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    all along the watchtower

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

    Tyler Rudick
    Jun 3, 2012 | 4:00 pm
    • 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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    weekend event planner

    Here are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Feb 25, 2026 | 6:30 pm
    The rodeo returns with the cook-off, downtown parade, and more.
    Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
    The rodeo returns with the cook-off, downtown parade, and more.

    We’re just a few days away from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, but Houstonians can get into the cowboy spirit this weekend with the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest and by dressing up for Go Texan Day on Friday.

    Azumi, City Place, Feges BBQ, HiFi at the Finn, and The Pit Room will celebrate the day with food and drink specials, indoor and outdoor activities, and other surprises. Of course, we have other things popping off this weekend, including a neon cocktail pop-up bar, an Indian film festival, and — to start the Rodeo off on the right boot (sorry) — a downtown rodeo parade.

    Don't miss our list of this week's best food events for even more suggestions.

    Thursday, February 26

    Hotel Saint Augustine presents Rodeo Rendezvous
    To salute the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Hotel Saint Augustine has got an exclusive, month-long retail residency called Rodeo Rendezvous. The series features a rotating lineup of premier artisans and brands – offering people options for both their 2026 Rodeo wardrobe and for their home collections. The property will convert two of its rooms into a curated boutique destination, blending authentic Texas heritage with high-end fashion, art, and cultural touch points. Through Sunday, March 22. Noon.

    Montrose Country Club presents Pink Pop Up Bar
    Montrose Country Club will be turning up the color with the debut of its limited-run Pink Pop Up Bar, an immersive neon cocktail experience designed for weekend nights out, high energy brunches, and vibrant group gatherings – and no membership is required. Signature cocktails include the passion fruit-driven Show Pony, the tequila-forward Paloma Pink, and the tropical Neon Storm rum blend. 5 pm (11 am Saturday and Sunday).

    AJ McQueen presents GodBody Weekend Opening Mixer
    The 4th Annual GodBody Weekend, founded by Houston-based independent artist and community leader AJ McQueen, will take place this weekend with activations across Houston, culminating in a gathering at the legendary Eldorado Ballroom in Third Ward. The cultural festival is designed to inspire mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical growth, and it all starts with an opening mixer this Thursday night. 7 pm.

    Friday, February 27

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Movies Houstonians Love: Perfect Days
    Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho) seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveals more of his past in this moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world. German filmmaker Wim Wenders returned to Japan, a country that has long inspired him, to make this gentle humanist drama that earned multiple awards. Inprint Houston executive director Rich Levy will introduce this Movies Houstonians Love presentation. 7 pm.

    Rice Cinema presents Le Passion de Jeanne D’Arc
    Carl Thedor Dreyer’s legendary silent film from 1928 is supposedly based on the documents of her trial before the authorities, but the film is so present and alive to the world of Joan of Arc (Renee Jeanne Falconetti) that it feels like it happens in the moment. With cinematography by Rudolph Maté and an unparalleled performance by Falconetti, Dreyer’s radical construction of space and close-up reinvents the world from the ground up — painful, luminous, unforgettable. 7 pm.

    Urban Souls Dance Company presents Truth Be Told
    Truth Be Told is Urban Souls Dance Company’s annual Black History Month dance concert, presented by Black Arts Movement Houston. Through contemporary dance, African American vernacular movement, and embodied storytelling, the concert honors the stories, ancestors, and cultural legacies that shape the Black experience. Blending historic repertory with bold new choreography, Truth Be Told explores memory, courage, joy, and resilience, centering truth-telling as both an act of resistance and a pathway to healing. 7:30 pm.

    The Catastrophic Theatre presents Katy Perry Candy Darling Mary Magdalene
    In this stage production, making its world premiere with The Catastrophic Theatre, a punk elitist attempts to sell his band on a rock opera he wrote about meeting his favorite pop star. But first he has to explain why he has a favorite pop star, why it’s Katy Perry, why he wrote a rock opera about it, and how it all ties into his new look, most succinctly described as “she.” Through Saturday, March 7. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, February 28

    Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo presents Downtown Rodeo Parade
    U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, a rescue swimmer whose lifesaving actions during the Independence Day flash floods in the Texas Hill Country earned national recognition and a commendation during the recent State of the Union address, will serve as the grand marshal of the 2026 Downtown Rodeo Parade. Ruskan will officially launch the 2026 Rodeo season at the parade, a beloved Houston tradition since 1938 that drew more than 2.7 million visitors in 2025. 10 am.

    Asia Society Texas presents Indian Film Festival Houston
    The Indian Film Festival of Houston and Asia Society Texas will celebrate the cinematic voices of India and the Diaspora with a fresh lineup of feature films, documentaries, and shorts. The highlight will be a screening of Phule, a feature-film biopic of a trailblazing couple who challenged caste oppression and gender inequality in British-ruled India. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Ananth Mahadevan. $20 for single screening; $65 for All-Day Pass. 2:30 pm.

    Craft Pita and Winnie's present Habibi Night 3.0
    Craft Pita is partnering with cocktail bar and grill Winnie’s for the third annual Habibi Night, bringing a lively, one-night celebration of Lebanese culture, food, and music. The menu will feature a mezze-style lineup of shareable appetizers along with sandwiches and cocktails. The evening will also feature Arabic Afro House music by Dr. House and a full hookah experience, creating a festive atmosphere that celebrates Lebanese culture through food, drink and community. 6 pm.

    Houston Ballet presents Sylvia
    Opening atop Mount Olympus, Stanton Welch AM’s Sylvia blends Greek mythology into a powerful story of love where three fierce women drive the story: fearless huntress Sylvia, commanding goddess Artemis, and compassionate mortal Psyche. Welch’s multilayered narrative dives between mythical and human realms as the three heroines each journey on their own path to love, leading to a tale of mayhem, mischief, magic, and romance. Through Sunday, March 8. 7:30 pm (7:30 pm Thursday; 2 pm Sunday).

    Sunday, March 1

    Velocity | Sim Racing Lounge First Year Anniversary
    Velocity | Sim Racing Lounge is commemorating its one-year anniversary with an all-day celebration at its Sawyer Yards location. The jam-packed party will feature interactive activities throughout the day, culminating in an invitation-only All-Stars Grand Prix. The top three racers will take home year-long Velocity memberships: first place will receive the Ultimate membership, valued at $3,600; second place will receive the Pro membership, valued at $2,100; third place will take home the Racer membership, valued at $1,200. 9 am.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Winter Festival “Year of the Horse”
    The Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza and the Cullen Sculpture Garden once again team up for the MFAH’s Winter Festival, which will get its Lunar New Year on and celebrate the Year of the Horse. The day will feature dynamic music, a performance by Taiko Drummers with Kaminari Taiko of Houston, K-pop dancers presented by Han Narea, the North America Youth Chinese Orchestra, a kung fu/tai chi demo from Shi Xing Hao Shaolin Kungfu Academy, and a giant dragon and lion dance from Lee’s Golden Dragon. 1 pm.

    Goode Company presents Texas Independence Day Celebration
    Goode Company and Levi Goode Brands invites folks to join them for a Texas Independence Day Celebration — an event honoring 190 years of the Lone Star State. This event is a way to honor and celebrate the bounty that Texas offers, celebrating with dishes inspired by the unique flavors of Texas. Texas-based country band The Broken Spokes will provide live acoustic accompaniment to the evening’s festivities. 4 pm.

    The rodeo returns with the cook-off, downtown parade, and more.
    Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
    The rodeo returns with the cook-off, downtown parade, and more.
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