eyewitness, Berlitz, Thomas Cook, Lonely
Planet and others.
2 comments:
Adam -- thanks so much for this! Also, please "spread the word" about the Monday, June 17th, 6:30pm public meeting at the Presidio. This will be the final opportunity to voice support for the project! Here's a link to info on the public meeting and a place for others to offer comments.
http://www.presidio.gov/about/Pages/commissary-proposals.aspx
Thanks again,
David Perry
Lucas Cultural Arts Museum
Adam, have you ever been to the Presidio?
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