Photo by Son
Husband and I are silhouetted in the James Turrell tunnel, “The Light Inside,” at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas.
The tunnel connects two buildings of the museum and seems a fairly normal route for pedestrian traffic at first. Then we were enveloped in a light that challenged reality and space as darkness beckoned from either side while the black-clad museum guard urged us to stay on the black walkway. I had visions of the River Styx and was grateful to find that the other side merely led to more museum exhibits with normal lighting.
Learn more about American artist James Turrell’s obsession with light and space here.
THE COASTAL CRONE 
How fascinating! Great capture of the lighting, CC! Thank you for the links. Hope to see it in the near future. 🙂
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Son did a good job of photographing as we were barely aware that he was taking it. A visit to the Museum District in Houston is worth the trip as there are several to choose from as well as being near the zoo. The Museum of Fine Arts has really expanded and grown since the last time I was there. Thanks for your visit!
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Thank you for the information! The last time when I visited the district was six years ago. 🙂
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Wonderful image 🙂 I would imagine this light would challenge anyone’s perspective upon reality 🙂 Hope you enjoyed the Museum and had a beautiful Easter 🙂
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It certainly did challenge my sense of where I was! Yes, we enjoyed the museum exhibits but did not get around to all of them but will go back again on another trip to Houston. Our Easter was a quiet one with Daughter and Grandchild for lunch.
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Love those family gatherings nothing beats a get together around the meal table 🙂 Have a wonderful week xxx
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I find art exhibits like this one mind-boggling. Love the photo of you and your husband.
Turrell’s work is above and beyond art itself. It reminds me of a number of art exhibits I’ve seen, one in MOMA in San Francisco, by Olafur Eliasson a Scandinavian artist who did one on time, and another in NYC. Any artist who tackles the themes of time, light, or space is extraordinary. I wonder how their brains work. I checked out the link, the Roden Crater, and it was fascinating but over my head. It’s what I like about art. It challenges us to think outside the box.
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Son loves modern art that challenges and took me to the MOMA when he lived in San Francisco. I will have to check out Olafur Elisasson. The Roden Crater was over my head also! He has another piece of work at Rice University but I have not seen it yet. I thought the photo was good – great lighting and no wrinkles! Thanks, Diana for contributing to the art conversation.
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It looks really cool but also hard to navigate 🙂 I lived on Houston for 12 years and really miss the cool museums there. Looks like a fun visit for sure 🙂
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It was rather difficult to navigate with others going the opposite direction. I lived in Houston many, many years ago and still feel at home there. Son lives there and Daughter used to live there so I had plenty of reasons to visit and still do. The Museum District has so much to offer for everyone! And Houston just keeps growing and growing.
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It definitely keeps growing!
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What a cool silhouette!
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Oh, I am so pleased that you liked it! It is a compliment coming from someone who always has cool photos. Son took it and has a good eye for art. And I think I look better with just a silhouette!
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How fascinating, it must have been a spooky experience.
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It was a bit spooky but it was not a long tunnel and I held on tightly to Husband and had my low walking shoes on. Always nice to have you stop by, Andrea!
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what a neat experience. It’s good for us to have the way our brain works be challenged once in a while.
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Oh, yes, Son is always encouraging us to get out of our comfort zones. The world is changing all around us and I don’t want to be one of those people who criticize everything new. Nice to hear from you!
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Wonderful!
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I like this image. Thanks for explaining its origin and for enlightening us about the museum!
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It was taken a couple of weeks ago and seemed appropriate for my Monday Madness – anything a bit offbeat or humorous. I figured it needed a little explanation. It was rather odd in that it wasn’t set up like a traditional exhibit but more of an incidental passage from one section of the museum to another. And no one lingered! Thanks for dropping by. Must check out your latest post!
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I am a fan of offbeat and humorous so thank you, Jonelle.
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Absolutely fascinating! You two look positively other worldly.
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We looked like old characters from the movie “Cocoon” ready to take off to outer space, didn’t we? The light was good though…no wrinkles! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Dor!
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It is an image that catches at your throat. The two of you. Hand in hand. Carrying . . . Memories?? Loving thoughts?? Questions? Where are going? Where have you been? Love it Jo Nell. XX Virginia
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Oh, you would come up with a good story, wouldn’t you? And your story would be full of romance! It did look as if we were going somewhere. And we always say we want to go together when our time comes! Husband was carrying a shopping bag from the gift shop and Son & I had insisted on buying him two framed photographs of motorcycles (they will go in his office!) from an exhibit we had just seen. But that is another post. I like your romantic story better…perhaps we were going back to Paris…or was it only a memory…
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I so loved the photograph and being led through the darkness. You inspire me. XX Virginia
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I agree with Dor. You do look otherworldly. Thanks for introducing me to another artist.
