The Glass House Annual Summer Party Celebrating Art, Culture, and Design

The Glass House Annual Summer Party Celebrating Art, Culture, and Design
Featuring a special limited edition benefit sculpture created by artist Derrick Adams

Saturday, June 10, 2023
Presented by MAX MARA
With Generous Support from Victorinox
Additional Support from Hennessy Paradis and Design Within Reach

NEW CANAAN, Conn., May 17, 2023 – The Glass House presents its annual Summer Party presented by Max Mara. This premier fundraising event features art, dance, design, fashion, food, music, activations, and silent auction by ARTSY. The event celebrates 16 years as a historic site and museum and will benefit the preservation of the campus and collections.

“The Glass House has always been a place for creative experimentation, and this legacy endures today as we welcome the community to celebrate art, design, landscape and architecture on our site,” said Scott Drevnig, Deputy Director. “We’re thrilled to have Derrick Adams as our 2023 artist, Company SBB // Stefanie Batten Bland creating a custom dance experience throughout our campus, and DJ Alexandra Richards creating the soundtrack to this special day. We also are grateful to have over 100 works of art & design in our benefit auction.”

This year, the party will feature contemporary artist, Derrick Adams, who is set to unveil his much anticipated, limited-edition sculpture, Cool Down Pop (RBG) 2023, designed exclusively for the benefit. The work is available for pre-order with the purchase of a VIP Friend ticket or a Platinum Table. “The funny thing about America is that even the snacks are patriotic! For my Glass House edition I saw this as an opportunity to follow suit with my reinterpretation of that patriotism.,” said Adams.

Experience an alfresco shopping experience by Max Mara featuring the Spring/Summer 2023 Collection. Enjoy Italian hand-made gelato and sorbet from a vintage La Crema cart and receive special gifts from Max Mara, including a handheld fan to keep cool during the event. Guests are also invited to snap photos with a custom branded yellow Italian Fiat Hampton Jolly. Guests can explore the site with a fun-filled scavenger hunt, An Architectural Journey with Victorinox.

Music with DJ Alexandra Richards will set the cool summer vibe with picnic provided by Elm and tasting bar by Hennessy Paradis, along with organic juices from Greenology. Guests can mingle with supporting artists, while weaving through the Mara Mara activation. Dance performances by Company SBB // Stefanie Batten Bland augment the many landscape perspectives by ushering guests to look toward the Glass House, circular pool, and pond. Terassi and Balcony Outdoor Collections by Design Within Reach will be placed throughout the landscape. The auction items consist of over 100 lots including art, design, and luxury experiences.

The 2023 Summer Party benefit will kick off with the silent auction by Artsy. The auction will be made available for bidding online from Friday, May 26 @ 10 am – Monday, June 12 @ 12pm ET. Highlights from the auction include Anni Albers, Louise Bourgeois, Nan Goldin, Jeff Koons, Herb Ritts, Catherine Opie, Tom Otterness, Cindy Sherman. Mike and Doug Starn, and Massimo Vitali.

All guests will leave with a Derrick Adams, custom-designed LOQI gift bag –there will be two versions; one for all guests and another for VIP ticket purchasers.

All proceeds support preservation of The Glass House.

Special thanks to: Aesop, Antipodes, BFA, Frédéric Malle, Govino, Greenology, LOQI, Moffly Media, NEAT Coffee, Simply Gum, Sugarfina, and Terrapin Stationers.

MAX MARA, founded in 1951 by the late visionary Achille Maramotti, epitomizes Italian luxury and style. A modern collection of ready-to-wear and accessories for the confident woman, Max Mara is the premier offering within the Max Mara Fashion group consisting of sophisticated silhouettes and couture details achieved through masterful design. Recognized for its timeless sensibility and constructed from the most luxurious fabrics, Max Mara is revered for the classification of the coat, sharp suiting, and elegant accessories. Max Mara is available in 2,600 locations in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Max Mara Fashion group has nine different brands under its ownership. The company remains privately held and managed by the Maramotti family.

The Glass House, built between 1949 and 1995 by architect Philip Johnson, is a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation located in New Canaan, CT. The pastoral 49-acre landscape comprises fourteen structures, including the Glass House (1949), and features a permanent collection of 20th-century paintings and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions. The campus serves as a catalyst for the preservation and interpretation of modern architecture, art, and design and a canvas for inspiration and experimentation. The tour season runs from April through December. Private tours are available throughout the year.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future, reimagining historic sites for the 21st century. The guiding principle of this initiative is that historic sites must be dynamic, relevant, and evolving to foster an understanding of history and culture that is critical, sensory, and layered.