James Turrell: Roden Crater

Roden Crater is located outside Flagstaff, Arizona, within the Painted Desert region. Turrell specifically purchased this extinct cinder cone volcano in the late 1970s to transform it into a massive naked-eye observatory. The location was chosen for its high altitude and clear atmospheric conditions.

The project is designed as a massive naked-eye observatory meant to track celestial events and the movement of the sun, moon, and stars. Turrell engineered specific tunnels and viewing chambers within the crater to frame astronomical phenomena, blending light, geology, and human perception. It is considered one of the most ambitious feats of land art ever attempted.

Because the artwork is still an active construction site, the crater is generally closed to the public. However, limited public access is occasionally offered through highly exclusive, high-cost tickets managed by the Skystone Foundation. These rare visits are usually tied to specific astronomical events or fundraising campaigns for the project's completion.

The massive scale of the project requires extensive funding, primarily sourced through the Skystone Foundation and large private donations. Turrell also sells his smaller light installations and conceptual artwork through galleries to subsidize the ongoing, multi-decade construction. Kanye West notably donated to the project and visited the site in 2018.