Three Gems (James Turrell Skyspace)

What you need to know

What Makes It Worth It

You sit on a stone bench inside a dim, quiet chamber and look up at a circle of sky. The LED lights around the rim of the opening subtly alter your color perception. The sky appears to shift from blue to purple to pink, even when it has not changed at all. The effect is disorienting and meditative.

The installation is free to visit. It is in the sculpture garden, which does not require museum admission. Most visitors to the de Young walk right past the grassy mound without knowing it is there. Inside, you are typically alone or with two or three other people, all silently staring at the sky.

Best on partly cloudy days, when the moving clouds interact with the LED color shifts. Overcast days work too. Clear blue sky is the least dynamic.

Skip this if you need explanation panels and context. There is almost no signage. You either find the tunnel entrance, walk in, and experience it, or you do not.

Visiting

Address: Osher Sculpture Garden, de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park

Hours: Same as the sculpture garden. Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 AM-5:15 PM. Closed Mondays.

Cost: Free (sculpture garden does not require museum admission)

Best time to go: Late afternoon when the light is changing. Cloudy days produce the most interesting effects.

What to know: Look for the grass mound with a tunnel entrance in the sculpture garden. It is easy to miss. The chamber is small, maybe 6 people fit comfortably.

Getting There

Transit: Muni N-Judah to 9th and Irving, then walk. The 44-O’Shaughnessy stops at the Music Concourse.

Parking: Music Concourse garage (paid) or free street parking on Lincoln Way.

Walking: Right next to the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and Japanese Tea Garden.