[ghaff]

That's fair enough. On the other hand, I never really understood the objections in Chicago.

Yes, Lucas wants to create a monument. Building it in the middle of nowhere where no one will visit doesn't serve that purpose, but then it doesn't really serve the public interest either. I do hope that some reasonable accommodation can be arrived at in a location that will give many people access to the art.

[massysett]

If it's worth visiting, people will go even if it is in the middle of nowhere. Lots of places in the middle of nowhere off highways get visitors--think of outlet malls and theme parks. If it's filled with Star Wars stuff, those fans will trek out to see it. Lucas's issue is that he wants to build a monument to himself in a prominent place. This isn't about making his art available. It's about him building an edifice to glorify himself.

Some folks have to do great things to get monuments built (Lincoln). Others donate money and let others have a say in what edifice gets built (Smithson, Carnegie, Mellon). Still others build their own edifices but buy the land on the open market (Trump, the Sears Tower). Lucas wants to build his own edifice on prominent public land, all while retaining complete control for himself. That's his problem.