The link is:
http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent. ... 467&EDATE=
Mark Hertzberg
Allsopp leaving the Foundation
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Mark Hertzberg
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Allsopp leaving the Foundation
Mark Hertzberg
Thanks for bringing us this information, Mark. It makes for interesting reading.
Among many other tidbits, I note that the two centers of Wrightiana are named as "Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and Taliesin West in
Scottsdale." It seems that we might free ourselves of the question of whether "North" or "East" was (is) the correct modifier. . .?
SDR
Among many other tidbits, I note that the two centers of Wrightiana are named as "Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and Taliesin West in
Scottsdale." It seems that we might free ourselves of the question of whether "North" or "East" was (is) the correct modifier. . .?
SDR
"taliesin east" was a nickname given to wright's suite at the plaza hotel in new york when he worked on the guggenheim:
IN NEW YORK THE PLAZA YEARS, 1954-1959 JANE KING HESSION and DEBRA PICKREL Foreword by MIKE WALLACE
Frank Lloyd Wright in New York: The Plaza Years, 1954-1959 examines the momentous five-year period when one of the world's greatest architects and one of the world's greatest cities dynamically coexisted. Authors Jane King Hession and Debra Pickrel bring each of these unequalled characters to life, exploring the fascinating contradiction between Wright's often-voiced disdain of New York and his pride and pleasure in living in a great Manhattan landmark: the Plaza Hotel. From his suite, or "Taliesin East," as it became known, Wright negotiated-with varying measures of creativity, cooperation, and combat-an astonishing array of exchanges with the city's architects, artists, journalists, editors, publishers, designers, celebrities, power brokers, and bureaucrats. Most significantly, he shepherded the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1943-1959), his New York masterwork, to near completion from these sumptuous quarters. Explore the sophistication and vigor of Wright's final years, a time when he was an architect of legend and a bona fide celebrity, and New York was basking in postwar prosperity.
Jane King Hession, a native of Nyack, New York, received her M. Arch. from the University of Minnesota. An architectural writer and historian with interests in Frank Lloyd Wright and mid-century modernism, she is the coauthor of Ralph Rapson: Sixty Years of Modern Design. Hession resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
IN NEW YORK THE PLAZA YEARS, 1954-1959 JANE KING HESSION and DEBRA PICKREL Foreword by MIKE WALLACE
Frank Lloyd Wright in New York: The Plaza Years, 1954-1959 examines the momentous five-year period when one of the world's greatest architects and one of the world's greatest cities dynamically coexisted. Authors Jane King Hession and Debra Pickrel bring each of these unequalled characters to life, exploring the fascinating contradiction between Wright's often-voiced disdain of New York and his pride and pleasure in living in a great Manhattan landmark: the Plaza Hotel. From his suite, or "Taliesin East," as it became known, Wright negotiated-with varying measures of creativity, cooperation, and combat-an astonishing array of exchanges with the city's architects, artists, journalists, editors, publishers, designers, celebrities, power brokers, and bureaucrats. Most significantly, he shepherded the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1943-1959), his New York masterwork, to near completion from these sumptuous quarters. Explore the sophistication and vigor of Wright's final years, a time when he was an architect of legend and a bona fide celebrity, and New York was basking in postwar prosperity.
Jane King Hession, a native of Nyack, New York, received her M. Arch. from the University of Minnesota. An architectural writer and historian with interests in Frank Lloyd Wright and mid-century modernism, she is the coauthor of Ralph Rapson: Sixty Years of Modern Design. Hession resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
Last edited by peterm on Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Allsop Leaving the Foundation
I was at T-W this morning and saw the press release. Since Dick Carney passed away in 1998, there have been at least six "President/CEO's". It is possible there could have been more, I'd have to dig through my own archives to give an exact head count. Six in eleven years.
Allsop Leaving the Foundation
I was at T-W this morning and saw the press release. Since Dick Carney passed away in 1998, there have been at least six "President/CEO's". It is possible there could have been more, I'd have to dig through my own archives to give an exact head count. Six in eleven years.
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outside in
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once again, the foundation wanders with their head cut off - its so sad, no one seems to be able to last more than 3 years without "resigning" and then saying wonderful things about the organization as they are walking out the door. I wish that someone would be truthful about the problems they encounter while trying to get something done.....
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allwrightythen1
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Paul Ringstrom
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Has anyone heard the resolution of the lawsuit concerning the firing of the two long-time women staff members?
I heard Philip D. Allsopp's talk at Unity Temple a few years ago and came away with the impression that they had no "focus" in regards to their mission. They need to concentrate on two or three things and actually do them well instead of the scattershot method that they seem to be employing. They need to define their goals for the year, measure them, and report their results to the stakeholders. This will encourage people to support and invest in their activities.
