Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell

This is a great place to visit if you’re craving some peace of mind & soothing, serene visuals.
It’s open ²⁴⁄₇ where a simple, thick, blank white slate is suspended on a hill & frames the sky. During the light sequences, the colors slowly change giving the illusion of a vast yet intimate moving sky. My friends and I went to the very bottom and straight up laid across the floor to view it directly instead of sitting in the seats provided and seeing it at an angle. I feel like it’s a lil more magical that way.
If it’s on a day where it’s not crowded, I think it’s a great memorable, intimate date spot to share deep conversations or just enjoy one another’s presence in calming silence.
It’s definitely not for everyone, for some may come across unimpressed or bored. I personally appreciate the atmosphere for it feels a bit surreal & ethereal. It’s a modern take on the sky & our natural surroundings. But you could just as well go to the park, lay out a blanket and stare up at sky. Both moments can be magical depending on your company (or lack of), how the sky is & what you make of it. Enjoy! :)

I so wanted to give this a great review, but the night I was there the lights were broken. We sat there for a while, since it’s recommend you get there early, and waited for at least 20 minutes while they fiddled with the lights trying to get them to work before being sent home. Unfortunately, there was a special event the next day, so I wasn’t even able to reserve a spot for another day because I was visiting from out of town.

I braved the cold this morning to check this out during it’s sunrise sequence. I’m getting more and more serious about photography and wanted to take a couple of pictures with my camera. The glow from the lighting on this structure is is soft and soothing. Even when it transitions from color to color. There’s seating on the 2^nd floor of this structure and also on the ground floor. It’s a nice place to think and contemplate about life or put on some earbuds and listen to some appropriate music to go along with the mood lighting. The Central Parking garage on-​campus was the best place to park as it was closest to the lighting structure.

Hours are from sundown to 10pm.
Pretty cool vibes. There are benches at the top you can sit down at to stare at the sky and lights. The lights slowly change colors.
Be respectful of the art and take the stairs and do not run up the grass.
Glad Houston has something nice to checkout. We need more!
You can get some awesome pictures for insta.

My wife surprised me with a date here last weekend. I didn’t know what to expect but was surprised to find I really enjoyed the space. We are not «art» people per say, but this was a beautiful sight to behold as the clouds drifted by and the colors faded into each other. This is a great date spot or place to go by yourself and reflect.

I don’t get this. It’s basically a board with a square in it so you can see the sky, and then the light show is basically changing colors of light on the board. Maybe I just don’t get art? Other people seemed to enjoy it though; my friend and I stayed for about ten minutes before leaving. Also, no free parking! Parking is actually quite expensive, so beware of that.

The turell skyspace is magical! Honestly, the most beautiful attraction on rice (maybe besides the art gallery)… It offers two light shows at sunrise and sunset. If you can drag yourself out of bed, I recommend the sunrise because the lighting outside at that time perfectly complements the show. The lights don’t change as fast as you’d expect, but sitting within the structure is suppose to be more of a zen experience than an awe-​inspiring one.
But mind you, after hours, there are alarms all along and within the skyspace so watch out or you might get a little visit from RUPD!

This installation is the reason I came to Houston. James Turrell is my favorite living artist and I gladly get into pilgrim-​mode to see his works.
Reservations are required for the evening light progression but I went anyway because I wanted to watch from outside. It was a fascinating display of human nature as I saw folks file into the the seating area under the thin flat roof that is suspended above a large green grass mound.
Going into a Turrell installation with any expectations will ruin the experience and about half of these folks didn’t get the memo. They couldn’t even stay in their seats throughout the approximately 40-​minute experience. Some left after ten minutes. It should be said that Skyspace is not a July 4^th fireworks display or a rock concert light show but much of this audience clearly wanted to be entertained. The crowd eventually became louder as many couldn’t resist being silent. Terrell’s works often reveal more about the underlying tensions of its viewers. If Rice University has a psychology department, there’s an interesting study just waiting for them right here.
I went back the next morning just before daybreak to experience this for myself. No reservations are required and, indeed, only five other people — including an infant — were there. There is not much to explain. Different colors of light are projected onto the underside of the flat white roof for less than an hour as the sky turns from black to blue.
We were all quiet except for the low-​volume burbling sounds from an obviously joyful baby. I and a few others reclined horizontally on the stone benches so we could look right up through the square hole in the roof that juxtaposes the sky against the light progression.
At its conclusion, all of us got up slowly then quietly walked out of Skyspace to greet the day. I lingered outside for a while as the sun rose and the orange light shimmered across the campus. What a sublime morning.

