Trip Introduction
In May of 2011 the Milwaukee Art Museum opened an exhibit with various sketches and models from Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio. We joined an event organized by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation that allowed a limited group a preview the Friday evening before the exhibit officially opened followed by a bus tour of Wright's home, Taliesin, on Saturday. James always appreciated the famous architect’s work and was also excited to see the Santiago Calatrava designed addition to the museum.
Friday, 05/13/2011 – Driving to Milwaukee
The drive from Des Moines to Milwaukee takes about 5 hours. James had gotten a new pick-up truck, so we left mid-morning planning to stop at The House on the Rock on the way. The weather was nice as we headed northeast out of Iowa through Dubuque. Once we got a little farther north, some clouds moved in and the temps dropped.
We stopped at The House on the Rockwhich is a unique building built to house Alex Jordan’s personal collection of artifacts. It opened to the public in 1960. The “house” has gardens and a cantilevered observation deck offering incredible views over the central Wisconsin hills. While we were visting, some rain moved into the area.
We arrived in Milwaukee in time to check-in at our hotel, freshen up, and change clothes before heading to the preview event at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Before seeing the exhibit, the group was able to take a short ferry ride out on Lake Michigan and watch as the “wings” raise; unfortunately, since photography wasn’t allowed in the exhibit, we didn’t have a camera with us. We greatly enjoyed seeing Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas on paper and in models. Much of the exhibit focused on his thoughts concerning urban planning and sprawl after WWII.
One of the courtyards at The House on the Rock
A fountain in the courtyard
Looking out from the observation deck
The observation deck was designed to feel like it extends a long distance
One of the art pieces
The rain falls in another courtyard
Another piece of art protected from the rain
Saturday, 05/14/2011 – Visting Taliesin
On Saturday, the bus headed west toward Spring Green where Frank Lloyd Wright built his studio and home which he named Taliesin. The group received a private walking tour of the grounds and buildings.
Wright believed buildings should be in harmony with nature and his home was located with that in mind. Instead of building a structure on top of the hill, he dug into the ground, so the building seemed to be part of the surroundings. He also situated rooms and windows in such a way that they highlighted the landscapes and vistas around the property. Unfortunately, we could not take pictures inside. As he aged, Wright’s doctors encouraged him to live somewhere warmer and dryer, so he built Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ. For many years, he and his students would travel back and forth like modern snowbirds.
After a wonderful day, the bus returned the group to Milwaukee where we grabbed a bite for supper before retiring to the hotel for the night.
Taliesin from Highway 23
Coming up the drive to Taliesin
The carport
The house is built to embrace nature
The stone ties the house to the hillside
The dated cornerstone
Sunday, 05/15/2011 – Venturing Home
We drove home on Sunday without stopping anywhere. While the weather could have been a little better, we enjoyed seeing some amazing architecture on our brief venture into the Badger state.