Taliesin West
This past July, while staying in Arizona, I was able to visit the magical Taliesin West in Scottsdale. Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio from 1937 until his death in 1959. Upon meeting with Wisconsin-based friend, architect, educator and FLW authority, Eric Vogel, we began a several-hours long tour of the campus and outlying areas. Our visit began with a “back-lot” excursion around the Taliesin grounds at the feet of the McDowell Mountains. Scattered throughout the desert landscape were remnants of past Taliesin students’ shelters and projects in various states of construction/deterioration. We were brought to a 1000s year old Native American (Hohokam) site on the property to view ancient petrogylphs, rock deposits, and other artifacts that have been left untouched for centuries.
Eric had been staying on site, living in the desert house designed by the Egyptian architect Kamal Amin, a later FLW apprentice. Eric had been completing research for an upcoming exhibit on the chairs of Frank Lloyd Wright. Eric’s exhibit will be opening at the Museum of Wisconsin Art during the Fall of 2025.
The visit provided endless inspiration in both the spiritual significance of the site as well as in the geometry and natural beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright’s timeless work.
