Decorative Arts Center of Ohio turns into ‘Star Trek’ universe

Imagine getting a close-up look at the costumes and out-of-this-world props from your favorite “Star Trek” films.

“Star Trek” may seem like an unusual subject for an art exhibition. However, the finely crafted detail which went into creating these costumes is an art unto itself.

“Star Trek” costumes and props from the Paramount Pictures archive and the Trumbull County Historical Society are the focus of an exhibition at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, curated by Lancaster native Randall Thropp, who began his career at Paramount Pictures in 2003.

Thropp is now in charge of Paramount’s costume and jewelry archive. In assembling the archive, Thropp became part costume preservationist and part sleuth to determine who wore which costume in what film.

The collection now houses over 28,000 costumes and 12,500 pieces of jewelry. Items from this fabulous collection have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide.

Thropp’s work was cut out for him. For over 17 years, he served as a costume supervisor and assistant designer in television. He was the production designer and an actor in the off-Broadway hit “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” and has written and directed plays for children.

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While working in children’s theater, Thropp was offered a part-time job at Paramount in the rental department. When the department closed in 2007, he “hid a lot of stuff.” It’s a good thing he did because some significant dresses, including those worn by Mae West, and older “Star Trek” costumes disappeared in the shuffle. The costumes Thropp had hidden away became the foundation of the archive.

He is passionate about photography and has a vast collection of snapshots depicting life in America from the 1880s to 1960. Life has taken Thropp from a childhood in Lancaster to theater, television and film in New York and Los Angeles, where he is now based.

He has never forgotten his Ohio roots and gladly came back to curate the “Star Trek & Worlds Beyond” exhibition.

Gene Roddenberry and Robert Fletcher put together a written history of the aliens, and they hailed from which became an indispensable resource guide for Thropp in assembling the “Star Trek” costume archive. One gallery of the “Star Trek & Worlds Beyond” exhibition is devoted to aliens; another to intergalactic cultures.

The exhibition features costumes and props from the last three “Star Trek” films. Whether you are a huge fan or want to brush up on “Star Trek” history, you can catch up on the “Star Trek” website.

What began as a television series, running for three seasons from 1966 to 1969 encompassing 79 episodes, turned into a major motion-picture franchise which is still going strong.

The TV series was so forward thinking that it would not have been picked up by NBC without the support of Lucille Ball and her company, Desilu Productions, which believed in the series and commissioned a second pilot. The rest is history.

Today, there are numerous “Star Trek” fan clubs in the United States and Europe. STARFLEET is the official “Star Trek” fan club, keeping Roddenberry’s intergalactic dream alive through fan conferences and gatherings of social and charitable events, with many chapters that meet wearing “Star Trek” costumes or T-shirts.

Active members can move up through the ranks from Ensign to Admiral. STARFLEET has been going strong for 50 years and boasts over 5,400 member fans in 208 chapters from over 20 countries.

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The following programming is scheduled along with the exhibition:

• Curator talk: Sunday, June 1 at 2 p.m.

• Style in “Star Trek”: July 13 at 2 p.m.

• Lights, Camera, Sci-Fi! Preserving Sci-Fi History: Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m.

The member’s cost for these programs is $10 or $5 in advance. The cost for nonmembers is $15 at the door.

• Make You Own Alien: Friday, July 11 or July 18, 3-4 p.m., ages 8 to adult; taught by Nancy Simmons and Connie Coutellier. The cost is $15/$12.

• “Star Trek” Inspired Jewelry: Thursday, July 31, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., or Saturday, Aug. 2, 12-1:30 p.m., ages 8 to adult; taught by Lisa Schorr and Dallas Gossett. The cost is $30/$25.

The following community programming accompanies the exhibition:

• “Star Trek” Evening at the Drexel: Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley

• STARFLEET at Saturday Cinema: Saturday, June 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Zane Square

• “Star Trek”: Exploring the Final Frontier: Sunday, June 22 at 3 p.m. at the Bexley Public Library, 2411 E. Main St., Bexley

• Federation Trekkers at Artwalk: Friday, July 25, 6-9 p.m. in downtown Lancaster

The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio is located at 145 E. Main St., Lancaster. For more information, call 740-681-1423 or visit decartsohio.org.

Amy Drake, M.A., M.S. MCM, is a Telly Award-winning filmmaker, playwright and actor. She can be reached at draketheatrical@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Survey of the Visual Arts: ‘Star Trek & Worlds Beyond’ exhibition in Lancaster