On the corner of West 14th Street and 6th Avenue lies a building wrapped in a starry backdrop accompanied by a pair of doors inscribed with the quote: “Do or do not. There is no try.” These were the memorable words in TheEmpire Strikes Back echoed by Yoda to Luke Skywalker as he underwent a test to lift his crash-landed spaceship from Yoda’s swamp.
Image by Claire Leaden of Secret NYC.
Walking through those towering doors transports you to a labyrinth of the Star Wars saga. Yet, everything found in the “The Fans Strike Back” exhibit is created by the hands of dedicated fans, with no input or say from Disney or Lucasfilm. Starting with showcasing the first three Star Wars films of the series, characters such as Darth Maul, General Grievous, and Jango Fett, can be found in display boxes bundled with plaques detailing each character’s name, species, lore, and even height. In an adjacent room, suspended is a life-size replica of Anakin Skywalker’s racing vehicle. Each sculpture is handcrafted with awesome detail, down to the character’s wrinkles on their faces. Following the rest of the exhibit takes you through a journey of the other episodes of the movie series in chronological order.
Image by Gabriel Vasconcellos
During their weekend visit to New York City for Memorial Day, the passionate Star Wars fans of the Miller family were determined to stop by the exhibit. Cameron, the father, grew up watching the original trilogy of films with his brothers, and his kids have gotten into the series recently through Disney+. His kids, Jake and Sam, both wore Star Wars shirts for the occasion. Their mother, Teresa, showed me a photo of their Star Wars-themed Halloween costumes from 2 years ago. She told me how special it was to see her kids share the same interests that her husband had at their age. The Miller family is emblematic of the generational reach of Star Wars lore.
Not only does the “unofficial” nature of the exhibit helps bring attention to the devotion of the fans, but it also allows attendees to catch a glimpse of the Star Wars elements no longer considered “canon” following the 2012 Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm. Characters who were only mentioned in novelizations and other mediums are given a chance to shine. The most striking part of the exhibit that truly embodied the dedication of the organizers is a life-size stormtrooper with elements of samurai armor incorporated into its design. The armor is complete with a kabuto-style helmet with a galactic empire insignia, and traditional samurai guards for the shoulders, arms, and thighs. Beneath this amalgamation of armor, laid a plaque which states: “To recognize the fact that Japanese culture had a clear influence on the Star Wars universe, we recreated this samurai warrior from an ancient stormtrooper armor.”
Image by Gabriel Vasconcellos
When recognizing the amount of time, energy, and dedication that the organizers put into this exhibit, it becomes clear why Yoda’s gritty advice remains inscribed onto the front doors. For these fans and organizers, they did not simply try to recreate the majesty of the Star Wars universe; they did it.
