i was born in los angeles california about 600 kilometers west of here. oh i guess that i'm. doing fine. i think there must be something special about the light of california how did you perceive flied when you were a child well children oriental light and you do that in the crib and here you will look to it and something that we helps oriented this. and i mean california is not that different than say south of france or or italy or spain. the thing that is very interesting though is a lot of people who freesheet light are from areas where it's it is not as prevalent and more precious and so you know you have costs of all you have turner amazing very prescient artists just for david friedrich the

dutch school all the painters of light from norway and sweden. and petra very who came to germany to study art. you know where it's more appreciated words more precious. when james tarell frames light as in a painting he's following a centuries old tradition of western art. from the baroque period which in modern times artists have been captivated by the power of light. light can bring a scene to life increase its dramatic effect and focus the viewer's attention. in the 17th century of the use of light transformed the world of art. for the 1st time artists used like to highlight their subjects and not just saints but mere mortals

. and even the artists themselves. they created a world of sharp contrast between light and dark. the renaissance sought to bring light into darkness using science and reason to counter the influence of the church and religion. rembrandt's the anatomy lesson of dr nicholas told is the quintessential renaissance art work the participants are gathered around the corpse of a criminal and the body is bathed in light. in the 18th century the english painter william turner took the use of light to a new level in his work the slave ship the sky and sea glow. plugs the canvas and dollars contrasts turner also made use of dissolves and fading

effects which he copied from early photographs. in the 20th century photography became the preferred medium for experimenting with light. gifted photographers like man ray made substantial contributions to this art form. one of today's most important artists care hard reached or has found new ways to use light is still life skull with candle plays with our perceptions. the images are indistinct lurd shimmering and nothing is as it seems. james to rail uses many of these same effects in his works images blend into one another playing tricks on the viewers imagination. in college to real studied

psychology mathematics and astronomy these disciplines are reflected in his work a sophisticated attempt to alter our sense of perception one might say if you're even more than an artist you're a kind of a philosopher a spiritual guy maybe a scientist how do you see yourself as an artist i mean as i say this is not things that inform science i'm informed by the sun is an interesting point is that life is also used in para p. and one of your pieces called healing light so is that kind of a healing experience or do you try to balance it in terms of the for groceries if you stay in there some version of so that it has kind of all kohler but you know really the honor system is this is cued off of her lawyer. and so people call that the shocker is you just call it anything system that's fine but it is something that is physically us and so we do orient to these things and do it

healing from them i was wondering and to what extent at least experience is spiritual i mean light is also a universal symbol for the divine each and every human being yes and artists have been involved with religion since day one. making work that supports the rhetoric that comes from the priesthood or or not. but if you see that all the altar pieces and everything here and in europe i mean it's quite amazing what artists did and how they were involved with the church and also problem for the church it seems that you were inspired by the union maybe when you take a meditative quality of light because you know you do go inside to greet the light in meditation and you will get that visual purple and you'll get the beginning of

that as you enter meditation so we are followed by light we carry it within us so there never is no life. even when you're. inside. you know a deprivation cell. your find that there is life it just close your eyes here or you'll enter a life whole realm of unsure this is i mean we do have a slight inside and. we're orient to it and. you know this is a visual mantra. just present visual mantras james to rails works reflect his interest in eastern mysticism but they're by no means esoteric. his parents were devout quakers a form of christianity that believes there is good in everyone and that we all have a direct connection to god. sitting in silence in quaker meeting to really learn just trial to come to

a place of peace in the quiet. he was raised to find the divine light in every person. who says the door to him start cemetery in central berlin philosopher georg hale and author and playwright virgil brecht are among those buried here. a few years ago to real transform the chapel here with an installation that took full advantage of the twilight hours. in a room without shadows filled with changing colors.

the altar is a cube of acrylic less. outfitted with l.e.d.s. that make it a central source of light. very much in line with the traditional christian concept of guy. as creator and the source of divine light. here unlike into rails guns filled works the contours remain sharply defined so that fewer is maintain proper orientation. a space in which one remembers the souls of the dead. christians are invited to reflect on their belief in eternal life. some may find comfort in the idea that life will not end in darkness but in light light is present at the beginning and at the end of life. at last i'd like to know if there's a life that you love and maybe a life that you hate. well. i mean i appreciate it all i don't have any that i.

one of the things i like to do is to give light light.