Bring some earphones and some relaxing music. At the right evening and time the colors will balance out the sky. Don’t expect to get super excited for a laser light show as its 40 minutes of subtle light changes.

This was incredibly disappointing. The lights are somewhat calming but don’t expect very much. There wasn’t even music timed with the light changes. It felt like watching a screensaver on a computer. Not worth sitting inside (but at least it’s free). Looks somewhat neat from the outside, especially with the medical district skyline behind it. Worth seeing for yourself but not worth staying more than a few minutes. Very confused by all the positive reviews.

One of the many free things to do in Houston. There’s visitor parking across the street, but I parked in front of the gym with my hazards on.
There’s an attendant there that will direct you to the seating inside the exhibit. There are two levels. Both offer a different perspective, however, I prefer the upper level.
Once you’re there, take a seat and watch the lights show. More specific information is available on the website, but I would advice getting there before sunrise as there can be a crowd. It’s a really cute for a date night or a cool outing for relatives.

As a University installation– What else could you possible want! This is such a cool free installation in the middle of Rice University Campus.
With Sharp edges and clean look– when the sun goes down it magnifies the look of this exquisite art– with a very slow color change it looks magnificent and makes for awesome pictures.
A relaxing time– not meant to be super exciting but a fun place to go with someone for sunset.

This is a free attraction — basically a pavilion with seating split into a lower and an upper level. At sunrise and sunset, there are light displays lasting about 40 min. Note that this is not some trippy fast light display. Rather, it’s more of a contemplative/​relaxing/​sedate experience because the colored lights change very gradually. It’s cool to stop by when you’re wanting a laid-​back, calm experience — however, don’t expect to be «entertained.» I wouldn’t classify it as entertainment — it’s not really a show.
There’s a reservation system online, but when we went yesterday it wasn’t very full, so they were letting people in freely without requiring that you show a reservation confirmation.
We all definitely got some mosquito bites, so you have been warned — you could be eaten alive by mosquitoes, especially in the summer.
Parking — There’s paid parking in the Rice parking lots on campus, but you could also find free street parking in the adjacent neighborhoods, which is what we did.

While this experience wasn’t exactly what I had in mind (and I’m not sure why — because I did read the reviews in advance of my visit), I still really enjoyed the experience.
First off, the fact that you have to make a reservation made me think that someone would be at the entrance, checking your reservation and marking your name off of a list. Yea, totally not the case. I don’t think I saw one «official» person associated with the structure while there. Which is totally fine, just made me think it was pointless to go to the trouble to register.
Secondly, I thought this same person checking the names off the res-​y list would also be giving some sort of vocal explanation of what was going to happen or would be happening. Also, totally not the case. This was a basically an observation at your own leisure. You could come and go as you please and choose to observe and be engaged in the light show as you see fit.
Also, for some reason I envisioned in my mind something totally different when it came to a «light» show.
I brought my parents (from out of town) and the man, and they were not impressed. My dad kept asking me when the show was going to start. They are not lovers and appreciators of art like I am, so I wasn’t too surprised with their reactions. However, I should have done a little more research before taking them into that experience.
I am very interested in going back by myself and SILENTLY observing as opposed to fielding questions from the man and parents every two minutes. All in all, a very cool installation!

