This summer we have so enjoyed our CITY WALKS: CHICAGO touring cards! Recently we went to Oak Park on walk #33 which featured many (inhabited) homes Frank Lloyd Wright built in his neighborhood, as well as his own home and studio. 
Below is the Unity Temple which was FLW's first public commission. I can only imagine how the public reacted to this building when it was built in the early 1900's.
Since our walking tour, I have really been craving learning more about FLW and his life and turbulent times. We are in the process of watching the Ken Burns/Lynn Novick DVD.
Through the years we have toured FLW homes in Springfield and Hyde Park here in Illinois. Now, after reading the Horan novel, I have a hankering to go to Taliesin in Wisconsin. Have any of you readers been there? Can you recommend any other FLW architectural "works" you have visited that we should not miss?
Below is the Unity Temple which was FLW's first public commission. I can only imagine how the public reacted to this building when it was built in the early 1900's.
Since our walking tour, I have really been craving learning more about FLW and his life and turbulent times. We are in the process of watching the Ken Burns/Lynn Novick DVD.An excellent novel about the love affair between FLW and Mamah Cheney is Loving Frank by
Nancy Horan. I devoured that book in less than 24 hours.
Another book on my list to read (there are over 70 titles pertaining to FLW in my library) is a non-fiction children's book recommended by a co-worker.
Through the years we have toured FLW homes in Springfield and Hyde Park here in Illinois. Now, after reading the Horan novel, I have a hankering to go to Taliesin in Wisconsin. Have any of you readers been there? Can you recommend any other FLW architectural "works" you have visited that we should not miss?I find FLW to be quite an interesting study. He was a genius, to be sure,
but his personal life had many disastrous and unfortunate twists and turns.
However, he made his mark in the world that will assuredly never be forgotten.
4 comments:
Hi Deb,
I have been to Taliesin! My memories aren't exactly vivid, as it was more of a quick drive while spending a weekend in Dodgeville, WI when I was in 4th grade. The trip was made in the fall season, and I do remember the colors of Spring Green and the surrounding area being really lovely - a fitting backdrop to Frank's handiwork.
The walking tour cards sound like great fun. In these few years I've been in Chicago I have yet to make it to Oak Park. You're helping me to feel encouraged to do just that sometime soon.
Marta, thanks for the comment! Hmm...maybe we should try Taliesin with a fall color background.
As far as the walking tours throughout the city, we are having a total blast. Yesterday we went on a walk through a Polish downtown neighborhood at Milwaukee and Division. Seeing the St. Stanislaw cathedral was impressive.
I hope you can make it to the Oak Park neighborhood. Owen and Linda told us about your new school assignment and it sounds like you are quite busy.
We'll get to see you soon at the P/K wedding!
I love Frank Lloyd Wright, too! You should read the book "The Wright Three" by Blue Balliet. :)
Good suggestion, Anne. Have done that when the book first came out - I can see how you would really like that book with all the puzzles to solve!
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