Remembering Philip Johnson
World-renowned Architect and Creator of “Turning
Point” Sculpture at Case Dies at 98
Philip Johnson (center) at Case for the dedication
of the Turning Point Garden - April 27, 2001
Philip Johnson built many world-famous buildings during his life, including
the AT&T headquarters in New York City and the Crystal Cathedral
in California. But he is perhaps best known on the Case Western Reserve
University campus as creator of the Turning Point sculpture and garden,
a group of five sculptures located in the looming shadows of the Peter
B. Lewis Building, just west of Guilford House and north of the Mather
Dance Center. The garden was completed in 1996 and dedicated on the
Case campus in 1997.
Johnson died January 25 at the age of 98 at his Glass House in New
Canaan, Conn.
His sculptures also inspired the name of Case’s Student Turning
Point Society, a select group of undergraduate leaders committed to
promoting the spirit of the university and dedicated to the ideal that
students are responsible for leaving the university a better place than
they found it. The Student Turning Point Society also has the distinction
of being able to offer its members networking opportunities with friends
and alumni of the university. This type of interaction with intergenerational
constituents has provided unique exposure for students.
Born in Cleveland in 1906, Johnson became one of architecture’s
most potent forces in the 20th century. Before designing his first building
at age 36, Johnson had been a client, critic, author, historian and
a museum director – but never an architect. In 1949, after a number
of years as the Museum of Modern Art’s first director of the Architecture
Department, Johnson designed a residence for himself in New Canaan,
Conn., for his master’s degree thesis, the now famous Glass House.
By the fifties, Johnson was revising his earlier views, culminating
with a building that proved to be one of the most controversial of his
career – the AT&T headquarters in New York with its so-called “Chippendale” top.
His list of projects include: International Place in Boston; Tycon Towers
in Vienna, Va.; Momentum Place in Dallas; 53rd at Third in New York;
NCNB Center in Houston; PPG in Pittsburgh; 101 California in San Francisco;
the Century Center in South Bend, Ind.; and the Crystal Cathedral in
California.
Johnson's Turning Point Sculpture
For Johnson, after a half-century of renown as one of the world’s
most important architects, the Turning Point commission from Case in
1996 was his first-ever foray into pure sculpture – a turning
point in his own career at age 90. The idea was to mark with a significant
piece of work of public art the place where the campus’ internal
pedestrian spine changed direction – from north to northeast – as
it reached Bellflower Road.
But this notion of “turning point” came to have richer
symbolism. For Harvey Buchanan, professor emeritus of humanities and
art history, it symbolized not just an axis in a ceremonial path and
a change in Philip Johnson’s career, but a shift in the university’s
attitude about itself as a diverse but unified institution creatively
looking to the future.
At a dedication ceremony of the entire Turning Point sculpture garden
in 2001, Johnson said, “This is an enormous kick of pleasure for
me. This is the most important statement in art that I’ve ever
been able to make. I’m just delighted with the results. It was
a lot of work for all of us, but now it’s done and all you can
do is crow – which is not very dignified.” Then he laughed. “I’m
ninety-five. To have fun is the only dream I have in life,” he
said at the time.
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