What do you think? Add your thoughts to this week’s online Glass House Conversation, hosted by Charles Ruger + going on now!

In honor of National Book Month and the Philip Johnson Glass House, the USPS Stamp of Approval blog has posted National Book Month: Reading Philip Johnson. The blog post discusses the 2005 Glass House stamp and the author’s first visit to the Glass House, as well as two recent publications: The Glass House and The Library of Philip Johnson: Selections from the Glass House.

Read more on the USPS Blog: http://blog-stampofapproval.com/2012/01/19/national-book-month-reading-philip-johnson/

An iconic design of Pritzker Prize winning architect and close friend of Philip Johnson, Frank Gehry’s Pito Kettle, designed in 1992 of polished steel and mahogany, is made in Italy by Alessi.  Special price: $350 (was $450). Shop the Glass House Design Store for more fun and functional gifts for men, women, children and the home, including exclusive commissioned items inspired by the
Glass House site.

Conversations in Context 2011 is generously supported by BMW and Design Within Reach.

On view in the Sculpture Gallery, Bruce Nauman’s Neon Templates of the Left Half of My Body at Ten Inch Intervals is integral to the permanent collection of the Glass House. Nauman, recognized as one of America’s most innovative and provocative artists emerged in the mid-1960s as a leading figure in Performance and Body Art and has since created an open-ended body of work that includes sculptures, photographs, films, videos, holograms, interactive environments, performances, and neon wall reliefs.

Learn more about the conservation of Nauman’s Neon Templates at the Glass House.

Happy New Year!

I write as air finally chills with winter, although the ground remains resolutely brown, denying the season its romance.  The Glass House site is closed to the public until May 2nd.  However, the staff is hard at work with many off-season projects.

Here is a look at how we spend the winter:

Our property manager and his crew are still cleaning the woods of the debris left by Hurricane Irene and the Halloween Weekend Snowstorm. They’ve already completed repairs from a leak in the Library/Study (thanks to the revenues from sales of the new book, The Library of Philip Johnson, published by Birch Books to benefit the Library/Study and book conservation!). With the Glass House curator and preservation consultant, they are costing out a new roof for the Painting Gallery, for which funds will need to be raised.

Our finance office is closing the books on 2011 and finalizing the budget for 2012, working closely with all of the staff to ensure that new initiatives are adequately planned for.

Our curator is also working new essays to enhance the Glass House website. In the coming months, look for essays about conservation of various artworks, as well new research on our wonderful collection of Frank Stella’s works.  Last year, our website had 500,000 views!

Our program experts are deep in the throes of new season planning.  Potential new guides are being interviewed and guide education planned for our new and returning team. Changes to the tour schedule are being discussed. The second season of Conversations in Context is being hammered out. 2012 On-line Glass House Conversations are also being reserved.  Last year, over 20,000 people viewed these Conversations, and anyone can participate!  A second co-hosted lecture at the New Canaan Library will occur on February 12 with Hicks Stone. More programs will be announced soon, as will some New York City based lectures during our off-season.

Special events are in the planning, including a second Dine with Design event.  If you missed the first one, don’t miss this year—although we know lots of attendees will be coming back!  This event features excellent food and the opportunity to walk the site on your own or with friends. The date will be announced soon.

Our Public Relations professional remains constantly vigilant. Last year, The Glass House was featured or mentioned in 130 international publications and websites. We plan to keep meriting all that attention!

Fundraisers, of course, never sleep.  In 2012 we need to raise more money than ever to meet our goals.  We hope to grow our pool of friends, corporate partners and sponsors, and foundations.   If you’d like to help jump-start this 2012 effort, please do!

Last but not least, our parent organization, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is almost ready to reveal the name of the new Executive Director of the Glass House. Watch our website for an announcement very soon.

