The Frank Lloyd Wright Newsblog

In the free section of the Wall Street Journal there is an interview with Zaha Hadid. She doesn’t discuss the addition to the Price Tower Arts Center, but instead discusses her background, her place in the profession, and her general approach to projects. The Journal tries to tease out something of relevance to the current situation in Iraq, but can’t pull it off. Not essential reading for a Wright fan, but interesting (she did win a Pritzker, after all).

The Guggenheim Museum opened on this day in 1959, six months after Wright’s death.

Sorry for the lack of posts, I haven’t been lazy, there just hasn’t been any Frank Lloyd Wright news this week.

Since no one seems to use the external links in the sidebar, I’m moving them to their own page and clearing out the sidebar for some other purpose — though for what I’m not really sure.

Hewn and Hammered posted a link to this 30 min. documentary on the restoration of the Hollyhock House in Los Angeles by filmmaker Grigorio Carlevaro . It is professional and very good. The film includes historic photos and great footage of the actual restorative work. Interviewees include Eric Lloyd Wright and the granddaughter of Aline Barnsdal. The video quality isn’t high, but I assume that’s because of the realities of free, downloadable video.

It is worth taking the time to download and watch.

Next Thursday, October 26, there will be a free lecture at the Price Tower Arts Center on the methods used to research the current exhibit “Wright Restored”:

John C. Womack, Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at Oklahoma State University, will discuss his methodology for the preliminary investigative research used in the restoration of Price Tower’s top three floors. Mr. Womack has a Master of Architecture degree from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas. His research and career extends much beyond the classroom, as he has studied under Benham-Blair & Affiliates, Euine Fay Jones Architect, and Fay Jones & Associates Architects. He now works independently as an architect and historian aside from his teaching career with OSU.

More information here

Hey, the movie Reds will be released on DVD this Tuesday.

There is really no connection to Frank Lloyd Wright other than, a) Reds is one of my favorite movies and b) it stars Diane Keaton, a member of the Ennis House Foundation, and a former owner of a Lloyd Wright home. [and c) I’ve always had a really big crush on Diane Keaton, which probably isn’t something you really need to know].

Who wouldn’t love a movie with characters like Max Eastman, Emma Goldman, Big Bill Haywood, Alexander Kerensky and Lenin? It’s also a basis for the funniest Dennis Miller joke of all time (yes, even better than “I regard the reunification of East and West Germany the same way to do a Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin reunion—I’m not that fond of their previous work and I really don’t want to see any of their new shit”).

There is a trailer for the DVD release, though it’s an odd one. There really isn’t many similarities between 1917 and 2006—but then there is something appropriate about a gigantic capitalist machine like Paramount misrepresenting a movie about duped communists in 1917 to reap bigger profits.

The Pew House near Madison, Wisconsin is for sale, just $1.5 million. This home is an unusual two-story Usonian, and it has striking views of Lake Mendota. the home has only had two owners and by all reports, both have treated it with great respect.

The current owners aren’t going to sell to just anyone:

The pending Arizona move has necessitated the sale, but the couple also want to make sure that the home goes to a buyer who truly appreciates Wright. They have the luxury of time and intend to find a buyer with whom they are comfortable. Many lakefront homes in the Madison area are purchased and then torn down to make way for a new dwelling. The Edwardses will request contractual language so that can’t happen. They remember being interviewed by the Pews, back in the 1980s. The depth of the Pews’ feeling for the home was palpable.

“We feel a sense of responsibility” to them and the house, Cindy said.

An added bonus, the house is within waling distance of a Whole Foods store and a Starbucks.

The listing on The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy site includes photos of the interior and exterior, including some of the view of the lake.