Issue 113 September 5th 2018

Announcements

Whoops!

Wright Society reader Stephen R. was helpful enough to point out an error in one of last week's news stories. We accidentally wrote in the Barton House clip that "It was very uncommon for a house to be built out of concrete at the time (most were of brick with wood masonry)."

Stephen reminds us that the Barton house is brick and plaster, not concrete (beyond whatever "wood masonry" is...)

Clearly we were not fully awake on that one! We appreciate the heads-up and have corrected the archived article.

Feel free to let us know if we've made an error (or done something right) by sending an email to mail@wrightsociety.com!

The Headlines

David and Gladys Wright House For Sale...Again

The Frank Lloyd Wright spiral house the architect designed for his son, David, and daughter-in-law, Gladys, in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood is back on the market for a whopping price of $12.95 million. In June, a plan fell through for the 2,553-square-foot house built in 1952 to be donated to the School of Architecture at Taliesin.

The concrete block house with three bedrooms and four bathrooms sits on 5.9 acres in the affluent Arcadia neighborhood, south of Camelback Mountain. Neighbors have been concerned about the property becoming a commercial attraction that may bring more traffic. The listing says an application for historic preservation of the house is pending with the City of Phoenix. Let's hope the house will not fall into jeopardy like before. Read more.

Architect Mark Sexton To Speak On "Thinking Into The Future"

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust hosts Co-founder of the Chicago-based firm Krueck + Sexton Architects, Mark Sexton as the 2018 speaker for the Trust’s annual program, Thinking Into the Future: The Robie House Series on Architecture, Design, and Ideas which will take place on Tuesday October 2.

Sexton will present on nearly forty years of the firm’s iconic architecture, the significance of art in the firm’s projects, and their collaborations with artists like Jaume Plensa and Ursula Von Rydingsvard. As the influence of new materials, fabrication practices, and technologies shape the future of architecture, Sexton will consider how Krueck + Sexton will continue to push the boundaries of design, and what role art and its inspiration will play in the future of the firm’s work. More info and tickets here.

Taliesin West Art & Architecture Camps: Summer Fun Recap

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation gives us an update on the success of the 2018 Summer Art & Architecture Camps at Taliesin West. From exploring new planets, to designing dream spaces, to capturing images of architecture... K-12 campers in 2018 reached new heights.

Campers tested out a range of different engineering and architecture designs throughout Architectural Discovery Camp. A few of these projects/lessons included: building their own functioning water tower in the desert, creating a Wright-inspired stained glass project, building bridges and testing how much weight they could bear, and creating a model for a desert shelter.

Read more about the camp experiences here.

Frank Lloyd Wright Event Set For September 7

On September 7, the Boone County Arts Council and the Boone County Museum of History will host an evening celebrating the 111th year of Frank Lloyd Wright and the dedication of the new Pettit Chapel Mural.

The event will feature a beer and wine tasting, a cash bar, light appetizers and live music. Attendees will have the chance to win a private catered dinner for 10 at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Pettit Chapel. The event is free. More here.

Revisiting Kansas City with Frank Lloyd Wright

In The Whirling Arrow, Jeff Goodman, Vice President of Communication & Partnerships at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, shares his visit to Wright sites in his hometown of Kansas City. He had the opportunity to visit the only 2 Frank Lloyd Wright homes built in Kansas City- the Sondern-Adler House, and the Bott House. As a bonus, he also visited the Bruce Goff Designed Nicol House.

"I love going home to visit, seeing the lush green prairie, such a stark contrast from my chosen home in the desert. Being able to revisit Kansas City with my Frank Lloyd Wright hat on gave me the opportunity to explore this town in a new light. This connection adds a richness and depth to how I experience and appreciate my hometown; another in a long list of reasons I am grateful for the opportunity to see and share Frank Lloyd Wright’s incredible work with you." Read more.

Check Out This Smokin' MCM New Orleans House

Curbed.com shares the new that architect (and Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice) Albert Ledner's unique New Orleans MCM house at 28 Park Island, which he designed in 1962 for a couple who smoked is on the market. Twelve hundred amber ashtrays line the fascia and interior of the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom, 3,650-square-foot house, which counts former mayor (and now convicted felon) Ray Nagin among its former owners. If you don't spend all your money on cigarettes, this Big Easy Mod house could be yours for $849,900. More here.

Taliesin An Attraction Like No Other

Warren Gerds, Critic at Large, has an interesting piece on his encounter with Frank Lloyd Wright residence, Taliesin, near Spring Green, Wisconsin this summer. Along with some fascinating tidbits, he ends with, "It is a great place to visit." (We agree!) Read it here.

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