Fans of Ralph McQuarrie have a lot to get excited about at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida next month! The biggest and most exciting announcement is that we are bringing a gallery of over 100 original Star Wars illustrations from Ralph McQuarrie's personal collection to the show, as announced in the LA Times and on StarWars.com earlier this week. You'll be able to see, up close and personal, preliminary drawings and sketches dating back to the day Ralph received the script for The Star Wars from George Lucas. Most of theses pieces are being unveiled for the first time as part of this gallery showing.
To commemorate the event, Dreams and Visions Press has produced a limited edition 48-page, 8.5 x 11 souvenir program ($20) that will be available exclusively in the gallery, which includes reproductions of all the images on display along with detailed descriptions of each piece. Limited to only 1,000 copies, it's the perfect keepsake to relive your memories of this very special gallery exhibit.Also available exclusively in the gallery are 10" x 20" prints of twelve of Ralph's production paintings from The Empire Strikes Back (10 images which have never been reproduced at that size; none of which have ever been reproduced in the Metallix format). Each image is limited to 80 individually numbered copies hand signed by Ralph McQuarrie ($60 each). Matching numbered sets will be available while supplies last, however we anticipate these prints will sell quickly once fans see how beautifully the reproductions turned out.
In our booth in the exhibit hall, we will be offering a number of original hand signed portfolio prints, a variety of signed 8 x 10 photos ($35 each - including a number of images that have never been offered before), and our limited edition Celebration V exclusive print ($180). Measuring a whopping 22" x 24.5", each of the 250 individually numbered copies is hand signed by Ralph McQuarrie (a Celebration first!). This huge rendition of his iconic Bounty Hunters painting is destined to be the centerpiece of a very small number of Ralph McQuarrie's fan's collections.
Last but not least, on each day of the show we will be handing out our free Art of Ralph McQuarrie trading cards, with photos of Ralph working behind the scenes on The Empire Strikes Back on the front, and the backs forming a puzzle of Ralph's famous Yoda painting. You'll be able to collect all nine by stopping by our booth in the exhibit hall as well as the art gallery on each day of the show, while supplies last.We're looking forward to catching up with old friends and seeing plenty of new faces in Orlando! It can't be any hotter or more humid than Japan was, right? As with prior Celebrations, we invite you to stop by the booth and sign a guest book for Ralph so you can send him your well wishes directly. See you all next month!
