Howdy y’all! I finished up my Europe trip reports for right now, so I thought I’d shift gears back to something local. This post will hopefully make you aware of sort of a hidden gem in Houston. The Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell is a display of contemporary art/architecture located in the heart of Rice University. It is one of about 150 similar displays created by James Turrell. According to the docent on the night I went, Rice was chosen as a location due to the artists’ son attending the university.
Every day, at sunrise and sunset, the under side of this structure is ambiently lit in ways that accentuate the colors in the sky. The colors are determined by a plethora of sensors around the pyramidal structure which attempt to make a color which contrast the color of the sky.
As the sun sets, the lights will be a mix of orange, pink purple. However, by the time the sun sets, the lights will be a bluish white. If you happen to go for sunrise, you will see the opposite order before the lights eventually turn off.
It is a very peaceful environment, and comfortable even though the seating is made of stone. If you really like to listen to music, I highly recommend bringing a good pair of headphones and just sitting, looking up as the sky passes through the opening in the roof.
When to get to the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace
According to their website, the light sequence begins 40 minutes before sunrise, and 8-10 minutes before sunset. Each sequence lasts for about 40 minutes. The first time I went, the docent that was there was just watching over the area, but the next time I went the docent gave us the whole backstory of the structure. I suspect the difference was that the second time was a Saturday with plenty of people there to see the sequence.
Where to go to get to the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace
Rice is not a very large campus relative to a lot of others nearby. On top of that, there is also plenty of visitor parking that is well marked. You will have to pay for parking as a visitor. It is best to find a parking lot on the West End of campus, as that is the closest to the Skyspace. Last time I went, I entered off of Rice Blvd. and parked near the Football stadium.
Conclusion
The Twilight Epiphany Skyspace is a unique and beautiful experience that you can enjoy for free in Houston, TX. I especially recommend it if you have an interest in contemporary art or architecture. When the weather is nice, it is quite a treat to walk around the campus as well, and you will see many other people doing the same. It is one of the prettiest college campuses that I have been on in the US. I would highly recommend for a date or just to go and relax and take in the peacefulness of the exhibit and surrounding area.
Have you ever been to the Skyspace at Rice University? If not, have you been to any of James Turrell’s many other exhibits? Let me know below!
I am glad you found my blog and hope that you will follow along as I highlight more of Houston, and travel to Miami and Chicago this summer!
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