James Turrell Skyspace is in the Draper Courtyard, Lincoln and Edmunds Buildings, Pomona College which is at the corner of 6th & College Way in the city of Claremont. It can't be seen from the street. You have to keep your eyes open while you search for this hidden site.
I went during the winter break so I parked in their restricted permit only parking lot which is located about 500 feet north of the Skyspace. Not sure if you can park there during the regular school year.
The light show starts about 25 minutes before sunset and ends about 30 minutes after the sun goes down. Also happens at dawn for a longer time period.
There is polished, hard marble, long row banquette seating around the perimeter of this art installation to look up at the ceilIng with a square cut out to expose the sky above. There is a multicolour lighting system that tints the ceiling creating a color contrast to the color of the sky.
Depending on the color of the ceiling, the same sky takes on a subtly different color tone. Keep lookIng up, and your mind plays tricks on you so you start to imagine different colors especially along the edge of the rectangular hole. Also, your perspective of the ceiling & hole changes so illogically the hole and ceiling meld into a unified whole.
I'm sure people will perceive the Skyspace differently due to their mood, physiology, upbringIng, etc. It's meditative, serene, calming. It's incredible like communing with infinity where there are no bounds at the same time so very personal connecting to your inner self.
Unfortunately, an ADHD family that couldn't shut up and stay still and a clueless young couple who didn't even look up at the Skyspace and blabbed throughout the performance ruined the meditative atmosphere.
When attending the Skyspace, SHUT UP, do some introspection, go deep into your psyche in order to find serenity & peace. Many of us Americans are so much into the hype and being "hip" that we lose sight of what gives us health and sanity. Being in a meditative state allows us to heal and recover from life's stresses and anxieties.
Even with the disruptions, I still got snippets of quality time. I can imagine how incredible this art piece would be if silence reigned. 5 stars for a transformative experience. read more