Notable artists warp helmets for The Vader Project

If you’re an art buff who enjoys Star Wars movies — there’s a new exhibit worth checking out in L.A. One hundred artists have used Darth Vader helmets as their canvas in an exhibit called “The Vader Project.”

KPCC's Alex Cohen spoke with the project's curators — Sarah Jo Marks and Dov Kelemer of DKE Toys.

The Vader Project helmets are on display at 6812 Melrose Avenue starting tonight, June 11, through June 20. Then they’ll travel to Philadelphia where they’ll be auctioned off — opening bids start at $1,500.

Notable artists involved with the project include: Shag, Peter Kuper, Jermaine Rogers, Gary Baseman, BXH, Tim Biskup, The Pizz, Dalek, Paul Frank, Ron English, Jeff Soto, Michelle Valigura, Frank Kozik, Plasticgod, Simone Legno - Tokidoki, Bill McMullen, Secret Base, Joe Ledbetter, Alex Pardee, Suckadelic, Cameron Tiede, Mister Cartoon, Marc Ecko, and Amanda Visell.

Since its premiere in 2007, The Vader Project has toured the world. The collection launched in May 2007 at the Star Wars Celebration IV event in Los Angeles, and traveled internationally to Europe in July 2007 and Japan in July 2008. Most recently The Vader Project was on display from February 13-May 3, 2009 at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Curator Dov Kelemer says that although each artist used the same life-size black helmet as a starting point every one came up with something different.

"Everyone did their own thing," he says. "There are some people who wrapped a 2-D piece of art around a 3-D object. There are other people who transformed the whole helmet into something else conceptually, like a Statue of Liberty."

Take a look at some of the results:

Tonight there will be an Opening Night Party from 6 to 10 p.m. with DJs The Crystal Pharaoh and
The Sucklord from BAND of the LOST.

On Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m. there will be a catalog signing with over 20 of the participating artists.