Also, the FLW School of Architecture needs to focus on inculcating Wright's philosophy and design methodology to their students. Otherwise their raison d'etre ceases to exist.
I heard Philip D. Allsopp's talk at Unity Temple a few years ago and came away with the impression that they had no "focus" in regards to their mission. They need to concentrate on two or three things and actually do them well instead of the scattershot method that they seem to be employing. They need to define their goals for the year, measure them, and report their results to the stakeholders. This will encourage people to support and invest in their activities.
Also, the FLW School of Architecture needs to focus on inculcating Wright's philosophy and design methodology to their students. Otherwise their raison d'etre ceases to exist.
Absolutely. Frank would be rolling over in his grave (if he was down there. Thanks, Olga) to see the turn his legacy has taken. It's sad that most of the best organic architecture has been occurring beyond Taliesin for some time. An indictment of the weakness over the years of those entrusted with passing it on?Paul Ringstrom wrote: Also, the FLW School of Architecture needs to focus on inculcating Wright's philosophy and design methodology to their students. Otherwise their raison d'etre ceases to exist.
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Roderick Grant
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Paul, in order to inculcate FLW's philosophy and methodology, they would have to understand it first. Those apprentices who did, left as soon as FLW died (Mark Heyman left within days of his passing). Taliesin has existed in a time warp for the past 50 years, and it's unlikely to change before the last of the old-timers are gone. Some of those old-timers aren't that old, and could hang around another decade or longer.
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outside in
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roderick, I used to disagree with you, thinking that there was a high level of stewardship at the two Taliesins - since then we have all collectively watched the deterioration worsen, and seen even simple decisions, such as the agreement with the City of Scottsdale, take years to accomplish, rather than months. Preservation studies at Taliesin are still uncompleted after 7 years, and projects that are started, such as Tanyderi, are never finished. Generally speaking, the properties are in far worse shape than they were 10 years ago. The Foundations primary mission, one would think, is to preserve these two properties - and they continue to flounder. When all of the old-timers go, then what, the National Park Service - yikes!
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Paul Ringstrom
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Yes, I realize that. Aren't there any good architects or apprentices we can lure back to teach for a semester or two? I was hopeful when Dyson was there. They finally got Sidney K. Robinson out there to teach Wright 101.Roderick Grant wrote:In order to inculcate FLW's philosophy and methodology, they would have to understand it first.
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Steve Lamb
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Years ago I applied to Taliesin. At that time I had a solid decade of restoring Greene & Greene and R.M. Schindler homes under my belt as a tradesman and had designed and built a couple projects. I was married and my wife was willing to live in a 9'x9' tent on the desert @ Taliesin for me to attend there. I figured this would make me an IDEAL student, since afterall the place was in desperate need of restoration.
The first thing I was told in my interview was "Craftsmen don't do well here" the second, after they noted my university degree and asked me what my major was (modern European History with a minor in the Meji restoration in Japan) I was told "Intellectuals don't do well here." Then "Married people don't do well here." I was sort of confused by these declarations.
They kept asking me why I wanted to come to Taliesin. I kept answering that I believed in Mr. Wright's PHILOSOPHY of design, not just what to design, BUT also HOW one designs and how one lives. They didn't seem happy with this response, either. This was very confusing. They declined me to join. I didn't realize for years that the correct answer would have been "I want to make my ENTIRE life at Taliesin" The funny thing was that at the time this was the case, but i thought it would have been insanely presumptuous of me to declare that I desired to spend my entire lifetime there.
They now NEED me, or people like me, but sadly, they will never take us.
I suspect that the school will die, and T west will end up a Arizona State park, preserved but as Mr. Wright would say, not alive.
This is a tragedy beyond words to me. I so long for the next Bart Prince, the next John Lautner, the next R.M. Schindler to come out of Taliesin. I long for it to be the place it was to be in Mr. Wright's eyes during his best moments.
The first thing I was told in my interview was "Craftsmen don't do well here" the second, after they noted my university degree and asked me what my major was (modern European History with a minor in the Meji restoration in Japan) I was told "Intellectuals don't do well here." Then "Married people don't do well here." I was sort of confused by these declarations.
They kept asking me why I wanted to come to Taliesin. I kept answering that I believed in Mr. Wright's PHILOSOPHY of design, not just what to design, BUT also HOW one designs and how one lives. They didn't seem happy with this response, either. This was very confusing. They declined me to join. I didn't realize for years that the correct answer would have been "I want to make my ENTIRE life at Taliesin" The funny thing was that at the time this was the case, but i thought it would have been insanely presumptuous of me to declare that I desired to spend my entire lifetime there.
