Rainbow over the Roden Crater. © James Turrell, Photograph by Florian Holzherr.
Kayne Griffin Corcoran announced the opening of its new gallery at 1201 South La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles.
In keeping with the partnership’s founding principle of collaboration, the building integrates major permanent elements conceived by acclaimed artist James Turrell including a Skyspace, illumination of the skylights of the main galleries, and the courtyard environment. Turrell approached the project with the goal of enhancing the experience between art and architecture and indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sooner Than Later, Roden Crater, James Turrell from Kayne Griffin Corcoran on Vimeo.
The 15,000 square foot space opens today Saturday, May 25 with a historical survey of Turrell’s work related to the Roden Crater. With renovations designed by Los Angeles architecture firm Standard, the 1940s vine-covered property is comprised of an existing 10,000 square foot space, as well as a 5,000 square foot exterior courtyard. While the outside of the building seamlessly integrates Kayne Griffin Corcoran into the emerging commercial sector of La Brea Avenue, Turrell transformed the site into a meditative oasis. Access from the street is mediated by Turrell’s specified landscape palette of bright magentas specific to the Brazilian Silk Floss tree balanced by Bougainvillea flowers covering a fifteen-foot trellis over the entry walkway. At night, the green vines that cover the exterior are illuminated with a unique Turrell light installation. From the courtyard twelve-foot tall steel and glass pivot doors open into a series of galleries emphasizing the indoor/outdoor nature of the space.
In the galleries, Turrell programmed each skylight to create optimal light for viewing art utilizing a combination of LEDs and natural sunlight. Both an artwork and lighting plan, these Turrell skylights signify a third dimension of collaboration for subsequent artists’ exhibitions. Beyond the galleries, the building features one of Turrell’s architectural light installations, a Skyspace, with a retractable roof opening to the Los Angeles sky complete with his site-specific furniture that will function as Kayne Griffin Corcoran’s conference room.
