James Turrell and The Roden Crater Poject

James Turrell

"Turrell began his career in California in the early 1960s as one of the leaders of a new group of artists working with light and space. His artworks make manifest the physical presence of light and heighten our visual perception.
Over the past two decades, Turrell's work has been recognized in exhibitions in major museums around the world; in addition, several cities have commissioned permanent works. The artist currently resides in Flagstaff, Arizona, in order to oversee the completion of his most important work, Roden Crater.

Click this link for new york times article on the roden crater

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James Turrell is one of the world's greatest living artists. Mention his name within art circles and there is generally a recognition of his name and his works. Outside of the international art community, Turrell is only known to a few. This artist of light, perception and spaces has created some of the world's most interesting art. Mention the word 'art' and most people think of a painting that hangs on a wall. Turrell's works are not of this nature and are usually spaces filled with light in such a way that you question the source of the light and your perceptions of what you are seeing.

The Roden Crater project is Turrell's most ambitious project and is being constructed in a dormant volcano in the Painted Desert of northern Arizona, northeast of Flagstaff. Turrell purchased the land with grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Dia Art Foundation and others. He is transforming Roden Crater into a space whose art is as much in the light of space and objects as it is in the spaces created in the crater. It will be your perceptions and interactions with the space and the ever-changing nature of light created by the light of the sun, moon, stars and other celestial events that will drive the art. Much like other civilizations throughout history that have built large structures that embody knowledge... scientific, cultural and spiritual, so will the Roden Crater project.'