A Lifelong Fascination: James Turrell's Mesmerizing Exhibitions

‍

I think we all have those moments when an art installation, an impeccable meal, or a moving song leaves an almost life-altering impression on us. For me, a James Turrell art installation can create that moment. I first discovered his work in 2016, when I first stumbled upon his exhibition at the Pace Gallery in Palo Alto. Upon walking into the gallery, I was drawn in immediately. There’s something almost magical in Turrell’s mastery of converging natural and artificial light, transforming the act of seeing into a transcendent experience. One that stopped in my tracks, and invited me to meditate, reflect, and honestly just be.

‍

Since then, I’ve had a bucket list of all of his permanent installations throughout the world. Last year I visited his art installation At One at the Gagosian in Le Bourget, Paris that was located on the outskirts of Paris. We were prohibited to record the experience, though I found a few TikTok rule-breakers here and there so you can see a snippet of the experience. The centerpiece is hard to explain but it was unreal (photo below for context). You became immersed in a transcendent play of light, unable to distinguish where the walls began or ended. It was almost heavenly, the kind of space where you half-expected Morgan Freeman to narrate your journey.

‍

I experienced this installation solo because it was last-minute before heading to the airport, but it made me realize how much I wanted to share this kind of life-altering moment with others, but without the platform to do so, it’s almost impossible to remember which friends are in which cities and available to travel. So I started creating a public bucket list on TERA: a way to invite others into my world.

‍

‍

How Sharing Your Bucket List Can Change Your Relationships

First we have to establish that creating a bucket list is powerful because it forces clarity, asking us to articulate what excites us and exercise the power of choice, desire and intention. When we write down an idea, we transform it from an imaginary thought into something real and actionable. It encourages us by granting us permission to want more and to not be afraid to share our interests with others, opening doors for dialogue. By sharing your bucket list, you’re inviting others into your inner world.

‍

Second, these conversations deepen relationships because they move beyond surface-level updates and into meaning. They make it easier for people to show up for one another in intentional ways. Unlike gifting material gifts, bucket list experiences affirm to someone that their dreams matter and that you care enough to validate them by helping them achieve them. As much as the onus of finding a gift for someone falls on the giver, a bucket list creates an opportunity for the receiver to open up a conversation where someone can plan around what already resonates, reflecting an interest to turn a shared moment into a future memory. We are so often conditioned to think of gifts as tangible items, rather than shared experiences that cultivate connection and meaning. A bucket list is not just a personal roadmap, it’s an open invitation.

‍

Making Life Richer, One Bucket List At A Time

‍

It’s really easy to start lists on the Notes app but as someone who is guilty of having some very messy notes myself, a lot of my thoughts on notes do not turn into action and are not shared with others to collaborate on. It’s easy to forget about your bucket lists. Part of committing to a goal comes from creating bucket lists that are easily actioned on, which is why mine live in TERA.

‍

Here are a handful of lists to help you get inspired. While general bucket lists can be inspiring, the real beauty of a bucket list is when it’s deeply personal. Try to make it niche and specific, really unique to you.

‍

1. Cook all 524 recipes in “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” by Julia Child
2. Watch a game at all 30 MLB stadiums in the US
3. Visit 70+ Frank Gehry buildings worldwide
4. Eat at Michelin-starred restaurants (3-stars, 157 worldwide; 2-stars, 525 worldwide, 1-star, 3000+ worldwide)
5. See all 7 natural wonders in the world
6. Visit every 70-80 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings open to the public
7. Run all the 7 major metropolitan marathons worldwide
8. Tour ~500 UNESCO World Heritage architectural sites in Europe
9. Photograph the 7 UNESCO-listed Gaudí creations in Barcelona
10. Visit and photograph as many Banksy art creations worldwide (exact number unknown, continuous series)
11. Master every core pasta type (30-40) from scratch (e.g. spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, ravioli, tortellini, gnocchi, orecchiette, farfalle…).
12. Master every core bread type (15-20) from scratch (e.g. classic breads (sourdough, baguette, ciabatta, focaccia, rye, naan, pita, brioche)
13. Track all major ~860 Van Gogh paintings in museums worldwide
14. Attend every play by a favorite playwright (e.g. Shakespeare -37 plays, Ibsen - 27 plays)
15. Watch all films by a particular director (e.g., Wes Anderson- 12 feature films, Robert Reiner - 20 feature films)
16. Read all ~100 fiction Pulitzer Prize-winning books
17. Watch all 97 Oscar Best Picture winners
18. Read all 67 Stephen King’s books (or a particular author!)
19. Staying in 8 unique accommodations (treehouse, ice hotels, yurts, castle stays, houseboats, cave dwellings, lighthouses, glamping domes)
20. Attend 10 famous festivals around the world (Holi, Carnival, Oktoberfest, etc.).
21. Collect and taste every type of hot sauce from around the world. Set a target of 100-200.
22. Sample every 300+ flavor of KitKats or 100+ Haribos sold globally

‍

Once you create your lists on TERA, start sharing them with friends, partners, and family alike, and invite them to join you in tackling your bucket lists.

‍

TERA TIP: If you’re helping someone with their bucket list, you can take your gift to the next level by creating a custom map and diary or booklet. This lets them track where they’ve traveled, who they were with, and their favorite, and not-so-favorite moments.