Community Corner

Frank Lloyd Wright: The Story

Enjoy an exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum even more by reading up on the artist.

There’s a lot of buzz around town about the new exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum -- “Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century.”  The exhibit runs until May 15 and features never-before-shown drawings as well as rare home movies. 

To get the most out of the exhibit, first read up on Wright’s architectural principals and what made the man tick. Stop by the , which has many books about this famous architect with strong Wisconsin connections.

There are books about his architectural style and famous building in the 720’s section.  Try some of these:

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Frank Lloyd Wright: Prairie Houses  by Hess (720.073 H586)

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace by Mollenhoff (725.91 M726)

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin and Taliesin West by Smith (720.92 W 949S)

Wright-Sized Houses: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Solutions for Making Small Houses Feel Big by Maddox (728.37 M179)

There are biographies about Frank Lloyd Wright in the 920’s section including:

The Fellowship: The Untold Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship by Friedland (920 W949F) “…unforgettable story of genius and ego, sex and violence, mysticism and utopianism.”

If you like a good mystery, try this book about the Taliesin murders:

Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders by Drennan (364.1523 D772) These notorious murders occurred at Wright’s Wisconsin estate, Taliesin, in 1914.

Some authors have added a bit of their own interpretations to Wright’s life.  These books are classified as fiction:

Loving Frank: A Novel by Horan (Fiction Horan) Tells the story of the relationship between the legendary architect and Mamah Cheney, the wife of a couple whose home Wright built in 1904.

The Women: A Novel by Boyle (Fiction Boyle) Recounts his life as told through the experiences of the four women who loved him.

And for children, these titles may be of interest:

Frank Lloyd Wright for Kids by Thorne-Thomsen (J720.92 W949T) Includes stimulating projects that help kids learn about the ideas underlying Wright’s work.

Simply Wright: A Journey into the Ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architecture by Fleming (J720.92 F597) Photographs, drawings, and text introduce Wright and examine the architectural principles evident in his work.

The Wright 3 by Balliett (Juvenile Balliett) In the midst of a series of unexplained accidents and mysterious coincidences, three sixth-graders try to protect the famous Robie House from demolition.

A good read can add a deeper understanding to a museum visit.  Enjoy them both!


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