Taliesin
[Taliesin (1911-1959) Frank Lloyd Wright, architect /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
We drove up to southwestern Wisconsin last week to take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's
estate outside Spring Green, Wisconsin. It was my fifth or sixth visit, I'm not exactly sure, and Mitch's first. The first time I experienced Wright's ongoing experiment, which he named Taliesin, was in the mid-70s when a high-school teacher took three of us up to Spring Green to see property he owned in the area. We stopped by the Wright property, were given a tour (very unofficial) and I remember feeling thrilled, excited and awestruck by the experience. It was one of those moments in life that stays with you forever.
[Taliesin hill top /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
Wright's maternal grandparents emigrated from Wales in the 1840s and settled in a
valley near the Wisconsin River. Wright built this house on family property given to him by his mother during a period of time in his life which made him infamous and a social outcast. The story of his love for Mamah Borthwick, and the tragedy that followed, has been told many times, most recently in a best selling book, Loving Frank. It is a place born out of a man's great passion and love for another human being, and his art.
Taliesin sits nestled into the side of the hill rather than perched on top of it; the name is
Welsh for Shining Brow. The building is his most personal expression of his desire to have architecture be one with nature. That's the top of the hill over to the left in the photo. We were standing under one of his signature overhanging eaves that protected us from the rain which made for a gloomy day, and not great for picture taking. And BTW, there was no picture-taking allowed inside. (It's getting harder and harder to find places that allow photography indoors)
[Taliesin crumbling, May 25, 2010 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
Anyway, my last visit here was 15 years ago, and although there was really nothing new
to see, that's not why I came here so often, each visit was always uplifting and invigorating. But my experience on this tour was unlike any other, instead of feeling inspired, I felt a creeping sense of sadness. Although still remarkable in concept, Wright's constant experimentation with the house and his disregard for its structural integrity and maintenance, have taken a toll on the 75+ year-old structure. The weight of age and the deterioration left me feeling with a sense of loss, like the spirit of the place was slowly dying. I know that sounds very dramatic, but after all my pilgrimages to the Valley, and the excitement I felt at finally being able to show Mitch a place I've told him about for over a decade, I left there knowing that after 35 years, a chapter in my life was coming to a close.
[Taliesin details, May 25, 2010 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
But if you've never been, you should try to get there. My relationship with Taliesin is very
personal and emotional, so don't be put off by my feelings of sadness. If you like architecture, or want an unforgettable experience, get yourself up there and take a tour(s). It's only a 3-1/2 hour drive from Chicago through gorgeous, rolling hills, and well worth the effort. Believe me, to really understand Wright, no matter how many books you've read, you'll never really know him until you visit his Shining Brow.
Continue the tour of the Taliesin estate at: The Chapel and The School.
Posted by designslinger at 6/1/2010 2:45 AM 
Categories: Architecture, Architects, History
Tags: Frank Lloyd Wright
Categories: Architecture, Architects, History
Tags: Frank Lloyd Wright
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