Issue 289 January 19th 2022

The Headlines

Wright Virtual Visits To Continue With A Revamped 2022 Edition

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy (Chicago, IL) in partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (Scottsdale, AZ), Unity Temple Restoration Foundation (Oak Park, IL) and Graycliff (Derby, NY), announces a continuation of the popular social media video series Wright Virtual Visits in 2022, with production support from Forever Ready Productions. Begun in April 2020 as a social media initiative highlighting several dozen Frank Lloyd Wright-designed public sites that were closed due to the pandemic, Wright Virtual Visits is set to begin a third iteration on January 20. The collaborative effort has evolved from a weekly video swap to a monthly professionally-produced, interactive live online event.

Each month, two (or more) Frank Lloyd Wright-designed sites are paired up to go live on Facebook, focusing on a particular theme. The series kicks off on Thursday, January 20th at 1 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Pacific time, featuring Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA) alongside the Westcott House (Springfield, OH) on the theme of Wright-designed fireplaces. Viewers will be invited to submit photos related to the theme, with highlights to be featured during the event. The livestream will also include interactive Q&A encouraging viewer engagement. Following the January 20th launch, the majority of 2022 Wright Virtual Visits livestreams will happen the second Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Pacific time.

To receive notifications and stream events, follow Wright Virtual Visits on Facebook at facebook.com/wrightvirtualvisits. Archives and additional information can be found here.

Cultural Programs At Taliesin West

Taliesin West was and continues to be a place that values community. It is an inclusive environment where people come together to share ideas of progress, form connections across disciplines, grow as individuals and community members, and find lifelong inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture and ideas.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation writes, "As we build and grow our Cultural Programs, we aim to provide new and exciting ways for diverse audiences to experience Taliesin West at their own pace and in their own way, whether their first visit or hundredth. We continue to welcome our loyal visitors and members, while also opening doors to those who have not yet experienced the wonder of Wright’s work. There are many ways to experience Taliesin West, be it on a daily tour or a happy hour spent watching the sunset from our famous Prow.

We are excited to offer our inaugural season of Cultural Programs. Cultural Programs combine educational opportunities with exciting and accessible offerings, and as we continue to grow and change to fit the needs of our patrons, so too will our calendar of programs." See the offerings here.

Allentown Art Museum Showcases Japanese Influences On Western Art In New Exhibit

The Allentown Art Museum, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a library designed by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Here a special Japanese print is featured in one far corner. Associate Curator Claire McRee says Wright admired the artist Hiroshige's use of space and form in landscapes.

"Wright also collected textiles and other art forms in addition to prints," McRee said. Because of Wright's affinity for Japanese design, it's only fitting that the exhibit Collecting Across Cultures leads up to the Wright library, and features Japanese textiles collected around the turn of the 20th century.

Japanese textiles are known for their intricate embroidery. Among the collection is a vestment, a religious garment once worn by a Buddhist monk. "This particular textile is actually a patchwork. if you look at it closely you can see it's made up of smaller pieces that are stitched together," McRee said.

It's easy to see the influence of Japanese art in the simplicity and clean lines of the room. McRee says if you look across the hall into the library, "the windows are really the very signature Frank Loyd Wright. A lot of what's considered modern design in the West really owes a great debt to Japanese art in the idea of distilling things to their essentials, being more minimalist, all of these principles come out of Japanese design."

Collecting Across Cultures is on view through April 3. More on this story here.

SCJ Headquarters Tours Resume After A Nearly 2-Year Absence

SC Johnson announced its headquarters tours would be resuming this month after almost two years without them. The first of the resumed public tours was scheduled to take place Saturday.

“Sporting venues, restaurants, movie theaters and others have welcomed people back in line with CDC and local guidance. After careful consideration, we felt it was time to welcome limited numbers of visitors back to SC Johnson so that we can continue to share the rich history of our family company and iconic Frank Lloyd Wright architecture,” an SC Johnson spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor local conditions and adjust, if necessary.”

With the reinstatement of tours, SCJ is implementing precautionary measures that follow guidance from the City of Racine and the CDC. Tour groups are limited to a maximum of 12 people, and visitors must register at scjohnson.com.

Guests will be required to sign a release confirming they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and they must wear a mask at all times. Visitors are also required to complete a temperature screening and confirm no symptoms of COVID-19, show a photo ID and wear a visitors’ badge. More here.

Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright's First And Last Prairie Houses

When they think of Frank Lloyd Wright, many fans of the famous architect envision his distinctive Prairie Style. Horizontal lines, earth tones, overhanging eaves and rows of casement windows.

Two Midwest homes claiming to be the first and the last of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Design welcome tours in Kankakee, Illinois, and Wichita, Kansas. A close look at each reveals similarities while illustrating how Wright's work evolved as he tinkered with his signature design at the turn of the last century.

Katherine Rodeghier of the Daily Hearld has written an article highlighting the history and architectural details of the B. Harley Bradley House in Kankakee, which claims to be his first Prairie home, designed by Wright in 1900, and the Allen House in Wichita, designed in 1915, the last. For the full article and photos, click here.

OA+D's Encore

Mark Hertzberg's Wright in Racine blog recently featured some background insights on the past accomplishments of the Organic Architecture + Design Archives, a non-profit committed to preserving the work of organic practitioner's of all stripes—but especially materials associated with Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin Architects, and the Taliesin Fellowship. Taking stewardship of the Taliesin Architect's Collection and the recent opening of OA+D's Archival Study Center in Chandler, AZ at the end of last year are two more noteworthy events worth celebrating on the list—but they aren't done yet and there's more exciting work to do! Read more about the organization here and visit the OA+D website to learn how you can help in the mission!

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