Issue 355  April 26th 2023

Spring 2023 OA+D Journal Now Available!

The spring 2023 issue of the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design is here! This double-sized issue is a long-overdue monograph on the life and creative work of architect and Taliesin Fellow, Charles Robert Schiffner.

Joining Taliesin in 1968, Schiffner proceeded to contribute to the work underway by the Taliesin Associated Architects on projects throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. This included his celebrated work on "The House of the Future" in Ahwatukee near Chandler, AZ, as well as several other residences and public projects. After leaving Taliesin in 1982, Charles went on to form his own architecture firm, Charles Schiffner & Associates, which produced hundreds of residential, commercial, government, religious, and major transportation projects. The impact of his creative work on Phoenix and the surrounding valley is indelible and now finally illuminated in this publication.

This 100 page journal features an introductory essay by Charles as well as scores of never-before-published photos, drawings, and artwork that feature Charles's firsthand insights into their creation.

Click for more details: bigcartel.com  

Frank Lloyd Wright Trail Website, Tracker, App Connects Nine Public Wright Sites

Taliesin Preservation recently announced the launch of the new website for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail in Wisconsin! The website connects nine public Wright sites along 200 miles in southern Wisconsin from Racine County to Richland Center. Visitors can plan their trip with the newly updated app or track their progress via the website's Trail Tracker feature and earn a Frank Lloyd Wright Trail Badge to share on social media. Dedicated Facebook and Instagram accounts have also been created at @flwtrailwi. The new website also provides information about America’s most iconic architect and his deep roots in his birthplace of Wisconsin.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail was originally established in 2017 following the signing of legislation by the governor to honor America’s most iconic architect in his home state. The prevalence of Wright’s architecture in southern Wisconsin makes the Trail attractive to Wright enthusiasts—and the striking characteristics of his architecture hold the interest of young and old.

Note: contact the individual sites in advance as public access may be limited, and start planning your trip today!

Click for more details: franklloydwrighttrail.org  

The Wolf American Art Collection Auction Sets A Record For Frank Lloyd Wright

Bidding wars broke out at Sotheby’s New York’s “The Spirit of America” sale on Wednesday, offering works from the collection of late oil tycoon Erving Wolf and his wife Joy. Not a single lot went unsold and, in the end, the sale trumped its high estimate by 160 percent to fetch $39 million.

In their lifetimes, the Wolfs amassed one of history’s most significant collections of American art and design, ranging from rare Colonial furniture to design objects by some of the 20th century’s most iconic modernists, including Frank Lloyd Wright. A new auction record was set for a Wright work when his ceiling light from the Francis W. Little House in Peoria, Illinois, brought in $2.9 million, a whopping six times its high estimate. Designed for the house in 1902 to 1903, the fixture is considered an exceptional example of the Prairie Style that helped usher in a new modern American vernacular.

Click for more details: artnet.com