all along the watchtower

From the observation deck: A sneak peek at artist James Turrell's mysterious newlight installation at Rice University

Turrell noted that the light show is nearly impossible to capture on film . . .Starting in mid-June, however, Houstonians will be able to catch the twice-dailyLED performances on a regular schedule.
Photo by Tyler Rudick
View from second-story viewing area with Shepherd School of Music in thebackground. Note the LED arrays at the bottom of the image.
Photo by Tyler Rudick
In a purple light, the sky appears somewhat green . . . Unfortunately, thecolors are difficult to render correctly on camera.
Photo by Tyler Rudick
Granite seating in the first floor observation area is slightly inclined towardsthe oculus at the center of the roof.
Photo by Tyler Rudick
Looking down the central axis with a view of the central opening in the roof.
Photo by Tyler Rudick

Well, it's totally true. The sky really does change color in James Turrell's new Twilight Epiphany skyspace at Rice University.

During a preview of the installation’s much-anticipated light show, CultureMap was lucky enough to experience the piece’s skyward alchemy firsthand.

News writers and photographers arrived just before sunset to take our places inside the mysterious two-story structure next to the Shepherd School of Music. From a distance, the skyspace resembles a sort of modernist walk-in burial mound topped with an elevated flat white roof.

"Since this is your first visit, we usually suggest starting in the enclosed first floor viewing area," explained Rice Public Art director Molly Hubbard as the group stepped into the ground floor observation room. Directly overhead, a 14-foot square oculus looked to the sky.

A fter staring at the opening in the roof for at least 10 minutes, the oculus appeared completely flat — a crisp dark square on a mustard-colored backdrop.

"Each level offers a completely different experience, though, so feel free to walk up to the second floor," she added as we made our way to the granite seats along the wall.

As the sun started to set, LED lights on the upper floor projected a wash of pale orange onto the ceiling. When the light sequence shifted to a pinkish hue, Hubbard noted that the 35-minute show had started.

When the lights slowly turned a deep shade of purple, something clearly was starting to happen. Through the opening above, the darkening evening sky was becoming a blue-green. Even the brighter strips of sky visible below the roofline were taking on a greenish cast.

Moments later, purple changed to pink and then to yellow. The sky was a dark navy now, and after staring at the opening in the roof for at least 10 minutes, the oculus appeared completely flat — a crisp dark square on a mustard-colored backdrop.

Then the magic started. (Spoiler alert!)

While the yellow LED lights gradually turned blue, the navy square appears to brighten and, for a few seconds, it actually disappears before settling on gray.

Needing a point of comparison, I took Hubbard's advice and stepped outside the installation to climb the stairs to the second floor observatory.

From the upper level, the sky through the oculus and beneath the roofline appeared an even darker gray under the blue LEDs, which changed back to purple to return the sky to its previous blue-green shade.

As the purple lights turned white, Turrell’s light show had one more trick up its sleeve . . . which Houstonians can see for themselves starting June 14, when Twilight Epiphany begins its regular schedule of dawn and dusk performances. Stay tuned for details.

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Concert News

Buzzy R&B artist Khalid brings summer back to Houston on 2026 tour

Photo courtesy of Khalid

Khalid is coming to Houston in June 2026.

Texas R&B and pop artist Khalid is hitting the road for his 2026 It's Always Summer Somewhere Tour, including a stop at the 713 Music Hall in downtown Houston on June 18, 2026.

The 25-date tour starts in Las Vegas, Nevada, in May and ends in Berkeley, California, in June. In addition to the Houston date, he'll stop in Irving on June 17 and Austin on June 19. He appears to be skipping his adopted hometown of El Paso, where his family moved when he was in high school and where he started his music career.

The 27-year-old artist originally became known as a teenager on SoundCloud, resulting in several notable features and the critically acclaimed album American Teen. Since those days, he's had features on tracks by Marshmello, Billie Eilish, Halsey, and Normani, among others. He's released four albums in total, including 2025's After the Sun Goes Down.

Khalid has been nominated to many notable awards and won at least 20, including five at the Billboard Music Awards in 2020 and Best New Artist at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. He's had six Grammy nominations so far.

Pop singer Lauv, known for the breakout hit "I Like Me Better," will join Khalid for all stops on the tour.

Tickets are available now in an artist pre-sale. The general on sale will start Friday, December 12, at 10 am via khalidofficial.com.

It's Always Summer Somewhere Tour dates

Sat May 16 – Las Vegas, NV – PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Mon May 18 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Wed May 20 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Thu May 21 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
Sat May 23 – Hershey, PA – GIANT Center
Sun May 24 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Tue May 26 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
Thu May 28 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Fri May 29 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Sun May 31 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Wed Jun 03 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Thu Jun 04 – Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sat Jun 06 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Sun Jun 07 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage at Highmark Mann
Tue Jun 09 – Portsmouth, VA – Portsmouth Pavilion
Wed Jun 10 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Fri Jun 12 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
Mon Jun 15 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
Wed Jun 17 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Thu Jun 18 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Fri Jun 19 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
Sun Jun 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Mon Jun 22 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Wed Jun 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Fri Jun 26 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre*

live music concerts