The famous quote from “Field of Dreams” is, “If you build it, they will come.”

For approaching two years, I’ve swapped the pronouns in my mind and turned that declaration into a question — “If we build it, will they come?”

Let’s be clear, I’m not building anything, but I’ve been tangentially involved ever since Warren native and Modern Props founder John Zabrucky first asked me nearly two years ago, “Why can’t there be a science fiction museum in Warren?”

Since that phone call, Trumbull County Historical Society Executive Director Meghan Reed and Ryan McLennan, TCHS director of operations and outreach, have led the effort to make Zabrucky’s proposal, aided by his generous donation of more than 500 pieces he created for film and television, a reality.

Since early 2023, they cemented the deal with Zabrucky, arranged to have 10 semi-trailer trucks transport those items from southern California to Trumbull County and acquired the funding to purchase a building at 410 Main Ave. SW in Warren as the future home of the Museum of Science Fiction and Fantasy Arts.

Sitting through steering committee meetings, conducting interviews for news stories and being involved in various elements of the effort, there have been times when I wondered (and worried), “Are people going to be as excited about this as we think they are?”

That’s what made Friday’s opening reception for “Sci-Fi + Hollywood: The Art of John Zabrucky” at Medici Museum of Art so gratifying.

The crowd that turned out Friday was impressive, and the people’s enthusiasm and excitement was encouraging. The day before at the media event, I was talking with Alex Garant, an internationally known Canadian artist who now calls Canfield home (her work also is on display at Medici). She was saying one of the great things about living here compared to Toronto and some of the other places she’s called home is that it’s so easy to find parking. Well, many of the people who arrived between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday walked in complaining they couldn’t find anywhere to park in Medici’s normally spacious lot.

Those that filled the gallery – once they found a parking space – were a diverse lot, from art gallery regulars to hardcore sci-fi fanatics more likely to spend their Friday nights at a movie theater showing the latest blockbuster. And the range of cars indicated a diverse crowd economically as well (with my almost 13-year-old Honda Civic definitely on the lower end of the curve).

We also impressed the most important person in attendance — John Zabrucky. He and his son, Michael, flew in from Los Angeles for the event, even though Zabrucky was forced to evacuate his home in the Pacific Palisades due to the California wildfires. His house miraculously was spared the worst of the damage, but his family still has no idea when they can return. The weekend provided a needed respite at a tumultuous time.

Seeing Zabrucky’s creations presented in context and presented with museum lighting was an entirely different experience than first seeing the pieces in his warehouse in southern California or where most of the collection is being stored in the Mahoning Valley.

The vision for the Museum of Science Fiction and Fantasy Arts is far more expansive than what is being presented at Medici — more interactive, more educational and much bigger. What is currently on display is only a fraction of the total collection, and the focus will extend beyond Zabrucky’s donation when the museum is completed.

The science fiction that Zabrucky fell in love with as a child was aspirational. It offered hope and encouraged viewers to imagine what is possible. There are many hurdles between now and when those works will be seen at their future location, but after Friday the possible never has been more alluring.

Andy Gray is the entertainment editor of Ticket. Write to him at agray@tribtoday.com.