The Vader Project

While we were in Pittsburgh again this past weekend, we finally made time to get to The Warhol. What a phenomenal museum it is, I could have spent all day there. The permanent collection is alone worth going there for, but their ever changing temporary shows are also top notch. We made sure to get there this time to see The Vader Project which runs February 13 – May 3, 2009, and our friend Val who volunteers there also walked through the collection with us. Our pal Dov Kelemer & Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys curated the show and we had only seen photos before, so when we heard it would be at the Warhol while we were in Pittsburgh, we had to make time for it.

The Vader Project is a reimagining of the iconic Darth Vader helmet by some of today’s hottest underground and pop surrealist painters, artists and designers - the collection makes its museum premiere at The Warhol. Featuring work by Shag, Peter Kuper, Attaboy, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Dalek, Paul Frank, Ron English, Tokidoki, Jeff Soto, Michelle Valigura, Frank Kozik, Wade Lageose, Joe Ledbetter, Alex Pardee, Suckadelic, Cameron Tiede, Mister Cartoon, Marc Ecko, Amanda Visell and so many more.

The Vader Project originally premiered at Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles in May 2007. From there it traveled to Star Wars Celebration Europe in London in June 2007. July 2007 brought 10 new helmets to the Star Wars Pavilion at the famed San Diego Comi-Con International. Then in July 2008, 13 Japanese artists joined forces with the existing Vader Project when their helmets premiered at Star Wars Celebration Japan.

For the full artist list and more information about the show go here or the MySpace page here. For more info on The Warhol go here. And check out this great Flickr Set of the Vader Project at the Star Wars Celebration IV where the show debuted. Definitely get to The Warhol and see this show if you can - so worth it.