James Turrell’s (b. 1943) undergraduate studies at Pomona College focused on psychology and mathematics. Later, he received an MFA in studio art from the Claremont Graduate School. His work is chiefly concerned with the interaction of light and space. Turrell is best known for his work Roden Crater. He is in the process of turning this extinct volcanic crater located outside Flagstaff, Arizona, into a massive observatory, designed specifically for the viewing of celestial phenomena. Influenced by his Quaker faith, which he characterizes as having a “straightforward, strict presentation of the sublime,” Turrell believes that his art prompts greater self-awareness through a similar discipline of silent contemplation, patience, and meditation. The Turrell work in Pitzer College’s collection references Roden Crater.