Rena Zurofsky

Interim Director, Philip Johnson Glass House

Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) at the Glass House’s official public opening, the Inaugural Gala Picnic, 2007. (Photograph courtesy of Steve Brosnahan/RBH Multimedia, 2007)

The Philip Johnson Glass House bids farewell to the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, following the close of The Legacy Tour at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City on December 31, 2011.

Philip Johnson and his partner David Whitney were long time supporters of the company.

On June 3, 1967, Johnson hosted a benefit for the Cunningham Dance Foundation.  Museum Event #5 was performed at the Glass House, with music by John Cage and costumes by Robert Rauschenburg.  The evening concluded with a performance by the Velvet Underground.

Image courtesy of the Philip Johnson Glass House Archives. Press Clipping from the 1967 benefit for the Cunningham Dance Foundation held at the Glass House.

Event Program, Image courtesey of the Philip Johnson Glass House Archives.

On June 23, 2007, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company restaged this 1967 performance for the Glass House’s official public opening, the Inaugural Gala Picnic.  A custom designed stage was designed and erected, as per Cunningham’s specifications.  Cunningham returned to the site to oversee rehearsal and event.

Merce Cunningham and members of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company at the Glass House’s official public opening, the Inaugural Gala Picnic, 2007. (Photograph courtesy of Steve Brosnahan/RBH Multimedia, 2007)

The Merce Cunningham Dance Company at the Glass House’s official public opening, the Inaugural Gala Picnic, 2007. (Photograph courtesy of Steve Brosnahan/RBH Multimedia, 2007)

The Merce Cunningham Dance Company at the Glass House’s official public opening, the Inaugural Gala Picnic, 2007. (Photograph courtesy of Steve Brosnahan/RBH Multimedia, 2007)

The Glass House expresses its support of Cunningham Dance Foundation as it transfers to the Merce Cunningham Trust.  Established in 2000 by the Artist, the Merce Cunningham Trust will continue his incredible dance legacy.

Visit our Flickr pages for more historic images from the 1967 and 2007 events.

To all who have participated in Glass House Conversations: thank you! Your voices create and stimulate this public dialogue on architecture, art, design and preservation.

With over 70 online Glass House Conversations exchanges in the 2010-2011 seasons, the Glass House takes this year-end opportunity to remember and reflect on some of the noteworthy responses moderated by a range of exceptional hosts.

What Glass House Conversation most engaged you this year? What topics, questions, and debates that intersect and drive our cultural dialogue are you interested in exploring in 2012?

There have been more than 70 Glass House Conversations in the 2010-2011 seasons!
Our Hosts: 2×4, Adam Harrison Levy, Alan Webber, Alexandra Lange, Alice Rawsthorn, Alice Twemlow, Alissa Walker, Allan Chochinov, Birch Cooper, Christy MacLear & Whitney French, Clifford Pearson, Constantin Boym, Dan Rubinstein, David Netto, David Velasco, Deborah Marton, Demian Repucci, Designers & Books, Donald Kaufman + Taffy Dahl, Dr. Theodore Prudon, Ellen Lupton, Flavin Judd, Frank E. Sanchis III, Geoff Manaugh, Glass House Conversations, Greg Lindsay, Hilary Lewis, Irene Shum Allen, Jamer Hunt, James Biber, James Welling, Jean Gardner, Jesse Ashlock, John Lilly, John Maeda, Justin Davidson, Kazys Varnelis, Laetitia Wolff, Leslie Koch, Liz Danzico, Marc Kushner, Mark Lamster, Mary Ellen Carroll, Michael Bierut, Michael DiTullo, Mimi Zeiger, Nadja Romain, Nicola Twilley, No Longer Empty, Paddy Harrington, Philip Nobel, Ralph Caplan, Rena Zurofsky, Sarah F. Cox, Sarah Rich, Sharon Johnston + Mark Lee, Steven Heller, Susannah C. Drake, SVA Interaction Design, Wendy Goodman, Ze Frank.

Conversations in Context is generously supported by BMW and Design Within Reach.