The “;Lost”; phenomenon has drawn wild interest from all corners of the United States, from its most mainstream television viewers to the fringes of conspiracy theorists.

The ripple of the show's impact spreads so far and wide that it's even reached the heights of the art and culture world—of New York City, no less. The result: an exhibit featuring photographic portraits of “;Lost”; cast and crew.

The show, which also displays some 40 props from the hit series, comes courtesy of the Vilcek Foundation, an organization dedicated to honoring the contributions of U.S. immigrants in science and the arts. “;The Vilcek Foundation Celebrates LOST”; runs through June 5 in New York City, at 167 E. 73rd St. Visit http://www.vilcek.org.

Vilcek Executive Director Rick Kinsel pitched the exhibit after serving on a jury at the Hawaii International Film Festival alongside “;Lost”; co-executive producer Jean Higgins. Vilcek provides a grant annually to HIFF to fund a special film series as part of the festival that focuses on the immigrant experience.

After visits to the Kapiolani Community College farmers' market and Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head, Kinsel came away impressed by the rich cultural mix to be found not just in Hawaii, but in the microcosm of the “;Lost”; production.

“;This is about how the cast and crew of 'Lost' represent complete diversity,”; says Kinsel. “;They're an incredible model.”;

It turns out that numerous members of “;Lost's”; cast and crew are either immigrants or children of immigrants, and many of them are included in the 30 portraits in the exhibit. There's executive producer Carlton Cuse; actor Jorge Garcia, who played Hurley; assistant location manager Miki Yasufuku; Brazilian-born Claudia Cox, the stand-in for actress Evangeline Lilly, who played Kate; actor Ken Leung, who played Miles; and lead painter Chris Barnes, among others. The portraits are accompanied by text that tells some of their immigrant stories.

“;It's the most interesting mix of people,”; Kinsel said.

With the OK of not just Vilcek, but ABC and Disney as well, Kinsel and staff were able to secure key props in addition to the portraits, including the Dharma van and the hydrogen bomb dubbed “;Jughead.”;

“;You cannot imagine how incredibly complicated it was to ship some of those props, the permits and explanations at every juncture,”; Kinsel says.

“;We unloaded the hydrogen bomb in the midst of the attempted terrorist bombing in Times Square. (The city) quarantined off the street for the uncrating of the bomb, even if it was just a prop. It was a huge production.”;

Yet all the fuss was worth the effort.

“;'Lost' is the buzz of Manhattan,”; he says.