Museum of Science

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Museum of Science
September 21,2005
Joe Kahn
Boston Globe
135 William T Morrissey Blvd
Dorchester, MA 02125-3338
Dear Joe,
There aren't many people who can say their job combines two of their favorite things—
especially if those two things are Star Wars and the Red Sox. However, Andover resident
Michael Horvath is the exception. For the past five years, Horvath, a 28-year old exhibit
designer at the Museum of Science, has helped create a variety of exhibits at the
Museum, and this October, he'll help unveil Star Wars: Where Science Meets the
Imagination — a world premiere exhibition developed by the Museum in collaboration
with Lucasfilm Ltd. Not only that, but Horvath will also don a Chewbacca costume —
the very tall, extremely hairy Wookie seen in the Star Wars films, and will throw the
first, ceremonial pitch at the September 28 Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays game
at Fenway Park.
How's that for a day job?
An Industrial Design graduate from Massachusetts College of Art in 1999, Horvath
started his career at the Museum during his junior year as an intern in the Exhibit Design
department. Working on smaller-scale exhibits, he designed the layout for exhibit spaces
by focusing on the look and feel of the exhibit for the visitors to experience. After
graduating, he was hired full-time and started tackling exhibits like The Computing
Revolution, the Boston Duck Tour Boat display in the Museum's Red Wing and Omni
film-inspired exhibits for Shackleton 's Antarctic Adventure and Kilimanjaro: To the Roof
of Africa. Last year, he designed the layout and entrance to The Lord of the Rings exhibit
and this year, the young designer has taken the lead on creating a look for the new Star
Wars: Where Science Meets the Imagination exhibit.
Horvath created the layout and space of the exhibit and selected components that he
thought would add to the visitor's experience — colorful props that would make the
visitor actually feel as if they're in the Star Wars universe. "Visitors enter the exhibit by
walking through buildings built to look like those in Tatooine, Luke Sky walker's home
planet," said the designer. "There's also a replica of the Millennium Falcon that requires
you to first walk through a 25-foot cylindrical corridor before entering." Horvath strived
to add special touches to the exhibit, like adobe stone and rusted pipes, to enhance the
overall experience. "Visitors won't be able to tell where artifacts end and the exhibit
begins," he added.
In addition to his work on Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination, Horvath is also
gearing up to throw out the first pitch for the Red Sox vs. Blue Jays game to promote the
world premiere of Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination on October 27. An avid
Red Sox fan, he said he's practicing his pitch while wearing the Chewbacca costume and
while it's awkward, he feels confident that he'll do fine on the pitcher's mound.
However, his performance may be thwarted because his wife Valeria is expecting their
first child — just days before his big Fenway debut! A pinch-hitter, or in this case, pinchpitcher is waiting on deck should these two events overlap.
Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is the biggest exhibit Horvath has ever
worked on. "Of course, whenever it starts feeling like actual work," he said, " I just have
to think to myself- where else can I go to work and draw the Millennium Falcon and
have the opportunity throw out the first pitch at Fenway dressed as Chewbacca?"
I hope you will consider a story on local resident, Michael Horvath. Please call me at
617/589-0251 if you're interested in speaking with him directly. Photos are available
upon request as well as press materials on the upcoming exhibition.
Sincerely,
Julianne LaMay
Publicist, Media Relations
Museum of Science, Boston
•*y
In hyperdrive
CHRISTINA CARIRANO TOR THEaOSTON G
For Michael Horvath, designing the 'Star Wars' exllibit
it the Museum of Science has been out of this world
v
By Joseph P. Kahn
GLOeE STAFF
old tile VVookiee of the Year jokes. Michael Horvath has heard just about every variation possible since
climbing into a Chewbacca suit last month and throwing out the first pitch before a ballgarae at Fenway
Park.
His photo op traveled widely, from "Regis and Kelly" to the Web, even though Horvath was never
identified as the tall, stocky left-hander inside the Chewy costume. Don't ask how he did on the mound,
either. His mask got in the way, obscuring his view. More disappointing, he never got to meet any of his
Red Sox heroes (he's a big fan) or have his souvenir hall autographed.'
Horvath can live with that, however, because for three years he's been living inside more than a supersized Halloween costume. Call it an intergalactic MIT-meets-Hollywood fantasy.
As chief designer for the "Star Wars" exhibit at the Museum of Science, Horvath, 28, has been sweating
ic details on one of the most ambitious and highly anticipated shows ever mounted there. Conceived in collaboration with
jcasfilm Ltd., the 10,000 square-foot exhibit is the boldest attempt so far to marry George Lucas's movie wizardry with
•al-world science and hands-on teaching. It has been Horvath's job to direct how that marriage will look, making him the
ivy of even' Sharpie-melding Skywalker from here to Tatooine.
Cabinetry design, wall cofor ami texture, how artifacts are positioned — Horvath has been the go-to guy on all these
:cisions and more.
"Withe ut the help of lots of great people, I'd be working in an
npty gallery," says Horvath, conducting a backstage tour of the
iow several days ago. Around him scurry dozens of workers, .
easuring, sawing, wiring, and gluing in preparation for this
?ek's public unveiling.
"I've been lucky, too," he adds. "Plus, I got to work on
mething I'm passionate about."
Horvath's involvement dates to late 2002, when a
oup from the museum pitched the notion of a
HORVATH, Page F4
ichael Horvath with a landspceder
op); a Moller M400 Skycar (right).
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CARL RUSSO/Staff photo
•like Horvath of Andover threw out the first pitch during a Red Sox game Sept. 28 dressed as Chewbacca from the Star Wars movies.
Horvath works for the Museum of Science and pitched as a promotion for the museum's Star Wars exhibit in October. He is holding the
tall he threw and wearing the baseball glove he used that night at Fenway. Photos of him dressed as Chewbacca at Fenway are on the
:able.
Andover man's hairy alter ego
tosses first pitch at Fenway
'Chewbacca makes an appearance at Sox Game last month
BY ANDY SMITH
'STAFF WRITER
ANDOVER—You've probably
»n a.picture of Thomas JHorvath,
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seating profusely, exhausted to
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tad, Horvath,wbund up aid deliv•ed the first pitch Before the Red
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Horvath is the lead designer of
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ience in Boston. His Fenway aparance could not have been a,
are effective or literal promotionpitch for the exhibit ••.•-.
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Over the next few days, pictures
the hard-throwing wookie apPlease see PITCH, Page 6
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Mike Horvath of Andover play ing Chewbacca throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a
game between the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in Boston Sept. 28.
Chewbacca and an actress playing Princess Leia were promoting the Star Wars: Where Science
Meets Imagination exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston:
s