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I felt rather otherworldly too. Son introduced me to this artist and I try to be open to new things. I always learn from you blog! Thanks for taking time to visit and comment! I hope all is well with you and New Zealand.
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Now that’s an interesting photo.
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Yes, I must agree that it turned out rather interesting. I doubt that I will ever have another quite like it. The light was quite flattering, I thought! ha!
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Turrell creates such fabulous environments. Hope you are able to catch one of his collective works exhibits – you’d be in Wonderland.
That tunnel at MFAH somehow settles and transports you. the Blue phase is my favorite wit purple next. (People do get disoriented and fall off the “floating bridge”)
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This was my first Turrell to see but Son has seen others and there is a more permanent piece he created at Rice University we want to see. Yes, it was very disorienting especially when you had to share the floating bridge with others. The Museum District has something for everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Turrell!
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Wonderful post. You son did a marvelous job on catching the silhouette. I have to go there.
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Magnificent photo. I hope you have it framed for posterity.
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I had not considered that but i might!
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Oh, I hope you do!
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Fear not Jo Nell, the River Styx will definitely not have museum guards, not even clad in black ones!
This is a fun photo. Hope you enjoyed the exhibits.
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You are right about the River Styx being different! It was a fun experience. We really enjoyed so many of the other exhibits but did not have time to view them all but we will be going back and there are other museums in the Museum District that we want to visit.
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What a breathtaking image. It goes right to the heart. My niece is a light designer in Germany and we are both in Munich for a few days. I will,share this with her when she wakes up. Thank you!
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Great image! It looks like you are approaching a portal 🙂
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Yes, it did appear that way but you just went around it. Really a different experience.
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This exhibit look incredible, and like it would be a lot of fun to visit. .
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It was fun and there were many serious exhibits so there was something for every one. Being there with our Son made it really special
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Nice image and interesting looking exhibit.
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It was a bit different but the light tunnel was only a small part of the Museum of Fine Arts. I plan a post about the exhibit that we really came to see. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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Well, I’m glad that it wasn’t the River Styx that you were crossing because I am looking forward to getting to know you better.
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Ha! I guess it just was not my time. Thanks for stopping to view and comment!
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Fabulous image. Wonderful museum. I so miss Houston!
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Houston is always fun! The rodeo was going on the weekend we were there so it is country, art, urban and international. I lived there a few years ages ago when I was young but enjoy it so much more now when we visit. You should visit Houston again!
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I think I might have run back ;-). Great post. Will have to check out Mr Turrel
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It wasn’t really that bad but it was different. His art is a bit different and sometimes it is good to see art beyond just the usual paintings which I enjoy also. Thanks for stopping by, Bee!
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That looks incredible…something I’ll have to visit when I go to Texas! I still have family in that state whom I’ve never seen, so I’ll be visiting the Lone Star state at some point in the near future, LOL – with my Alaskan attitude fully intact!
XD
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Your Alaskan attitude will probably fit in just fine in Texas! You should visit Texas and certainly take time to visit Houston! Thanks for stopping by!
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You know all those light installations along airport moving walkways? This is what they want to be.
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What an interesting connection! You are the only one who made that practical connection. it has been some time since I have been on one of those moving walkways. Weren’t there just views out the window or perhaps advertisements? Thanks for contributing to the conversation! You and Choppy stay safe on your travels.
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How remarkable. And I love that photo!
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Yes, it was a bit unusual but I am glad Son wanted to take one. Thanks for stopping by, Cynthia!
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I saw this exhibit when it was in LA… it was magnificent…. great photo!
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Thanks! This was the first installation of his I had seen. Thanks for stopping by from LA where there is always something to see. I loved the Getty! Maybe I will get back there one of these days.
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A most excellent account and I love the fact that you even included mythological references on the post… I am glad you made it through as those sort of `bridges´could be scary…
By the way, I have nominated you for an award… look for your name at the end of this post https://aquileana.wordpress.com/2016/04/14/%E2%96%BAhistory-the-greek-theatre-literature-aristotles-poetics-theory-of-tragedy%E2%AD%90%EF%B8%8F/
All my best wishes. Aquileana ⭐️.-
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You could have certainly provided more mythological references but glad you liked it. Thank you for the Sunshine Blogger Award – what a surprise and honor! I read the post and only scanned the nominees as I certainly did not expect to find my name so I missed it. I will enjoy exploring the blogs of the other nominees.
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