Issue 99 May 30th 2018

The Headlines

Unwanted Attention: From The FBI Files On Frank Lloyd Wright

The Frank Lloyd Wright's Whirling Arrow blog declassifies the story of the years of keeping tabs on Frank Lloyd Wright by the FBI. During the 1940s, Frank Lloyd Wright was the world’s most famous architect and an outspoken proponent of pacifism, anti-authoritarianism, and anti-nationalism in a time of war. It did not take long after America’s involvement in World War II for the sights of the FBI to focus on Wright and his activities at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The result was a fat file of criminal accusations, tips from concerned citizens, news clippings, and details of allegedly suspicious behavior that gave Wright an impressive FBI dossier. The rancor of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover kept his agents adding allegations, real and imagined, to the file for years past the war’s end. Read more here.

Thanks For Making Wright Plus 2018 Memorable

Celeste Adams, President and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is thanking the Oak Park community for welcoming visitors who attended Wright Plus 2018 on May 19. The annual housewalk would not be possible without the homeowners who so passionately care for their historic properties and graciously share them. More than 500 volunteers make Wright Plus a singular event. Make sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, May 18, 2019 — the next Wright Plus! Read more.

Fuermann Photographs Taliesin

Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin, his residence and studio in southern Wisconsin, are famous in American architectural circles and are well known internationally as well. The same cannot be said for Henry Fuermann (1861-1949) or for his two sons, Clarence (1883-1982) and Leon (1886-1968). The name Fuermann is attributed to some of the most significant photographs of Wright buildings ever published. Especially Taliesin. Yet, almost nothing is known about who the photographers were and what was the background behind their work.

The new landmark double-sized issue of the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design explores the life and work of the Fuermanns by identifying and reproducing in chronological order fifty-one photographs of Taliesin—all uncropped and some never-before-published. The issue includes essays uncovering new information about the photographers and their work by Kathryn A. Smith and Donald G. Kalec. Get your copy here.

Dana-Thomas House Extends Tour Hours

The hours will be extended this spring, summer and fall for anyone hoping to experience the historical Frank Lloyd Wright tours at one of Springfield, IL architectural beauties, the Dana-Thomas House.

"In association with the Illinois Office of Tourism's promotion of the Dana-Thomas House as part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail here in Illinois, these special tours of the Dana House will help bring Wright's brilliance to life," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal. "We are delighted to welcome visitors from all over the globe to this showcase of Frank Lloyd Wright's genius."

The Dana-Thomas House was designed in 1902 by Wright after Susan Lawrence Dana provided him with the commission for a large home with space for entertaining and a meeting place for organizations and charities. The site will be open for regular tours each Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and each Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. In addition, a variety of specialty tours are available. See the list here.

All Wright All Day Tours

Western New York affords visitors the rare opportunity to experience a variety of Frank Lloyd Wright's residential, functional, recreational, and monumental designs – both historic and newly constructed. This is the tour of all tours when it comes to regional Wright architecture—a trolley tour that will visit five destinations around Western New York. This all-inclusive package begins at Forest Lawn's Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Resource Center and proceeds on the fully-enclosed, climate-controlled Forest Lawn trolley to the Martin House (1903-05) for an extended tour. The next stop is the Filling Station designed by Wright for Buffalo in 1927 and built in 2013 inside the Pierce Arrow Museum. It’s a short trolley ride to the Fontana Boathouse (2007) on the Black Rock Canal for a tour. Continue on to Graycliff (1926-31) for an extended tour and a visit to historic Forest Lawn's Blue Sky Mausoleum (2004). The trolley will return you to Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Resource Center.

A knowledgeable guide will be along for the ride, to help guests learn about all of the wonderful buildings that are part of the master architect’s legacy. The trolley will even pass by the site where the Larkin Administration Building once stood. Tour participants will be treated to a lunch buffet, making for a brilliant and fulfilling day for everyone involved. Read more and check out the available dates here.

A Brief History of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

The Milwaukee Record gives us a brief history of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Wright designed the church in 1956 and affectionately dubbed it “the little St. Sophia,” as he was inspired by Byzantine architecture and the iconic domed Hagia Sophia. Unfortunately, Wright didn’t live to see his domed church constructed—it was finally constructed in 1961, two years after his death. Read more.

Garden Tours at Taliesin

Learn about Frank Lloyd Wright’s relationship to nature with a guided tour of the spectacular gardens of Taliesin surrounding the home on the 800-acre estate near Spring Green, Wisconsin. These incomparable gardens offer a glimpse into the master architect’s profound connection to nature and provide a spectacular backdrop to Wright’s world-class architecture and the stunning Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin.

Take an early evening stroll through the natural landscape with your guide and fellow guests. Finish your evening enjoying hors d'oeuvres and drinks in the garden courtyard, relaxing and taking inspiration from the beautifully curated flowers and breathtaking views.

Four special evenings, from 6pm-8pm throughout the season: May 25, 2018 – Spring Blooms, June 22, 2018 – Day Lilies, August 3, 2018 – Full Blooms, August 31, 2018 – Lilies. Read more.

Pope-Leighey House to Celebrate Wright's Birthday

Celebrate world-renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday on June 8 at the only Frank Lloyd Wright house open to visitors in the D.C. region—the Pope-Leighey House! The Pope-Leighey House will provide birthday cake and pie, and officials suggest that you bring your own picnic dinner and enjoy with themed cocktails, live jazz, a Wright trivia game with prizes, and a special online auction. Tickets are $10 for children, $35 for adults, or $15 for a reserved four-person table (the best deal). More here.

Roads Traveled: Dining at Taliesin Celebrates Local Bounty

Inside the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center near Spring Green, diners at the Riverview Terrace Café gain spectacular views of the Wisconsin River, curvaceous Wyoming Valley, occasionally eagles and other wildlife. Wright’s designs typically were built with local materials and gorgeous views. Riverview Terrace already has the right scenery, but chefs want a menu that takes local ingredients and products much more seriously. Now the restaurant’s menu and philosophy realign to match the architect’s legacy of honoring the close-to-home bounty of nature. A James Beard Foundation award winner leads the effort.

The Wright philosophy of “learning by doing” also pertains because of a new, seven-month program to train eight apprentices (out of 72 applicants) to take a more holistic view of restaurant work. Developing the menu, recipes and philosophy is Odessa Piper, national Best Chef Midwest in 2002.

That means field trips to farms and chats with cheesemakers, in addition to learning how to cook and bake. Learning food preservation techniques as well as food safety rules. Critical thinking about sustainability as well as how to cater a reception Executing, supplementing and interpreting Piper's game plan is Barbara Wright, most recently chef for Taliesin, the 800-acre Wright estate and architecture school. Read more.

About

This weekly Wright Society update is brought to you by Eric O'Malley with Bryan and Lisa Kelly from PrairieMod. If you enjoy these free, curated updates—please forward our sign-up page and/or share on Social Media.

If you’d like to submit content to be featured here, please reach out by emailing us at mail[at]wrightsociety.com.