glenstone museum previews its thomas phifer-designed expansion

glenstone museum has offered a first look at a collection of new structures that form part of its expanded campus. set to open to the public on october 4, 2018, ‘the pavilions’ is a 204,000-square-foot building designed by thomas phifer. the scheme is the second major museum building at glenstone following ‘the gallery,’ which opened in 2006.

aerial view of the pavilions
image © iwan baan, courtesy of glenstone museum (also main image)

located less than 15 miles from washington DC, glenstone is a museum of modern and contemporary art, which offers free admission throughout the year. grouped around a lushly planted water court, the thomas phifer-designed building comprises 11 distinct spaces installed with artworks drawn exclusively from the institution’s collection. some of the spaces are dedicated to single-artist installations, while others will feature regularly changing exhibitions of works by multiple artists.

the ‘water court’ at the pavilions
image © iwan baan, courtesy of glenstone museum

the building will open with a number of spaces dedicated to single-artist installations, including major works by michael heizer, roni horn, on kawara, brice marden, lygia pape, charles ray, and cy twombly, among others. in addition, a presentation of 65 works by 52 artists will occupy the largest room in the pavilions, a column-free space of 9,000 square feet.

the ‘passage’ in the pavilions
image © iwan baan, courtesy of glenstone museum

the expansion more than doubles the natural landscape, which features the museum’s outdoor sculptures, and offers two new cafés for lunch and light refreshments, a new public entrance, and an arrival hall with a bookstore. PWP landscape architecture is responsible for the project’s landscaping. ‘throughout this transformation, we’ve maintained a single mission: to create a seamless integration of art, architecture, and landscape and make it available free of charge to all who wish to visit,’ says mitchell p. rales, founder of glenstone museum.

roni horn’s water double v.3, 2013 – 2016
image by ron amstutz, courtesy of the glenstone museum

‘mitch and I have been dreaming for years about the day when we’d be able to pull back the curtain and reveal the new glenstone,’ adds emily rales, director and co-founder of glenstone. ‘now, at last, the art installations and buildings and landscape are complete, and people can finally encounter glenstone as a whole, as we’ve always meant for it to be seen. we’re excited by glenstone, and we hope our visitors will share that feeling, now and for many years to come.’

charles ray installation (left to right): table, 1990; fall ’91, 1992; baled truck, 2014; the new beetle, 2006
image by ron amstutz, courtesy of the glenstone museum © 2018 charles ray

‘we considered the landscape as the inspiration,’ explains thomas phifer. ‘the visitor’s arrival is choreographed through the trees and open fields, heightening your experience with the land and revealing the subtle qualities of the site. from your first moments at glenstone you experience a place with few distractions, the bustle of ordinary daily activities drops away, and your mind and soul prepare for an intimate encounter with art.’

david hammons, how ya like me now?, 1988
image by tim nighswander, courtesy of the glenstone museum

robert gober, untitled (detail), 1992
image by ron amstutz, courtesy of the glenstone museum © robert gober, courtesy of matthew marks gallery

louise bourgeois, destruction of the father, 1974
image by ron amstutz, courtesy of the glenstone museum
© the easton foundation/VAGA at artists rights society (ARS), NY

lygia pape, livro do tempo I (book of time I), 1961
image by ron amstutz, courtesy of the glenstone museum

the pavilions with richard serra’s contour 290, 2004, and tony smith’s smug, 1978/2005
image © iwan baan, courtesy of glenstone museum

jeff koons’ split-rocker, 2000, is the first outdoor sculpture visitors see at the museum
image © iwan baan, courtesy of glenstone museum

tony smith’s smug, 1978/2005, is one of the museum’s outdoor sculptures
image © iwan baan, courtesy of glenstone museum

the gallery shown with (left to right): ellsworth kelly, untitled, 2005 and richard serra, sylvester, 2001
image by scott frances, courtesy of glenstone museum