Ben E. Keith Building, ca. 1956. W.D. Smith Commercial Photography, Inc. Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. UTA Libraries Digital Gallery. 1956. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
James Turrell
James Turrell (born May 6, 1943) is an American artist widely celebrated for his pioneering work with light and space. A central figure in the Light and Space movement, Turrell creates immersive environments that encourage viewers to experience light as a tangible presence rather than just illumination. Much of his artistic investigation focuses on perception, inviting people to contemplate how light and color influence our sense of space and self. He studied perceptual psychology and later explored mathematics, geology, and astronomy—disciplines that have informed his unique artistic approach. One of Turrell’s lifelong projects is Roden Crater, an extinct volcanic cinder cone in Arizona he is transforming into a monumental naked-eye observatory. He has also produced dozens of Skyspace installations around the world—architectural spaces with carefully crafted ceiling openings that frame the sky and manipulate light in meditative, transformative ways.In Fort Worth, Texas, Turrell’s “Come to Good” is a major new skyspace located at Keith House, a modern meeting space along the Trinity River in the Clearfork area. Commissioned by the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation as a gift to the community, Come to Good is Turrell’s 99th Skyspace and was designed to be experienced at sunrise and sunset, when shifting light and color sequences unify the interior viewing room and the open sky above. The work draws inspiration from traditional Quaker meeting houses—reflecting Turrell’s own Quaker upbringing—and is intended to foster quiet contemplation and connection. Opened to the public in early 2025, Come to Good offers visitors a contemplative encounter with light, sky, and architectural space unlike any conventional art exhibition.
A Gift to Fort Worth
Keith House and commissioned artwork inside are gifts from the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation to the people of Fort Worth.
The Foundation, inspired by the life and legacy of Meta Alice Keith Bratten, formed in 2010 and works to benefit causes close to Meta’s heart such as outdoor spaces, education and the arts.
Described as outgoing, generous and possessing a smile that often conveyed her desire for adventure, Bratten was devoted to her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta; church, St. Stephen Presbyterian Church; family and community. An involved homeroom mother, seamstress, Fort Worth ISD employee and devoted wife and mother, Bratten transformed a modest family inheritance into the capital that later formed the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation.
Daughter Adelaide Leavens serves as the president of the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, and under her leadership, $1.7 million was distributed in 2021 to help grow Fort Worth community initiatives. The Keith House has been the focus of all efforts since then.
Keith House began construction in July 2022 in a wooded area in southwest Fort Worth near the Trinity River. The river, called Arkikosa by the people of the Caddo Confederacy and designated La Santísima Trinidad by seventeenth-century Spanish explorer Alonso de León, has been central to the settlement of the city, and today is a beloved green space within a thriving metropolis.
Thanks to the support of Fort Worth developer Cassco and the Edwards family, whose ancestors founded the Edwards Ranch in 1848, Keith House occupies a choice location near the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork.
It is easily accessible from the Trinity Trails, nearby retail, dining and entertainment venues, and an adjacent parking lot.
Legacy and Inspiration
Interestingly, the building’s facade is constructed of limestone blocks repurposed from a Keith-family home in Wichita Falls. The preservation of history through materials adds to the location’s sentimental value.
Keith House is owned and operated by a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, Entrada of Texas, DBA Keith House. Entrada of Texas was established in 2018 with the mission to expand curiosity and heighten the influence of art by offering the people of Fort Worth compelling contemporary expressions in unexpected settings.
Today, the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, focuses on impactful community initiatives, including the Keith House. This venue serves as a sanctuary for non-profit events and gatherings, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to creating spaces for productivity and contemplation.
The Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, established in 2010, enriches the Fort Worth community by supporting outdoor spaces, education, and the arts. Inspired by Meta Alice Keith Bratten’s adventurous spirit and dedication to family and community, the foundation continues her legacy of generosity.
Meta Alice Keith Bratten transformed a modest inheritance from her great uncle, Ben E. Keith, into a substantial philanthropic endeavor. Ben E. Keith, a notable figure in Fort Worth’s history, founded the Ben E. Keith Company, a major food and beverage distributor. The company’s presence and its 350 Fort Worth-based employees continue to be a significant part of Fort Worth’s economy.
Adelaide Bratten Leavens, Board Chair
Adelaide Bratten Leavens, a proud Fort Worth native, was born to Meta Alice and John Bratten. She attended Fort Worth public schools and excelled in track at Paschal High School. At Texas A&M University, she majored in agricultural economics and lettered in track. Post-graduation, she embarked on a 14-year career in residential real estate appraisal and held administrative roles at Ben E. Keith Company.
In 1999, Adelaide joined Streams & Valleys as Executive Director, transforming it into a broad-based conservation organization. Since 2010, she has served as President of the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, supporting causes focused on nature, art, and education. Under her leadership, the foundation commissioned a prominent art installation and built the Keith House, a venue for non-profit events, which opened in mid-2023.
Adelaide is passionate about running, having completed over thirty marathons, and enjoys climbing, hiking, and sewing. She serves on the board of the Colorado 14ers Initiative and is involved in numerous community organizations, including the Van Cliburn Foundation and St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. Adelaide’s dedication to community service and philanthropy continues to honor her mother’s legacy through the foundation’s impactful work.
Janelle Montgomery, Director
As a longtime docent at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Janelle Montgomery discovered her passion for helping people appreciate art. She earned an MA in Art History from TCU in 2017, and her career includes roles as a curatorial assistant at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, as well as a curator, editor, researcher and writer.
Robert Caslin, Operations Lead
With decades of experience in art installation, museum operations and teaching, Robert brings both craft and care to Keith House. A former longtime team member at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, he’s passionate about creating spaces where art, light and people meet with intention. When he’s not fine-tuning the details that make Keith House hum, he’s likely helping others with a toolbox, a playlist or a Meals on Wheels plate.
Kathleen Culebro, Volunteer and Box Office Lead
Kathleen Culebro is a Fort Worth-based arts leader and community builder with more than 25 years of experience developing programs that fuse creativity, connection and public good. As the Founding Artistic Director of Amphibian Stage, she helped revitalize South Main Village through public art, theater and cross-sector partnerships. Kathleen brings a storyteller’s instinct, a strategist’s focus and a deep belief in the power of place to her work at Keith House.
Entrada of Texas, dba Keith House, is a non-profit organization formed under section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
