Cat Cairn: the Kielder Skyspace is a sculptural artwork located on a rocky outcrop overlooking Kielder Water & Forest Park by internationally renowned American artist James Turrell. The artwork consists of a short tunnel that leads to a partially buried circular room, a ceiling containing a central circular oculus or opening, and a ring of seats forming the lower part of the inner wall. The main structure presents an overall feel of simplicity and quiet away from the visual distractions found outside. We often experience the sky as being ‘far away’ because we see it disappearing behind trees, hills or houses. The Skyspace removes these clues and when seen from inside, the sky is often perceived to be right on top of the space, or sometimes intruding into it. Visitors will find themselves in a space where the artist manipulates our normal perceptions of light and space. In daylight hours, this chamber; illuminated only by natural light through the roof opening, is a contemplative space that presents the ever-changing sky as a moving picture for visitor’s enjoyment and meditation. As the light conditions change at dusk and dawn, a ring of hidden lights illuminate the upper part of the chamber and visitors can expect to experience a highly unusual display of tone and colour lasting up to an hour. James Turrell is interested in the psychology of perception, essentially how our brains work to make sense of the world around us and ‘invent’ a reality to fit the information that our senses provide. In the Skyspace a visitor’s experience of colour becomes particularly challenged and the sky viewed from within the space often appears very different from the same sky seen outside. However, visitors are reminded that this is by its very nature, an individual experience, and no two people will ‘see’ the same thing.

A 10 minute walk up the forestry road beyond the Skyspace is the site of the Kielder Observatory where visitors can walk around its decks in the daytime or attend astronomical events in the evening.