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We Broke In: James Turrell Forgot Roden Crater Keys


The Roden Crater is James Turrell's life's work, an extinct volcanic crater in the middle of the desert that he has transformed into an incredible piece of land art. It's considered his masterpiece, embodying his unique exploration of light and space.
James Turrell is a Quaker, and his art has been explored in relation to his religion, as noted in publications like 'Quakers in the Arts.' The author mentions Turrell introducing her to Quakerism and even inviting her to worship with them, suggesting a deep spiritual influence on his artistic philosophy.
After an arduous journey with 12 carloads of Quakers, James Turrell realized he had forgotten the keys to the Roden Crater. Faced with this unexpected predicament and a large expectant group, the author and Turrell decided there was only one thing to do: they broke in.
Crista Cloutier is an artist mentor and founder of The Working Artist. She shares a long history with James Turrell, who taught her how to look at his work, spoke to her about light, and introduced her to the Quaker religion, leading to shared experiences like the Roden Crater visit.