Three Gems (James Turrell Skyspace)

What you need to know

What’s There

You sit on a stone bench inside a small chamber and look up at a circle of sky. LED lights around the rim of the opening shift through the spectrum, which changes how the sky color appears even when the actual sky hasn’t changed.

The installation is in the Osher Sculpture Garden at the de Young, which doesn’t require museum admission. Most de Young visitors walk past the grassy mound without knowing the chamber is there. The room is small; about six people fit comfortably.

Partly cloudy days produce the most dynamic effects because the moving clouds interact with the LED color shifts. Overcast days work. Clear blue sky is the most static.

Visiting

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)

What to know: Look for the grass mound with a tunnel entrance in the sculpture garden. There is little signage.

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.