Issue 349 March 15th 2023

The Headlines

Camp Taliesin West

Explore architecture, science, engineering, art, and photography at Camp Taliesin West! Located at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Arizona home, Camp Taliesin West encourages participants to explore, create, and design as they engage in fun and educational activities. Campers will learn from the unique, historic property and the principles of Wright, applying them to their own projects and adventures. The best part? The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation now offers camp programs throughout the year! Check out all the various classes and fun activities by following the link.

Look At This!: Frank Lloyd Wright's Iconic Ennis House

In this episode of Look At This! Desmond of CBS Los Angeles takes viewers to Los Feliz for a look at the iconic Ennis House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous residences, thanks to it being the site of several Hollywood productions. Watch more here.

Brooksy's 10 Best Books On Frank Lloyd Wright

“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life,” Frank Lloyd Wright once remarked.

There are numerous books on Frank Lloyd Wright, and it comes with good reason, he was an architect who designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years and played a key role in the architectural movements of the twentieth century.

In order to get to the bottom of what inspired one of America’s most consequential figures to the height of his craft, Nicholas Dunehew of Brooksy compiled his list of the 10 best books on Frank Lloyd Wright.

You might not agree with every title being "the best" on his list—so if you have better alternatives, we'd love to hear from you! Read Brooksy's list here and see if you agree.

Connection Between The Dow Family, Japan & Midland, Michigan

The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio and the Japanese Cultural Center, Teahouse, and Gardens of Saginaw celebrate and explore the connection between the Dow family, Japan, and Midland, Michigan.

One hundred years ago this year, Alden B. Dow traveled to Japan on a trip that would forever alter how he saw the world and how he envisioned and created the future. Together with his parents Herbert and Grace Dow and his two younger sisters, Margaret and Dorothy, Alden B. Dow was fortunate to experience the multifaceted culture of Japan of 1923. Not only did this trip profoundly impact Alden’s life and the buildings he would create, it continues to influence the design and aesthetic of Midland and the surrounding areas. Through their experience they would bring back images and inspiration that would be forever embedded into their own family gardens and into the Midland community.

One the most impactful experiences of the trip, especially for Alden Dow, was the family’s stay at the Imperial Hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Initiated in 1917, the hotel was not officially opened until September of 1923. The Dows stayed there as workers continued to complete it. This experience would change how Alden Dow defined and imagined structures for the rest of his life.

The trip would also be the beginning of life-long friendships and collaborations with many people, including Takuma (Paul) Tono. The Dow family would host Tono in Midland several times over the next few decades and he would collaborate with Alden B. Dow on projects including the courtyard design at Delta College. Tono would become one of the leading landscape designers in Japan and designed gardens in the United States including the Portland Japanese Garden.

In celebration of this life-altering trip and Alden B. Dow’s appreciation of the Japanese Culture, The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio together with the Japanese Cultural Center, Teahouse and Garden of Saginaw are offering experiences throughout 2023 to further understanding of the trip and its enduring impact.

For information about these upcoming events, click here.

Don't Miss The Deadline For TSOA's Summer Immersion Program

Time is almost up to apply for The School of Architecture's Summer Immersion 2023 program! In its second year, the program will explore notions of collective space in architecture and urban design through both historic and contemporary projects across rural and urban landscapes. Participants will engage in tours and private events at a number of significant Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Chicago and Wisconsin, as well as many other important cultural and architectural sites in the region.

This immersion program is open to adults of all ages who are interested in architecture and urbanism. A background in the field is not required. Application deadline March 15, 2023--so don't delay and sign up now. More info here.

Plan To Attend Out & About Wright: Portland!

Portland, Oregon May 5-7, 2023

Time's running out! Don't miss your chance to attend the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy’s spring tour program, Out & About Wright, on May 5-7 which will celebrate the natural beauty and organic architecture of Portland, Oregon, and the Willamette Valley. Tours will include the Gordon House — Wright’s only work in the state — and designs by Taliesin apprentice Allen Lape “Davy” Davison, modernist Pietro Belluschi, contemporary organic architect Robert Oshatz & more! Get more info and register for this event here.

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