“To go, or not to go, that is the question” for many Washingtonians when it comes to visiting museums outside their city.  With a multitude of world-class institutions and historic sites--a walk, Metro ride, or short drive away--it takes determination for some people to venture beyond the D.C. line.  It turns out Glenstone, located in Maryland approximately 15 miles from Cleveland Park, is well worth the trek.  

Founded in 2006, Glenstone is a private contemporary art museum making it a relative newcomer in the Washington region.  Glenstone may be best characterized as an immersive experience involving art, architecture, and nature.  At nearly 300 acres, you’ll encounter lots of greenery with large-scale sculptures sprinkled throughout.  PWP Landscape Architecture designed the grounds and the museum planted thousands of trees, native shrubs, grasses, and flowers over the course of five years resulting in a highly curated environment with intentionality to complement the buildings and art installations.  Meadows abound, so do woodlands.  As you leave the parking lot and walk along any path, you can’t help noticing Jeff Koon’s Split-Rocker towering over the horizon.  At 37 feet tall, this sculpture was created specifically for Glenstone and is covered in thousands of multi-colored flowers making it a living, vibrant artwork when in bloom from May through October.  Split-Rocker has been described as a mammoth topiary and looks a lot like a happy puppy with other elements mixed together.  Continue on to experience Richard Serra’s Sylvester.  The sculpture’s outer and inner spirals beckon visitors to enter and navigate its narrow, curving pathway leading to a circular enclosure where you can look above the steel walls and glimpse the ever-changing sky.  It’s worth noting that these are two of several impressive art installations dotting the landscape.

For those interested in contemporary art, Glenstone is a great destination.  According to the museum’s website “we collect iconic examples of modern and contemporary art that represent pivotal shifts in the perception and understanding of the art of our time.”  Most of the exhibitions display art from Glenstone’s collection.  The Gallery, which was built in 2006, is Glenstone’s first museum building and hosts changing exhibitions.  Built between 2013-2018, the Pavilions offer visitors a large-scale space with multiple galleries featuring changing exhibitions and single-artist installations.   The use of natural light to illuminate the galleries is deliberate and achieved using large windows and clerestories.   Glenstone’s multi-room centerpiece exhibition is Ellsworth Kelly at 100 celebrating the artist’s centennial.   The show traces Kelly’s seven-decade career and includes paintings, drawings, collages, sculptures, and photographs.  There are a variety of colorful and intriguing large-scale works, but also a room devoted to his black and white photographs which is unexpected.  The National Gallery of Art’s Artist Spotlight Who Is Ellsworth Kelly?  10 Things to Know shares interesting information about this well-known American artist including that he started making art at a young age, studied medieval art and architecture, developed his abstract style while living in postwar France, and designed numerous large-scale sculptures out of different materials throughout his lifetime.  The exhibition Ellsworth Kelly at 100 will be on view at the museum through March 2024.  Glenstone is free, but reservations are required via the museum’s website.  In addition to the Gallery and the Pavilions, Glenstone has an arrival hall, two cafes, and an environmental center.