We reported earlier on the article in the November 2006 issue of Dwell Magazine about original Frank Lloyd Wright clients that still live in their homes. We've had a chance to read the article and thought we'd give you a little more insight into it.
The article, written by Fred Bernstein, grew out of a conversation he had with the octogenarian owner of the George and Clifton Lewis House in Tallahassee, Florida. Bernstein was so inspired by the encounter that he set out to meet as many original Wright home owners as possible. In addition to Clifton Lewis, owner of the previously mentioned Lewis House in Tallahassee, Florida, he also met with Dr. John Christian (owner of "Samara" in West Lafayette, Indiana) and Roland Reisley (owner of the Reisley House in Pleasantville, New York). The article details the way in which each owner's encounters with Wright transformed their lives and made their homes as unique as they were. There are numerous photos of the Christian House, the Reisley House and the Lewis House; along with color images of both the Christian and Reisley original Wright house drawings.
While both the Christian and Reisley homes look well tended and idyllic in their photos, the article ends on a somewhat sad note with the questionable fate of the Lewis House hanging in the balance. With a lack of funds, the home has fallen into a state of disrepair, with the article photos showing the results of letting regular maintenance go by the wayside. The hope of Clifton Lewis is that she can move to a home across the street and turn the home into a tour destination where people can appreciate its restored grandeur and be inspired by the experience.
In all, an excellent article on a subject that is in more need of scholarly attention. It is the original owners who, in many ways, are as important to Wright's legacy as Wright himself. It was their individual lives that Wright was attempting to solidify in brick, wood and concrete when he designed his homes. If any of our readers has any other anecdotes or information on original Wright home owners they would like to share with the PrairieMod community, we would love to hear from you!
Comments