What a beautiful attraction in Houston. Not knowing what to expect, I followed the rules and «reserved» online for a sunset slot about a week before but was surprised that it wasn’t as crowded or packed and no one was regulating reservations. Don’t know if this is a problem at other times of the year?
We got there about 20 minutes before the sequence began to get a good seat. I’d recommend the bottom level to get the best view. Overall, it’s very calming. There’s purposely no music — just slowly changing colors that oddly feel like they’re changing the color of the sky.
I’d highly recommend it as part of a low-​key date night. Not recommended for young kids.

You won’t find any emo vampires at Twilight Epiphany Skyspace. Instead you will be treated to a free and slow changing light presentation. This spaceship-​looking structure’s main attraction is what God created on the second day and the Houston skyline. Come to James Turrell’s art installation for some meditation, peace, and quiet. I believe the best times to come are at dusk in spring and autumn, unless you absolutely love Houston’s humidity and mosquitos.

Houston has a surprising amount of good (free) public art. I’m not sure how I stumbled upon this online but I made plans to see it when I was working in Downtown Houston. The space can be viewed without a reservation, but if you want to see the light show, you need to make a reservation online. There is someone that checks your confirmation before they allow you in the space.
You can view either inside on the ground floor, up at the top of the installation or outside the installation. All views have their pros and cons, but the best view for photos (and the only place where you are officially allowed to take them) is outside.
The show takes about 40 minutes and you don’t really have to stay for all of it to get the gist of what this art is all about. But if you enjoy Turrell, then plan to get there early and stay for all of it.
Pro tips: parking is on the other side of the music building, which is also where you can use the restroom.

Located adjacent to the Shepherd School of Music on the Rice University campus, is the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion, James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany skyspace.
The pyramidal structure accommodates 120 people between two levels. Twilight Epiphany is acoustically engineered to host musical performances and to act as a laboratory for music school students on select days after Sunset. Constructed of grass, concrete, stone and composite steel, the structure is equipped with an LED light sequence that projects onto the ceiling and through an aperture in the 72-​foot square knife-​edge roof just before sunrise and at sunset.
Turrell’s composition of light compliments the natural light present at twilight, and transforms the skyspace into a locale for experiencing beauty and reflective interactions with the surrounding campus and the natural world.
Viewing times for the sunrise and sunset light sequences, along with reservation and logistical information, can be found online.
I love this place at sunset… so beautiful, calm, soothing and it makes for some crazy trippy photos!

Twilight Epiphany led me to an important revelation. Houston really does value art in public spaces.
What else can be said about this. It’s breathtaking, meditative, makes for great iPhone wallpaper photos, and gave me a different perspective on the sky. Being able to see all of the colors in the twilight sky meld with the actual sky at sunset was unimaginably beautiful.
It’s only 40 minutes and it’s worth your time.
Note: Exhibit is free, but be prepared to pay $ 4 for parking at paid lots nearby.

I’m a U of H alumnus and as such, my tuition didn’t pay for this and because I didn’t have to pay for it I say this is a wonderful piece of outdoor art. If my tuition had paid for this thing, I’d probably be a little peeved and say «what?!? you spent how much on this?!?», but hooray for Rice Students and their wealthy parents. Good job guys, it does really bring the room together.
The way this was hyped on their website, I thought this thing was going to be shooting lasers up into the heavens and there would be singing and dancing and such. Hell, they even require to make an online RSVP before going (if you plan on being on the upper floor). The website even has a count of open seats and a countdown clock! Wow!
In reality, this is more of a subtle outdoor art sculpture. That part of campus is rather open and dark at night so in the middle of nothing is this glowing square thingie. During the day, you have a view of the sky and perhaps a place to sit down and cool off (I guess, I didn’t go there). This really is unique and inviting. If you’re jogging on the trail, take a shortcut and come see it.
One thing that I wish was made clear is the rules on photography. The sign says no cell phone or camera use while the light show is in progress, but I think they mean while inside. It makes sense — people are there to have an experience and your click click clicks or flashes will ruin that. I took my pictures from a distance and could see people taking pictures inside. Naughty naughty.