The GlidehouseTM Initiative is a major program at DMOA.
Our Initiative is to build a deeply green museum that is cross-pollinated with contemporary art and culture as a definition of true sustainability.
As part of our making art & ideas visible mission, we chose the Glidehousetm as our new headquarters, exhibition and program space because it is one of the groundbreaking ideas in 21st century architecture and living green.
Our goal is to support visionary ideas and sustainability.
The Initiative creates an educational demonstration site for sustainable design, energy efficiency and green living using the Glidehouse as the educational tool.
The Initiative also has a satellite location, here on the web. And long after the doors are open at Downey Museum of Art @ The Glidehousetm, this website will continue to provide unique programming on the art of living (green).
And finally, the Initiative includes new works of art. Our first major acquisition to the new collection:
The Glidehouse itself, as an example of significant work in 21st century architecture and sustainable design.
And of course, there is the Deborah Butterfield sculpture on the visitor's deck, a Dale Chihuly ceiling and a Jorge Marin in the garden.
And our hope is that we create a place of gathering, a true sense of place both in real time and in the world of ideas and creativity.
Ideas for Inspiring a Better World. About The Glidehouse and Thinking Green
We feel one of the best ways to further ideas of Think and Live Green is to walk our talk. Choosing the Glidehouse as the first phase of our new museum project was an easy one.
The Glidehouse is sustainably designed using green building materials and energy/water conservation technologies. The Glidehouse is a green educational tool in itself and its domestic scale offers the perfect opportunity to provide visitors with an interactive educational exhibit on sustainable design and green living. Sustainable means using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged; to sustain: to nourish, to give support. Read more about The Downey Museum of Art and sustainability.
At the Downey Museum of Art @ The Glidehouse, visitors and the community will be able to learn simple easy ways to live and think green back at home not only by viewing the demonstration exhibit but also just by being in the building! It will be easy to make the connection between green living ideas and home.
Act and Think Green = Live Green. It is our motto and why we chose The Glidehouse as our new museum, project office and exhibition space. The Glidehouse helps us fulfill our mission of sustainability and living green.
What are some of the ways the Downey Museum of Art @ The Glidehouse (tm) will be green?
Photo credit: The Glidehouse by Michelle Kaufmann Designs, photo by John Swain Photography
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER: JOHN SWAIN
John has been a commercial photographer for over 20 years, helping to tell the story of award-winning projects such as Michelle Kaufmann's The Glidehouse. John is the photographer of the banner photograph of the Glidehouse by Michelle Kaufmann and several others on our website depicting the Glidehouse. We chose his photographs from MKD archives because of their intrinsic beauty and energy. We believe John Swain's photographs of The Glidehouse communicate the best idea of green living.
He is the recipient of the prestigious Design Award for Excellence for New York's Photo District News' Annual Digital Photography. He holds a Doctoral Degree in Education and loves to share the creative process with others. He has also completed five successful travel books for Chronicle Books. John lives with his family in an 1898 Victorian House in Sacramento. John can be reached at jwswain@pacbell.net