On Saturday afternoon, Philip Johnson’s Glass House traded its usual stillness for the hum of live music and conversation as hundreds of artists, designers, collectors, and cultural figures gathered for the institution’s annual Summer Party. This year’s edition came with a special guest curator: Solange Knowles’s Saint Heron. The creative studio turned the historic New Canaan site into a hub of communal celebration. Between a complex series of musical activations, an artistic intervention featuring Dozie Kanu, and picnickers scattered across the grounds, the afternoon stirred the cultural landmark into fervent celebration.
The Scene: Guests spent the afternoon wandering Philip Johnson’s famed property, drifting between performances, design installations, and picnic blankets spread across the grounds.
The Locale: Glass House’s 49-acre campus houses Johnson’s famed glass pavilion as well as a rolling landscape dotted with sculptures and architectural landmarks.
The Entertainment: Knowles’s Saint Heron collective curated an afternoon of music and dance inspired by its “Glory to Glory” music series. Pianist Artina McCain and conductor Malcolm J. Merriweather joined Voices of Harlem for performances centered on the spiritual works of Mary Lou Williams, while choreographer Kyle Abraham contributed an accompanying dance piece. Throughout the day, DJ “Standing On the Corner” supplied a soundtrack of soulful grooves steeped in nostalgia.
The Crowd: Musician Solange Knowles; choreographer Kyle Abraham; DJ “Standing On the Corner;” artists Tomashi Jackson, Dozie Kanu, Rachel MacFarlane, Josh Sperling, Hayal Pozanti, and Re Jin Lee; cultural leaders Brent Leggs, Courtney J. Martin, Omar Eaton-Martinez, Paul Goldberger, and Kirsten Reoch; patrons Kyle DeWoody, Alexander Hankin, Alysia Johnson, Catherine Kirk, Abby and Matt Bangser, Lizzi Bickford, Deborah Brown, Susan and Elihu Rose, Jay Stern, and Ash Roberts; and musicians Malcolm J. Merriweather, Marlaina Owens, Lucia Bradford, Angelo Johnson, and Artina McCain.
Food and Drink: Guests enjoyed picnic baskets from Elm alongside Elm Côtes de Provence Rosé, cocktails from Litchfield Distillery, a bar by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, and water bottles from Loonen. Max Mara’s Italian Summer Café served espresso drinks, artisanal gelato, and affogatos from a custom Piaggio cart, bringing a touch of la dolce vita to the Connecticut greenspace.
More of our favorite stories from CULTURED
This Year’s Best Beach Reads, According to Rachel Reid, Yerin Ha, and More
‘Get a California King Bed’ and 17 Other Tips for Dating Within the Creative Community
Mina Stone’s Guide to Cooking From Your Local New York Bodega
Two of the Biggest Names in American Patronage Have Kept Their Homes Private—Until Now
What’s Next For a Beleaguered Hollywood? ‘Backrooms’ Offers a Few Clues
Sign up for our newsletter here to get these stories direct to your inbox.
in your life?
