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Spring 2025

Dear Fellow Wright Enthusiasts,

Wright in Wisconsin is back!

Although, technically, we never really went away, for many of you, I am sure it seemed like we did. … and the truth be told, we almost did. But thanks to George Hall, who almost single-handedly, diligently spent over a year putting the pieces back together, including endless hours reinstating our legal status, we survived. Thank you, George. Also, for those of you who hung in there and continued to pay your membership dues during this period, it is much appreciated. For those who did not remain a dues-paying member, we hope you will consider rejoining the organization. Please click here to do so.

One of our new Board members, Trish Dulka, has stepped up and agreed to be our newsletter editor. Thank you, Trish. For now, the newsletter will need to be distributed electronically. The previous printed versions that we all looked forward to receiving hopefully will return in the future.

The Board is a small but dedicated group comprised of George Hall, Ken Dahlin, Henry St Maurice, Trish Dulka, Anne Hasse and me. Assisting the Board are Jill Hartmann, who maintains the books and Bill Swan, who runs the office. Thanks to all for their dedication. We are looking for new Board members so if you are willing to help us out, please let me know.

Lastly, we have filled this newsletter with information on what we are planning in the future, most notable of which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Taliesin. You will not want to miss the tour this summer.

Again, please welcome us back by renewing your dues, joining the Board, and letting us know what you think.



Thanks.

John Macy, President   

jmacy@ammr.net    

(414) 315-7184

All Wright: A Day Like No Other

2025 Event Features an Immersive Weekend at Taliesin

Photo Courtesy Taliesin Preservation

Experience Taliesin Like Never Before!

We are thrilled to announce an extraordinary event for this year—one that offers an immersive experience unlike any before! While we’re stepping away from our traditional "Wright and Like" format of tour, we believe our members will be just as excited about this special opportunity.

In collaboration with Taliesin Preservation, we invite you to spend an entire day exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin home and studio, Taliesin. This exclusive experience grants unprecedented access to the house, studio, Tan-y-Deri, Romeo & Juliet Windmill, Joe’s Cottage, and even Cornelia Brierly’s living quarters—a rare opportunity for any Wright enthusiast. Your ticket includes a light breakfast and lunch, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Wright’s world without interruption.

To kick off the weekend, we'll host a Friday evening event at the Hillside Drafting Studio and Hillside Theater for a special book launch and signing event with Ken Dahlin, celebrating his latest work. We’ll also be announcing the winners of the Wright Now Architecture Contest during this gathering.

Stay tuned—more details and ticket sales for All Wright will be announced soon. We will send an email announcement to members as soon as it is open. Don’t miss this rare chance to experience Taliesin in an entirely new way! Watch your email and our Facebook page for more information.

Save the Dates!

Friday and Saturday

September 5 & 6

As part of our mission to honor the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright, we are excited to inspire the next generation of architects by promoting and celebrating Wright's visionary principles.

Wright in Wisconsin, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s School of Architecture, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, is proud to announce a juried design competition for undergraduate students from UW–Madison and UWM.

Participants are challenged to design a dwelling that reflects their unique interpretation of organic architecture—a philosophy deeply rooted in Wright’s work. The top three designs will earn cash prizes of $1,500, $750, and $500, along with a one-year membership to Wright in Wisconsin.

Entries are due in August, with winners to be announced at our Fall Taliesin event. Stay tuned for more details, and join us in fostering creativity, innovation, and a lasting appreciation for Wright’s architectural legacy.

Since 1994, loyal participants have joined our annual "Wright and Like™" tours, exploring Wisconsin's architectural gems designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin Architects, his apprentices, and other architects who employed his principles.

Last year's tour, our fourth in Racine since 2004, was made possible by generous homeowners and SC Johnson and Sons. It took place on a picture-perfect September Saturday, and over 300 guests from 17 states and Canada, along with 13 house captains and nearly a hundred docents.

The weekend began with a Friday night event hosted by Racine Heritage Museum Director Christopher Paulson featuring Tim Samuelson, Cultural Historian Emeritus for the City of Chicago. Samuelson's exhibit, "Wright Before the Lloyd," brought Wright's early Chicago career to life through artifacts, photos, and materials salvaged from demolished Wright-designed buildings in the Chicago area. Attendees enjoyed pre-presentation hors d'oeuvres organized by board member and now president John Macy.

Organizing the tour required the dedication of many, including Jill and Bob Hartmann, and Mark Hertzberg. Bob and I scouted mid-century modern homes in Racine using a comprehensive house list from previous tour research, selecting homeowners to contact with input from Mark Hertzberg, Ken Dahlin, Frank Lloyd Wright Burnham Block volunteer Sybil Knop, and Pippin Michelli of Preservation Racine. The process introduced us to new owners of John Randal McDonald and Hans Geyer's homes, offering exciting possibilities for future tours.

In addition to Wright's Thomas P. Hardy House, and SC Johnson's Administration and Research Tower buildings, this year's tour featured the Edgar Tafel-designed Robert and Rita Albert House, three homes by Hans Geyer, two side-by-side John Randal McDonald houses, and a 1940's Usonian-style Lake Michigan home by William Kaeser with a recent addition by Ken Dahlin.

