frank lloyd is haunting me

Last year I read two novels about FLW, “Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan and “The Women” by T.C. Boyle.  (The former was my favorite, by far.) And you know these things go, once you put your awareness on something, it seems to be everywhere. So here’s the web that FLW is weaving around me. Are you ready?

Shortly after I put those two books down the local arts community in Tucson hosted a studio open house. I found the most amazing art, my favorite being this. It made my stomach flip. I went back multiple times to the artist’s studio and home. Ultimately, I bought a piece.

The artist’s wife gave my family a tour of his studio and home. And the home was lovely, the most perfect house I have ever been in. No grand entrances, no granite countertops, no artificial trappings of what these modern times call “success.” What was evident was a safe, welcoming, inviting floor plan and the type of décor that suggests a life well lived: art, textiles, photographs. Things were functional and beautiful, nothing obnoxious or ostentatious. Everything was honest.

So how does this connect to FLW? One of his apprentices was the architect. (I’m not sure which one. I must find this out.) And once the artist’s gracious wife told me this, and I stood in that powerful house, I understood how relevant and radical FLW’s work is still today.

Fast forward a few months and I’m taking a watercolor class and decide to research my favorite watercolor artist, Carl Larsson. I picked up “Carl and Karin Larsson: creators of the Swedish Style” by Snodin and Hidemark at the library. It’s the kind of book that reveals itself over time. I could imagine discovering something each time I read it, never really understanding all of its implications. The Larssons were about a lot of things, the relevant one here is that they believed that home and family life should be beautiful.

The book mentions Ellen Key, a Swedish feminist writer who wrote on ethics, education and family life – just like the Larssons – and many other fields. It is this similar interest of the importance of family life, as well as their shared nationality, and the simple fact that they lived during the same times. I’m not sure if they ever met or collaborated though it’s interesting to see how closely connected many important people are. (By important I am referring to those people who think and contribute to the advancement of the world. This is in direct opposition to what our society deems important now: reality TV show stars, the latest antics of celebrities and buying, buying, buying.)

The FLW connection? Several of Key’s writings were translated into English by FLW’s mistress Mamah Borthwick.

The next week I’m at the library and I pick up a book, “The Red Rose Crew: A True Story of Women, Winning and the Water” by Daniel J. Boyne

because though I had high hopes of rowing when I moved out here, it seems that I should have moved to Alexandria, VA – an hour north – if I wanted to give it a go. So it seems that this book will have to satisfy my desire to row. (I did not seek out this book; it was just in a display of books about boats. I casually picked it up.) I begin reading the book and first learn about Carie Graves, who eventually becomes the lead rower of the first international women’s crew team.

The FLW connection? Graves was raised in Spring Green, Wisconsin which also happens to be FLW’s home base. Graves’ childhood was filled with a conflicting mish-mash of reserved, conservative farmers and the bohemian, creative, free-wheeling element that FLW brought to that part of the world.

Do you believe me yet that FLW is haunting me?

Finally, driving to my book binding class I pass a sign for the Pope-Leighey House. I discover that this house was designed by FLW and is a “modestly-scaled family dwelling that was (relatively) affordable, designed for family life, and responded to the surrounding environment.”

Of course, I need to visit it and soon. Not just because I’m here but because I am curious how similar it is to the house in Tucson that is a “modestly-scaled family dwelling” that was designed by one of his many apprentices.

Also, I really don’t think FLW will leave me alone until I do.