Issue 265 August 4th 2021

The Headlines

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Partners With OA+D Archives To Steward Taliesin Architects Collection

Following Frank Lloyd Wright’s death in 1959, his remaining apprentices maintained their community and camaraderie by forming the architectural firm, Taliesin Associated Architects – later known as Taliesin Architects (TA). This new firm continued to produce designs inspired by Wright’s teachings until 2003. For over 60 years, the materials produced by TA were kept on the grounds of Taliesin West, Wright’s winter home and studio in Arizona. Through a gift from the Foundation, Organic Architecture + Design Archives (OA+D) will receive these archival materials and join them with other related work from its own collections to create a more complete record of the work of the Taliesin Fellowship following Wright’s death.

OA+D Archives already holds an impressive amount of material related to Taliesin apprentices and the history of the Taliesin Fellowship. Between bequests from individual architects and their families and open purchases, OA+D Archives has collected a diverse range of historical records. This partnership places them within the broader context of the Taliesin Fellowship and creates new research opportunities that promise a more significant, meaningful, and comprehensive look into the Wright legacy. Read the entire announcement here and find out more about OA+D here.

A.D. German Warehouse Gets Some TLC

If you are on Instagram and love seeing Frank Lloyd Wright buildings being lovingly restored, then be sure to check out the A.D. German Warehouse's Instagram page. Wright's 1912 design in Richland Center, WI is getting some much needed concrete restoration as part of the larger plan to bring this important building back to its full glory. Read more about and help support the restoration plans here.

Frank Lloyd Wright In Iowa: Guide To The Famous Architect's Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright, America's best-known architect, was born in Wisconsin and lived much of his life in Illinois. He designed over 1,000 buildings throughout his career, many in the Midwest, including 11 in Iowa.

The DesMoines Register has a list for those looking to take in the artistry of Wright's creations of where to find them in Iowa. (But take note: some of the buildings offer tours and host historical events throughout the year but others are private residences.) Click here for more.

Houston's Only Frank Lloyd Wright House Back On The Market For $3.15M

Here is a chance to own a piece of history in Houston, Texas, currently for sale at $3.15 million. Frank Lloyd Wright designed this house in 1954 for insurance executive William L. Thaxton Jr. It's one of only three homes in Texas designed by Wright; the others are in Dallas and Amarillo.

The Thaxton House has more than 8,000 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms. The original home was 1,800 square feet and designed as a parallelogram, incorporating angles throughout the home. Wright also designed the home's built-in furniture, though not all of it remains. See it here.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park Studio and the Rise of the Prairie School Event

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust announces a special lecture and book signing with Dr. Lisa D. Schrenk, Associate Professor of Architectural History at the University of Arizona and author of The Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, published this year by The University of Chicago Press. Director of Education at the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust from 1988 to 1992, Dr. Schrenk has produced a definitive account and rich narrative on the first independent office of America’s greatest architect. Based upon exhaustive archival research over decades and interviews with Wright’s family, the book is an invaluable primary resource for students and followers of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Dr. Schrenk will discuss the working dynamics of the Oak Park Studio during the early years when the concept of the Prairie style was developed. She will explore the roles of architects within the studio and those associated with it. The relationships of William E. Drummond, William G. Purcell, and John S. Van Bergen to the studio will be considered along with Prairie School projects by Harry H. Mahler and Edward Probst. Seating is limited. Books will be available for purchase at the lecture. More info here.

Dale Chihuly Returns to the Sonoran Desert

Dale Chihuly returns to the Sonoran Desert with a stunning new exhibition at two of Arizona's most iconic venues, Desert Botanical Garden and Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. Combining art, architecture, and nature, Chihuly in the Desert is set against majestic saguaros, the striking Papago buttes, and a World Heritage site. Chihuly's masterpieces stun from day to night as color, light, and form come alive for the first time ever at two locations for a joint exhibition. During Chihuly in the Desert, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation members receive early access to reserve tour tickets, 20% savings on exhibition tours, plus complementary tickets according to your level of membership! More info here.

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