Issue 46 May 24th 2017

The Headlines

Wright Society Founder's Design Honors Gene Szymczak

Mark Hertzberg's Wright in Racine blog spotlights a unique bench design that was built in Sam Myers Park in Racine, Wisconsin to honor the late Eugene Szymczak, owner of Wright's Hardy House and president of Educators Credit Union. Gene died suddenly December 3, 2016 and the city felt it important to honer this generous man who gave so much to Racine. The bench was designed by Wright Society's own, Eric O’Malley, who was asked to create a tribute for Gene that embodied his love of Wright's architecture. Eric designed a unique geometric cast concrete and cantilevered seat design with views of Lake Michigan and Gene's beloved Hardy House. Read more.

Chicago-Area Homes Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Hit the Market

With the 150th birthday of Frank Lloyd Wright approaching on June 8, 2017, owning a home by America's preeminent architect would be a coup for any architecture aficionado. As luck would have it, there are several homes designed by Mr. Wright on the market in and around Chicago. In Elmhurst, the F.B. Henderson House returned to the market at $1.1 million. In the West Pullman area of Chicago, the Foster House and Stable, built in 1900 and designated a Chicago landmark in 1996, is listed for $239,900. The Robert Parker House in Oak Park just popped up on the market for $840,000. And of special interest, the Laura Gale home was put up for sale in Oak Park for $1.075 million, which was recently part of the 2017 Wright Plus Housewalk. Did you see it? Read more.

An Illustrator's View Of Taliesin

Cindy Lindgren, one of our avid readers and a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, recently shared an illustration project she did with the Taliesin Gift Shop in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Cindy created four illustrations of Taliesin landmarks: the Visitor Center, Hillside Assembly Hall, Midway Farm and Romeo and Juliet. They will soon be sold as cards and prints exclusively in the Taliesin gift shop. These cards follow up Cindy's Winter Fest card she designed for Taliesin last winter. Thanks For sharing, Cindy! Shop here.

Frank Lloyd Wright: Fantasist or Genius?

With the exhibition Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive taking place at MoMA from June 12th to October 1st, the Guardian has an article by Rowen Moore, who admits to not being a fan of the architect (with several unflattering adjectives thrown in for good measure). However, even Rowen the hater acknowledges that the world would be a poorer place without masterpieces like Fallingwater and the Guggenheim...no matter how flawed the writer feels they are. Read more.

University of Buffalo Celebrates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Legacy

The University at Buffalo will honor the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth by celebrating the renowned architect’s influence on the region’s Arts and Crafts movement. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Buffalo School of Arts and Crafts is a community-wide festival presented by the New York State Arts and Craft Alliance. A key exhibition within that festival is “Wright’s Larkin: Arts and Crafts in Industry,” opening with a reception from 6-8 p.m. on June 7 in Hayes Hall on the university’s South Campus. The exhibition gathers together many never-before-seen Wright-designed objects from the Larkin Building. Read more.

Delayed Restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple is Triumphant

Blair Kamin gives an insight on the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, noting that the Oak Park landmark is the finest public building of Wright’s Chicago years and home to one of the most beautiful rooms in America. Kamin gives credit to the meticulous work that the restoration team has done, and to the team of designers, who had to address a host of practical issues without aesthetic sacrifice. He states that the Unity Temple is now a landmark renewed, showcasing Wright's genius. There can be no better way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Wright's birth than to see and experience this revived masterpiece. Read more.

The Architectural Allure of Joseph Eichler

Los Altos History Museum has new exhibit about the mid-century modern builder Joseph Eichler and his enterprising vision. Eichler, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's work, believed that the aim should be to make a well-designed, contemporary home affordable for average people. Eichler Homes runs through October 8, 2017 and admission is free. Read more.

Getting Monona Terrace Wright

Madison Magazine reveals that no building since the Wisconsin State Capitol has meant more to Madison than Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace— a fitting legacy to the state's home-grown architect. Read more.

More Madison Wright News

Michael B. sends some Madison, Wisconsin Wright-related news items of interest to Wrights Society readers:

The Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of The Capital Times, has awarded "$100,000 to the Friends of the Meeting House to repair Wright's signature glass 'prow,' a major feature of the building on the National Register of Historic Places." William T. Evjue, for whom the foundation is named was the founder of The Capital Times and a big supporter of Wright and his projects. Read more.

Also, Michael alerts us to a news item about the Madison Community Foundation being awarded a grant of $27,500 for a study of a shoreline park on Lake Monona in Madison that would potentially include Wright's 1923 design for a boathouse. This is not the first time the boathouse has been included in ideas for a lakefront park, with at least one previous instance circa 2009.

Wright designed two boathouses for Madison in 1893, among his earliest designs upon leaving Sullivan's office. The boathouse for Lake Mendota was built and demolished in 1926. The boathouse for Lake Monona was never built...but may yet make an appearance.

There's more about this current proposal, with the circular boathouse shown near the center of the illustration, by following the link. Read more.

So Into Mr. Wright

The New York Times includes "Celebrating the Wright Way" in their list of things "to be into" right now. They note that MoMA's curator, Barry Bergdoll, has made Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive not your typical exhibit of the architect’s masterpieces. Having invited a handpicked group of scholars to explore the vast Wright archive that the museum co-manages with Columbia’s Avery Library, he then organized the show around the objects they found most compelling. Bergdoll says this exhibit is “More a kaleidoscope of facets meant to open new lines of inquiry.” Read more.

Taliesin West: Advancing The Way We Build and Live

With Wright's sesquicentennial drawing near, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is renewing its commitment to his legacy, according to president and CEO Stuart Graff. That idea is captured in the Foundation's new slogan: "Advancing the way we build and live," which Graff says describes how relevant Wright's work continues to be today. In celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright's 150th birthday, Taliesin West will offer public tours for $1.50 on June 8, including a free birthday cupcake for each visitor. Read more.

Details: franklloydwright.org. For related events across Arizona and the U.S., visit: FLW150.org.

Oregon's Part in the Worldwide Celebration of Wright

Oregon wants you to take a trip to see Frank Lloyd Wright's Gordon House in Silverton, where supporters work continually to restore and preserve Wright's only realized design in that state. Wright was 90 years old when he designed the Gordon House for his clients, who were art and music appreciators, and he died before it was completed. The home fell into disrepair after the original owner died. The riverfront property was sold and preservationists had the home dismantled and moved 24 miles to the Oregon Garden to save it from being demolished. Read more.

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