Issue 53 July 12th 2017

The Headlines

The Bowers Museum Celebrates Wright's 150th With Special Exhibit

Another fantastic exhibit awaits! The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California opened the “Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture of the Interior” exhibition, featuring drawings and photographs of homes Wright designed across North America. The exhibit will be open 10am to 4pm each Tuesday through Sunday starting August 20th, 2017 at 2002 N Main Street, Santa Ana, California. Read more.

11 Fun Facts About The Price Tower & Frank Lloyd Wright

The Tulsa World has 11 fun facts about Wright and his Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Can you guess what they are? Also of note—another opportunity to celebrate his 150th is through the "Journey to the Prairie" being held at Price Tower until August 27th, 2017. Read more.

Adding a Touch of Wright in Downtown Kankakee

The city of Kankakee, Illinois has commissioned artist Peter Pagast for a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired mural on Court Street. The mural will draw from the famous architect's stained glass windows, tile work, and modern lines, while incorporating the color palate of the historic buildings in downtown Kankakee. Just a mile from the "first" prairie-style house Wright designed, the B. Harley Bradley House on Harrison Avenue, the hope is the public art will draw visitors of the Bradley House to downtown businesses. What do you think? Read more.

Lloyd Wright's Sowden House Featured in Music Video

The concrete-block John Sowden House in Los Angeles designed by Lloyd Wright makes a special appearance in “I Dare You”, the latest music video from British indie-pop band The xx as their “love letter to Los Angeles”. See what you think, even if the music isn't your cup of tea. Read more.

Don Tosi Tour in Naperville, Illinois

Don Tosi’s unique Naperville, IL designs were the direct inspiration of Frank Lloyd Wright and Bruce Goff — and were in demand by artistically inspired clients from Chicago who wanted to live in something different than the run-of-the-mill tract housing of the suburbs. The Tosi Group in conjunction with Naper Settlement has scheduled their first home tour, the Tosi Architecture Tour, July 23rd, 2017 from 1pm to 4pm. Tour information and details can be found here. To learn about Donald Tosi go here.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust's Call For Fall 2017 Volunteers

Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts can sign up for fall volunteer training on Tuesday or Thursday evenings and two Saturdays—September 12th to 28th at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, Illinois) and October 17th to November 2nd at the Frederick C. Robie House (5757 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois).

Join a lively group of like-minded enthusiasts who appreciate art, design and Frank Lloyd Wright. Trust volunteers enjoy earned memberships, attend social gatherings and group excursions, gain access to an active online community and receive shopping discounts. Learn to give tours at Trust sites and interact with visitors from across the globe. Read more for details.

Contact Linda Bonifas-Guzman to schedule an orientation session at lguzman@flwright.org or 312.994.4045.

What Wright Got Wrong About Design

Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative genius justified the occasional design mistake. Right?

As Business Insider explores, innovation almost always comes at a cost. Creating buildings that are now considered works of art meant that practical boundaries had to be pushed, and those who know Wright's work almost universally agree that he shouldn't be blamed for adhering so stubbornly to his visions. In the article, restoration architect, John Eifler states, “He was thinking of new materials and new ways of putting things together”. Read more.

Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Yoga

Yes! You read it correctly. BuffaloNews.com reports that "Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired yoga" is now at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff. Gentle Hatha yoga is available on Tuesdays from 6pm to 7:15pm at the Graycliff Estate (6472 Old Lake Shore Road, Derby, New York). Six classes cost $60; drop in for $15 a class. For more info, email crescmnyoga@yahoo.com.

Also, at 9:15am for the next two Sundays (July 16th and 23rd), enjoy yoga on the Great Lawn at the Darwin Martin House (125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, New York). Vinyasa yoga will be led by Yoga Parkside. $10 per ticket; each ticket includes a buy-one, get-one-free Darwin Martin House Tour coupon. Pre-registration required at yogaparkside.com/shop. Read more.

Graycliff $3.7 Million Restoration Funding Announced

Speaking of Buffalo and Graycliff...on Monday this week, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed in a ceremony on the grounds of Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff Estate that the State of New York, through the Buffalo Billion II program, will provide $3.7 million to complete all interior, landscaping, and beach access work on the 8 1/2-acre estate designed for businessman Darwin Martin and wife, Isabelle. The Graycliff Conservancy is also setting its sights on a new visitor and interpretive center.

Lt. Gov Hochul said, "Frank Lloyd Wright's genius brought beauty and grandeur to Buffalo and Western New York in the early days of the 20th century, and with the completion of the Graycliff manor project that legacy is preserved for the 21st century and beyond". Read more and see the video.

Historic Photos On Exhibit At Taliesin's Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center

Racine's Journal Times reports on a new exhibit of rare photographs of Frank Lloyd Wright's Riverview Terrace restaurant under construction (now the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center at Taliesin, 5607 County Road C, in Spring Green, WI) taken fifty years ago by Racine architectural designer, Bob Hartmann. The exhibit is part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the building and helps showcase the creation of this remarkable Wright creation. Read more.

"Signs" of Activity at V.C. Morris

Wright Society reader, Matthew Kluk, sends an update and a photo about Frank Lloyd Wright's V.C. Morris Gift Shop. Looks like they're moving along on the updates for the incoming tenant. The interesting part is that they took down a plaque from the old tenant revealing the original Morris sign! Thanks Matthew--we'll be sure to keep everyone updated as we learn more. Read more.

Support Wright Society

August 2017 Explore Wright Issue Coming Soon!

We're putting the final touches on our upcoming bi-monthly issue of Explore Wright and can't wait to share it with those of you who've opted into a subscription (or get copies via the Silver Level of our supporter program)! This next issue will "explore" Wright's little known patented Luxfer Prism designs.

In case you missed it last month, we offered a complimentary digital copy of the inaugural issue in PDF format that can be viewed on any device. Download here. This June 2017 issue looks at Wright's Sturges House in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

We're also providing three types of subscriptions for the bi-monthly Explore Wright newsletter...should you find this complimentary version enjoyable and be interested in future ones.

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Remember, your purchase goes directly towards supporting the content curation and creation efforts it takes to produce the weekly Wright Society email and the Wright Society Virtual Summit. And we sincerely and truly appreciate your contribution!

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