MB Meets World

No visit to Chicago would be complete without learning a bit about Frank Lloyd Wright and visiting one of the homes he designed.

I visited the museum in Oak Park, an inner ring suburb just west of the city. The museum was the house and studio Wright created and where he lived for about 20 years in the early 20th century.

Wright is known for joining nature and buildings – in this house even working around a large tree branch- but more generally lots of big windows, stained glass and natural light, natural colors and wood in the decor, and creating open spaces in the rooms. Simple lines. Minimalistic. These things were in response to the elaborate, maybe gaudy style of the Victorian era. Interestingly, I have heard some of these things associated with Arts and Crafts homes — a style in my Ithaca neighborhood including our home, built in 1920 — but I need to research to understand the historical connections and influences. Which was the chicken and which was the egg?

Some trivia:

– FLW was apparently not a kind person. Egomaniac. Might come with the territory for geniuses?

– FLW apparently favored appearance over function. The tour guide recounted a story where a judge, whose home was designed by FLW for a large sum, had a massive leak on the dining room table during a dinner party. His Honor called FLW and asked, “What am I to do?” FLW’s response? “Move.”

– FLW’s granddaughter, Anne Baxter, was a famous actress in mid- 20th century. I recognized her from “The Ten Commandments.”