They now NEED me, or people like me, but sadly, they will never take us.
I suspect that the school will die, and T west will end up a Arizona State park, preserved but as Mr. Wright would say, not alive.
This is a tragedy beyond words to me. I so long for the next Bart Prince, the next John Lautner, the next R.M. Schindler to come out of Taliesin. I long for it to be the place it was to be in Mr. Wright's eyes during his best moments.
Last edited by Steve Lamb on Tue Jul 06, 2010 6:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mr Lamb:
I commiserate completely with your dismay -- then and now ? -- at the treatment you received at the hands of the Taliesin admission committee. (Would you care to let us know about when this happened ? It would lend further flavor to the tale. I have no intention to take any individuals to task, I assure you !) It is just so replete with irony. . .
While it may be that the architects you mention were indeed enhanced by their brief immersion in Taliesin life and work, I have to believe they would have found their way to glory sooner or later. They would in any event have sought out the work of the Master, even if denied time by his side, and it is the completed work which is the true inspiration and teacher -- I believe. This was your subsequent course of action, was it not ?
Today, Mr Wright is long gone, and so it is, more than ever, the work he left that can teach us how he thought. Of course there is value in spending time at Taliesin, among (somewhat) like-minded individuals. In my four college years, it was the individuals -- faculty and students -- who happened to be there then, who offered (some of them) helpful and instructive example and support, which made my time there worthwhile. This is the case with whichever institution(s) we choose to spend formative time at.
I would of course be interested to learn more about your career. It is not everyone who gets to wrangle and finesse the likes of a Schindler !
(One further point: The longer one delays schooling, the more one has to put into it, and -- correspondingly -- the more one might get out of it, I think. I know that the students who had done some work, or spent time abroad, before joining my college class, were the most motivated and involved -- it seemed to me at the time.)
SDR
I commiserate completely with your dismay -- then and now ? -- at the treatment you received at the hands of the Taliesin admission committee. (Would you care to let us know about when this happened ? It would lend further flavor to the tale. I have no intention to take any individuals to task, I assure you !) It is just so replete with irony. . .
While it may be that the architects you mention were indeed enhanced by their brief immersion in Taliesin life and work, I have to believe they would have found their way to glory sooner or later. They would in any event have sought out the work of the Master, even if denied time by his side, and it is the completed work which is the true inspiration and teacher -- I believe. This was your subsequent course of action, was it not ?
Today, Mr Wright is long gone, and so it is, more than ever, the work he left that can teach us how he thought. Of course there is value in spending time at Taliesin, among (somewhat) like-minded individuals. In my four college years, it was the individuals -- faculty and students -- who happened to be there then, who offered (some of them) helpful and instructive example and support, which made my time there worthwhile. This is the case with whichever institution(s) we choose to spend formative time at.
I would of course be interested to learn more about your career. It is not everyone who gets to wrangle and finesse the likes of a Schindler !
(One further point: The longer one delays schooling, the more one has to put into it, and -- correspondingly -- the more one might get out of it, I think. I know that the students who had done some work, or spent time abroad, before joining my college class, were the most motivated and involved -- it seemed to me at the time.)
SDR
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Paul Ringstrom
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From the post that started this thread...
TALIESIN WEST, SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 6, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of trustees of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced today that Philip D. Allsopp, president and chief executive officer for the past three years, will resign his position effective June 30, 2009.
The board named Anne Maley, president of Anne Maley Consulting, LLC, in Tucson, as chief operating officer responsible for the organization's operations and administration. The staff of the Foundation will report to her. Maley will assume the role of interim president and chief executive officer on July 1 following Allsopp's departure. The board will establish a search committee at a later date to initiate a national search for Allsopp's replacement.
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It has been over a year and they have not hired a new CEO. Doesn't this tell you that there is trouble in paradise? Ms. Maley still holds the interim position according to their website.
TALIESIN WEST, SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 6, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of trustees of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced today that Philip D. Allsopp, president and chief executive officer for the past three years, will resign his position effective June 30, 2009.
The board named Anne Maley, president of Anne Maley Consulting, LLC, in Tucson, as chief operating officer responsible for the organization's operations and administration. The staff of the Foundation will report to her. Maley will assume the role of interim president and chief executive officer on July 1 following Allsopp's departure. The board will establish a search committee at a later date to initiate a national search for Allsopp's replacement.
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It has been over a year and they have not hired a new CEO. Doesn't this tell you that there is trouble in paradise? Ms. Maley still holds the interim position according to their website.