We are immensely grateful to our dedicated team, including Bill Swan, John Macy, Ken Dahlin, Traci Schnell, Mark Hertzberg, Bob Hartmann, and tour organizer George Hall. Interviews and assistance came from retired Racine architect John Murphy, attorney John Albert, architectural historian Dave Erickson, and Racine Heritage Museum Director Christopher Paulson. Visit Racine Executive Director Cari Greving helped us to promote the tour and arrange for overnight stays, and SC Johnson Community Affairs Manager (and former WiW board member) Kristen Beglinger and her associates Grace Girard and Hailey Stein facilitated our collaboration with SC Johnson. Our Friday night event would not have been possible without the gracious participation of Tim Samuelsen, and our host venue, the Racine Heritage Museum. Thanks to pastor Darren Utley, our downtown tour headquarters staffed by Bill Swan and Jill Hartmann, was located at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Racine.

And to our house captains John Macy, Henry St. Maurice, Mary Arnold, Ken Dahlin, Brian De Vinck, Bill Kundert, Gary Tipler, Joseph Muenich, Steve Holtzman, Ed Linville, Bob Hartmann, Mark Hertzberg, and George Hall, along with our nearly 100 docents, you all assured a smoothly running tour.

If you have photos or stories from this tour, please share them with Bill Swan at our office. Thank you for your continued support in celebrating and preserving Wright's legacy.

TOP PHOTO: Hardy House, courtesy of Trish Dulka; SIDE PHOTO: S.C. Johnson Research Tower, courtesy of Trish Dulka; BOTTOM: Tim Samuelson, Cultural Historian Emeritus for the City of Chicago, talking about his exhibit Wright Before the Lloyd, as part of the 2024 Wright & Like weekend, courtesy of George Hall

Anne Hasse, who recently joined the Wright in Wisconsin Board, began her teaching career at The Prairie School—a 1965 design by Charles Montooth and Taliesin Associates in Wind Point, WI. Since 2005, she has taught fifth grade at Wakanda Elementary School in Menomonie, WI. This year, Anne and her teammates, Wakana's Art Specialist Sally Johnson, and fellow 5th-grade teacher Jacob Schutte are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking educational initiative: "Breaking the Box: The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Project."

Rooted in the principles of legacy, passion, ordinary magic, and connection, "Breaking the Box" engages students in an immersive, hands-on exploration of Wright's architectural genius. The curriculum blurs the boundaries between subjects, combining art, science, technology, and mathematics into a cohesive learning experience. Through Pathways to Discovery mini-courses, students become young "architects," studying the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright while applying his principles to their own creative designs.

At the heart of the program is a "Learning by Doing" approach. Each year, nearly 70 students dive into a 360-degree study of Wright's work, exploring the aesthetics, structure, and function of his designs. Students analyze the architect's writings, museum exhibitions, and original renderings, challenging themselves to think critically and imaginatively. This approach empowers students to dream of endless possibilities while gaining a deeper understanding of architectural design and its real-world applications.

Key components include:

• A Legacy of Arts Integration: Seamlessly blending art education with general education through hands-on experiences.
• Exploring Wright's Influences: In-depth studies of Wright's five key inspirations—Louis Sullivan, music, Japan, Froebel Gifts, and nature.
• Comprehensive Architectural Study: A 360-degree examination of Prairie, Textile Block, Usonian, and "Out of the Box" designs.
• Literature Connections: Engaging with architectural literature and connecting with authors like Mark Hertzberg and Blue Balliett.
• 21st-Century Skills: Fostering communication, resilience, empathy, and stewardship.
• Community Partnerships: Collaborating with local architects and businesses to provide real-world context.
• Architectural Site Visits: Analyzing Wright sites across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa.
• College & Career Readiness: Integrating career exploration through the school counselor's guidance curriculum.

Through "Breaking the Box," students engage in cross-disciplinary STEAM project-based learning, becoming:

• Scientists: Exploring sustainability and site planning/analysis.
• Technology Integrators: Utilizing tools like Google Earth, SketchUp 3D modeling, and Google Cardboard.
• Engineers: Designing and building architectural models, including Frank Lloyd Wright LEGO buildings and Froebel Gift explorations.
• Artists: Creating original renderings, art glass windows, and floor plans that embody Wright's "form follows function" philosophy.
• Mathematicians: Applying math skills to draw scaled floor plans inspired by Henry David Thoreau's cabin on Walden Pond.

For two decades, "Breaking the Box" has ignited a passion for architecture in young minds, encouraging students to think boldly and preserve the legacy of one of America’s most iconic architects. As the program celebrates its 20th anniversary, Anne Hasse and her team continue to shape the next generation of architects and preservationists—one innovative design at a time.

All photos in this story used with permission of Anne Hasse

Are you planning your summer activities? Are there Frank Lloyd Wright sites in Wisconsin that you have wanted to see and/or tour but have not yet? Wright in Wisconsin has you covered! Interested in visiting multiple sites? Click below to see site links for information about Wisconsin’s Frank Lloyd Wright Trail. Many sites also have occasional events, so even though the links below take you to tour information, feel free to click around to see what events the various sites might offer.

FLWT indicates that the site is on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail

• A. D. German Warehouse, Richland Center (FLWT)
• Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Wauwatosa
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block, Milwaukee (FLWT)
• Monona Terrace, Madison (FLWT)
• SC Johnson, Racine (FLWT)
• Still Bend (Schwartz House), Two Rivers
• Seth Peterson Cottage, Mirror Lake
• Taliesin, Spring Green (FLWT)
• Unitarian Meeting House, Madison (FLWT)
• Wingspread, Wind Point (FLWT)
• Wyoming Valley School, Spring Green (FLWT)

• Frank Lloyd Wright Trail The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail connects 9 different sites across southern Wisconsin – from Racine to Richland Center. There will be a Trail Welcome Weekend on Friday, 5/30, Saturday, 5/31, and Sunday, 6/1. We’ll have information about this event on our website when it becomes available.