first came the pyramids, then came stonehenge, and then in 2011 came roden crater

it's a riddle wrapped up in an enigma (to borrow from winston) but with the light from stars that existed when the universe was created perhaps we'll all be able to understand roden crater when it opens to the public this year .... assuming, of course, that the opening date is not put off another two decades like has happened before.

the story of the largest scale art project in the world is told at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/arts/design/25fink.html?_r=1&ref=jamesturrell

but mr turrell isn't just sitting around waiting to finish the volcano interior, if you go to google and enter "images james turrell" you'll be greeted with thumbnail pics every shade of color. the guy transforms space with light.

i experienced one of his magical installations at the hirshhorn gallery in dc this summer but his running panels of muted light in a 5-story high tavertine wall in the lobby of an investment house in austin made me go ga-ga yesterday (not the most desirable frame of mind for a job interview, but the piece was more mesmerizing than even my fixation on unemployment--this is powerful stuff, folks, not for the faint of heart)

so watch out ancient egyptians and whoever it was who built stonehenge, james turrell is throwing his hat in the ring for world's coolest site & the odds in vegas and in my house are very much in his favor.