The Glass House, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation on Ponus Ridge Road in New Canaan, announced the appointment of Hilary Lewis as the site’s chief curator and creative director, which started, Tuesday Jan. 17.
Lewis has spent more than two decades focused on the work of Philip Johnson. As an architectural historian, curator and journalist she has researched, presented and written many materials on Johnson since her first collaboration with the architect in 1992. She spent over a decade working directly with Johnson on texts, exhibitions and a multi-year project of recording his memoirs.
“Having sat side-by-side with Johnson for years, I feel confident that what would honor his and David Whitney’s memory most would be for the property to evolve further as a center for the appreciation of architecture, design and art, not just as a museum of Johnson and Whitney’s lives in New Canaan,” noted Lewis.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to work directly with the Glass House as it looks forward to its second decade of public engagement.”
“Hilary Lewis has influenced the Glass House site since its inception as a public museum,” said Gregory Sages, executive director at the Glass House. “She will be a great addition to the great team. I look forward to her continuing contributions in programming content, visitation alternatives, site interpretation and team management.”
Lewis received her training in architectural history and urban planning at MIT and Harvard, where she also taught. Since that time, she has co-authored Philip Johnson: The Architect in His Own Words and The Architecture of Philip Johnson, the former receiving the 1995 AIA International Architecture Book Award. As an author, she has contributed to a variety of books on architecture and planning and has been a founding editor of four magazines on architecture and design, which deepened her knowledge and experience relating to Midcentury Modern architecture. Overall, her work addresses the public aspects of architecture, preservation and design.
As a curator, Lewis developed the show and catalog Philip Johnson: Architecture + Art for the Johnson-designed Kreeger Museum. In 2007, she was named the Philip Johnson Scholar at the site. Until recently, Lewis served on the Glass House’s Advisory Council.
The Glass House was built between 1949 and 1995 by architect Philip Johnson. The pastoral 49-acre landscape comprises fourteen structures, including the Glass House (1949), and features a permanent collection of 20th century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions. The tour season runs from May through November and advance reservations are required. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.theglasshouse.org
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.savingplaces.org.
Hilary Lewis has been appointed a scholar curator at Philip Johnson’s, Glass House in New Canaan.
Hilary Lewis, Philip Johnson and John O’Connor in 1993. — Contributed photo by Nora Feller
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