Issue 126 December 5th 2018

The Headlines

Proposed Oak Park High-Rise Also Raises Concerns

More than 100 Oak Parkers turned out on November 26th to the 19th Century Club for the first public meeting by Golub & Company on the developer's plan to build a 28-story luxury apartment building at 835 Lake Street. Residents largely voiced opposition to the project, arguing that the building is out of scale with surrounding structures and would cast large shadows on the nearby Unity Temple and Scoville Park. They said it would increase traffic congestion in the area and would be an eyesore. Read more.

Unity Temple: A World-Class Monument In Oak Park

On Nov. 29, members and supporters of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation met in Frank Lloyd Wright’s restored masterpiece in Oak Park to craft a renewed vision for the future. The event takes place as fears over how the proposed 28-story tower sited near the building might negatively impact Unity Temple. If constructed, the building, presented by Golub & Company, would become the tallest in the village and cast a long shadow on the iconic work of architecture.

Historic preservation specialist Stephen Kelley states in the Chicago Tribune article: "That building will cast a shadow over Unity Temple every morning, every day of the year; and if you've been in this building, you know light is a big part of it." Read more.

Iannelli Exhibit At Racine Heritage Museum

The Journal Times reports on a new exhibit, “Blessings to Blenders,” at Racine Heritage Museum, 701 Main St., Racine, Wisconsin. The exhibit features the Racine works of notable 20th century Italian-American sculptor and designer Alfonso Iannelli (1888-1965). Iannelli created numerous sculptures, liturgical works, advertising, and industrial product designs—some for Racine-based groups. It will be on exhibit Dec. 1 to Oct. 31.

The exhibit features full-size charcoal studies for the stained-glass windows at Racine’s St. Patrick’s Church; original designs, promotional materials and products developed for Oster Manufacturing, and advertising material for Horlick Malted Milk Co. Iannelli, as a young sculptor, was hired by Frank Lloyd Wright to create the "sprites" for his Midway Gardens project in Chicago.

The exhibit is curated by a team of Iannelli scholars from the Chicago area including Tim Samuelson, cultural historian for the City of Chicago; David Jameson, author of Alfonso Iannelli: Modern by Design and The Industrial Designs of Alfonso Iannelli; and Eric O’Malley, graphic designer and co-founder of Wright Society, PrairieMod, and the Organic Architecture + Design Archives.

The Racine Heritage Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission fee. Read the article here.

Students Tour Guerrero Exhibition With His Daughter

Advanced Photography students at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Connecticut, visited the exhibition Pedro E. Guerrero: The Photographer of Mid-Century New Canaan at the New Canaan Historical Society on Nov. 13, where the artist’s daughter, Susan Guerrero, gave a first-hand commentary.

Guerrero is known for his work with Frank Lloyd Wright, Alexander Calder, and Louise Nevelson, as well as his photographs of modernist houses for the popular shelter magazines of the “Mad Men” era, according to the Historical Society.

The exhibition, which runs through Dec. 22, includes Guerrero’s black and white photos, many depicting the modern architecture for which the town is famous. A second gallery is devoted to the life of Guerrero and his family in New Canaan. More here.

On The Trail Of Frank Lloyd Wright's Buildings In Illinois

Veronica Lee of the UK writes, "If you, like me, are a Frank Lloyd Wright fan and want to see several of his buildings in the same trip, Illinois is the destination for you. The pioneer of Prairie School architecture established his first practice in the state, and lived here for two decades. Illinois’ offerings may not be so famous, but there are dozens of them – 13 are open to the public and the rest you can admire from the street." Read about her trip here.

Arizona Biltmore's Happy Hour History Tour

The Arizona Biltmore started its Friday night "Happy Hour History Tour" in May 2018 and its success has grown week by week. Inside the grand lobby of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired hotel, people gather to enjoy refreshing libations as historians share highlights of this Arizona landmark’s storied past since opening in 1929, which involves plenty of celebrities and U.S. Presidents.

The 45 minute tour is on Friday nights at 6PM. Adults (21+) are $25 and that includes two cocktails. Children (5-20) are $12 and that includes two refreshments. Reservations required. Read more.

Taliesin West Music Pavilion Upgraded with Theatrical Lighting

The Frank Lloyd wright Foundation's Whirling Arrow blog recently "spotlighted" Taliesin West's Music Pavilion major lighting upgrade.

The Pavilion received electrical infrastructure upgrades, 18 new LED theatrical lights, and a follow-spot. Historically, the Pavilion theatre lights were controlled by a manual panel that lit incandescent bulbs to wash the stage in white light. Today, we are now able to program lighting scenes, and change brightness and color from an iPad application. With this most recent upgrade, the Pavilion can now accommodate a wider range of performers and performances that require this more sophisticated lighting. Read more.

Virtual Tour Of Taliesin Associated Architect's Crumbling Iranian Palace

The website yomadic recently featured a virtual tour of the remains of the Shams Palace, aka the "Pearl Palace," designed by William Wesley Peters and the Taliesin Associated Architects.

In the mid-1960s William Wesley Peters responded to a unique architectural calling. Shams Pahlavi, the older sister of the last Shah of Iran (self-anointed King-of-Kings Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), needed a palace to call her own. The end result is simply magnificent – not only one of Iran’s most outstanding homes, Shams Palace is also an important architectural example for the world at large.

However, in the little-known Iranian city called Karaj (population two million, zero tourists), Frank Lloyd Wright’s figurative fingerprints are disappearing fast. Unfortunately, after yomadic recently toured through the abandoned and severely decaying mid-century wonder, the Sham’s Palace may be experiencing its final days. Read more.

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