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Artist Profile: James Turrell (1943-)

Posted on | October 22, 2009 | No Comments

James Turrell

James TurrellBorn: May 6, 1943

Location: Los Angeles, California

James Turrell is an artist that uses light and space to define his work, literally. He is best known for, Roden Crater, a work in progress since 1972. It is located in outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. Turrell is transforming this large mound of rock into an incredible observatory that does not require any instruments what-so-ever to view celestial occurrences in the sky. Many of his other works enclose the viewer in mathematical spaces order to control their perception of light. One of his skyscapes can fit up to 15 people. Viewing participants sit towards the inner borders of the space on benches to view the sky above through a gigantic opening in the roof. Also, he creates light tunnels and light projections that give the illusion of form and shape. It almost seems as if the light has mass and weight. It is only light.

SolsticeLight TunnelLight TrianglePersonal Memories of James Turrell:

There is something so incredibly calming and organic about Turrell’s light. I can’t help but feel completely mesmorized by the light. If you ever have the unique opportunity to experience one of his works, you will be moved. I, personally was moved to tears the first time I saw one of his neon light tunnel works. One of the works I saw were similar to this image:

James Turrell: Wall of lightIn this image, Turrell has closed off part of the room and built up a facade wall, leaving open only a rectangle with no edges. On the inside of that wall, Turrell has placed neon lights around the inner edges to create a bizarre illusion that there is a rectangle painting of solid color suspended on the wall. The viewer is invited to break that invisible barrier and try to feel into the light sculpture.

It was so unbelievably moving. I still have yet to see something that is as simple and beautiful as this.

It’s light. That’s it and that’s all.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Watch James Turrell on this video below from [ art:21 ]:

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    • Artist, Painter, Sculptor, Metaphysical Thinker, Conceptualist, Technology Buff, All Around Apple Computer Connoisseur, Away-From-The-"Out-of-the-box" kind of mundane esoteric B.S. A True Maverick. Why did I just capitalize every word before this sentence. It is...Bizarro.

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