Monthly Update
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Lost Desert Masterpiece Comes to Life at Chandler Museum
Ocatilla: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Lost Desert Masterpiece officially opened to the public on October 27 at the Chandler Museum in Chandler, Arizona. Developed in collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Chandler Museum, this exciting new exhibition brings one of Wright’s most fascinating and unconventional architectural experiments back to life nearly a century after its creation.
Built in 1929 in the Arizona desert, Ocatilla was an extraordinary collection of angular, wood-framed structures with canvas roofs that served as Wright’s home, studio, and creative laboratory. Designed to respond to the rugged desert landscape, the camp represented a bold experiment in lightweight construction, natural materials, and architecture shaped by its environment. Although Ocatilla existed for only a few months, its innovative design and spirit of experimentation foreshadowed ideas that Wright would later develop at Taliesin West.
The exhibition brings the remarkable story of Ocatilla to life through an engaging collection of historic photographs, architectural drawings, rare film footage, archival documents, and original artifacts. Visitors will discover the people, places, and events surrounding Wright's time in Chandler, including his ambitious plans for the nearby San Marcos-in-the-Desert resort. These fascinating materials offer a glimpse into the creative energy of the desert camp and the architectural vision that inspired its construction.
The exhibition's spectacular centerpiece is a full-scale reconstruction of Wright's Ocatilla Office Cabin, recreated by a dedicated team of OA+D volunteers and builders. Standing 12 feet square and featuring the original structure's distinctive angular geometry, wood construction, and canvas roof, the cabin offers visitors an unforgettable opportunity to experience a piece of architectural history that disappeared nearly 100 years ago. Bringing this lost structure back to life required careful study, creative problem-solving, and an extraordinary four-day construction effort in the Arizona heat. The remarkable result is a testament to the commitment and generosity of the team and sponsors who made it possible.
Together, the cabin reconstruction, historic imagery, films, and interpretive displays tell a compelling story of experimentation, ingenuity, and Wright's evolving relationship with the desert. The exhibition also celebrates the collaborative efforts of OA+D and the Chandler Museum to make this important chapter of architectural history accessible to a new generation of visitors.
Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most intriguing lost architectural creations. Ocatilla: Frank Lloyd Wright's Lost Desert Masterpiece is now open at the Chandler Museum, with free admission.
From the Archives: Halloween Greetings from John Amarantides
In the spirit of Halloween, we're sharing a few wonderfully imaginative seasonal greetings created by Taliesin Fellow John Amarantides, whose artistic talents extended well beyond architecture into photography, graphic design, and illustration.
Throughout his life, Amarantides maintained a cherished tradition of designing and hand-lettering original greeting cards for holidays and special occasions, sending them to fellow members of the Taliesin Fellowship, friends, and family. These distinctive creations combined his mastery of typography, geometric composition, and playful imagery, often incorporating clever visual themes and intricate lettering. His Halloween designs are particularly delightful, demonstrating both his remarkable graphic abilities and his sense of humor.
OA+D is especially honored that Amarantides personally selected the Organic Architecture + Design Archives to serve as the repository for his immense and important body of architectural, photographic, and graphic design work. This extraordinary collection preserves not only his professional achievements but also the personal artistic expressions that reveal the creativity, friendships, and enduring traditions of the Taliesin community.
OA+D NEWS & EVENTS
Fresh Off The Press: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price House New Journal OA+D
The newest issue of the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design, VOL. 14 / NO. 3, is now printed and will soon be on its way to subscribers and those who have pre-ordered copies! If you haven't ordered yours yet, now is the perfect time to secure a copy and be among the first to explore one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most compelling desert residences: the Mary Louise and Harold Price, Sr., House in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Designed in 1954 and affectionately known within the family as "Grandma's House," the Price House represents Wright at the height of his mature career. Its concrete block walls, broad cantilevered roofs, expanses of glass, and dramatic open-air atrium create a remarkable response to the Sonoran Desert. Yet despite its architectural significance, the house has never before received this level of published historical analysis and detailed photographic documentation.
Written by acclaimed author and architectural historian Kathryn Smith, this 40-page issue explores the history, design, construction, materials, furnishings, and spatial experience of the house. It also highlights the extraordinary contribution of Taliesin artist Eugene Masselink, whose colorful geometric abstractions were integrated directly into the architecture of the atrium.
Richly illustrated with original Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, rare historic photographs from the OA+D Archives, archival construction materials, and a stunning new color photographic portfolio by Jake Case, VOL. 14 / NO. 3 offers an intimate look at a major Wright residence that deserves to be better known.
Printed and Shipping Soon. Order Your Copy Today!
The printer has finished their work, and copies will soon be arriving in subscribers' mailboxes! Don't miss your opportunity to receive this exceptional issue. Order your copy of Journal OA+D VOL. 14 / NO. 3 today and add this important new study of Wright's architecture to your collection.
Better yet, renew your 3-issue subscription or become a Friend of OA+D sustaining member and ensure you never miss an issue.
Friends of OA+D members receive every new issue of the Journal while their membership remains active, along with exclusive membership benefits. Their ongoing support also helps OA+D preserve, document, and share the legacy of organic architecture and design through publications, exhibitions, and archival preservation.