The Glass House has been described as “the longest running salon in America.” Great minds and leaders from art, architecture and design gathered in New Canaan, CT at the invitation of Philip Johnson and David Whitney, to engage in intimate and dynamic dialogues. These gatherings launched careers, promoted cultural patronage, and fostered intellectual transformation that have had enormous influence on art, design and culture during the second half of the 20th century.

In 2008 and 2009, the inaugural Glass House Conversations program continued this legacy of gathering great minds to explore important issues and ideas in art, architecture and design during invitational two day events. This program helped to position the site as both context and catalyst for innovation, new ideas and change by bringing divergent perspectives to the table with moderators and participants from across society.

Breaking the Rules

Moderator
Jeff Gordinier | author X Saves the World; Editor-at-Large, Details

Participants
Darren Aronofsky, film director, screenwriter and producer; Nancy Bannon, director, dancer and performance artist; Erin Belieu, poet, Florida State University; George Beylerian, Material ConneXion, Inc.; Valerie Casey, IDEO; Dorothy Dunn, The Glass House; Christy MacLear, The Glass House; Geoff Manaugh, BLDGBLOG; contributing editor, Dwell; Nils Norin, French Culinary Institute; Alan Richman, author, Fork it Over; food & wine critic, GQ; Katie Salen, Parsons, The New School for Design; Paula Scher, Pentagram

Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® was the exclusive sponsor of Glass House Conversations.