Monthly Update
Saved Together: The Noverre Musson Collection
OA+D is deeply grateful to the many supporters who stepped forward to help fund the acquisition of the Noverre Musson Collection, a rare and deeply personal archive connected to the Taliesin Fellowship and the inner circle of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Because of you, it is now secure.
When these materials unexpectedly appeared at auction, the moment demanded immediate action. A lead donor ensured the collection could be secured in its entirety, preventing its dispersal. What followed was a powerful show of community support. Through contributions large and small, and through the generosity of individuals who donated meaningful items from their own collections to support the effort, the goal was met.
This is what you helped preserve:
• Photographs capturing life at Taliesin, both candid and composed.
• Personal correspondence between Fellowship members, including exchanges with Eugene Masselink.
• Printed materials, announcements, and graphic works that reflect the visual culture of Taliesin.
• One-of-a-kind materials that reveal not just the work, but the relationships, daily rhythms, and creative exchanges that defined the Fellowship experience.
Noverre Musson, a member of the Fellowship from 1935 to 1937 and a close friend of Masselink, carefully kept these materials. What survives offers a rare window into a formative period at Taliesin, one shaped as much by people and ideas as by architecture.
Because of your support, this collection will remain intact and publicly accessible. It will be preserved, cataloged, and made available for research, publication, and exhibition. Instead of being scattered, it will now continue to tell a complete story.
This success is more than an acquisition. It is a reminder of what is possible when a community comes together around a shared belief: that this history matters, and that it deserves to be preserved.
Thank you for making that possible.
Help us save the next collection before it is lost. Become a sustaining member through the Friends of OA+D program and provide the ongoing support that makes acquisitions like this possible. Your membership ensures that irreplaceable materials are preserved, studied, and shared for generations to come.
OA+D NEWS & EVENTS
From The Archives: Easter at Taliesin West, 1950
A remarkable and visually striking piece from the OA+D Archives captures a unique moment in the life of Taliesin: a 1950 Easter program for a special demonstration of the “Movements” honoring G.I. Gurdjieff, presented at Taliesin West.
Encased in a metallic foil gold cover with a circular cutout revealing a geometric Enneagram motif beneath, the brochure is as much an artifact of design as it is of cultural history. The interior unfolds into richly saturated blueprint material pages, delicately flecked with gold, and hand-drawn typography (most likely by Eugene Masselink) that conveys both care and intention. The composition reflects a synthesis of graphic design, symbolism, and spiritual expression, aligning closely with the broader ethos of Taliesin.
The program itself outlines an evening devoted to movement studies rooted in sacred dances and ceremonial practices from the East. Introduced to the Taliesin Fellowship by Olgivanna Lloyd Wright, these teachings formed part of a holistic approach to education that extended beyond architecture into the realms of discipline, awareness, and inner development. Gurdjieff’s Movements were understood not simply as performance, but as a method of integrating mind, body, and spirit.
Text within the program emphasizes that these dances were once considered a form of knowledge, a language through which higher understanding could be transmitted. At Taliesin, they became part of the lived experience of the Fellowship, especially during meaningful occasions such as Easter, where ritual, reflection, and community converged.
This brochure stands as a rare and tangible reminder that life at Taliesin was never solely about buildings. It was about cultivating a complete human experience where architecture, art, philosophy, and spiritual inquiry were deeply intertwined.
If you have archival materials related to Frank Lloyd Wright, the Taliesin Fellowship, or any other organic architectural or design items that you're interested in donating for our growing collections, please let us know by contacting us at info@oadarchives.org.
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Arriving Soon: Spring 2026 Journal of Organic Architecture + Design
The Spring 2026 issue of the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design is now coming off press and beginning to ship. Copies are on their way from the printer and will begin arriving in subscribers’ mailboxes over the coming weeks.
This new issue is devoted to the life and work of Kenneth Treister, whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to the fusion of architecture and art. Through richly illustrated essays and photography, the volume explores work that dissolves the boundaries between structure, sculpture, and landscape. From courtyard houses and experimental schools to civic, religious, and mixed-use projects, Treister’s architecture reveals an organic vision grounded in craft, symbolism, and a deep respect for nature and community.
Influenced by figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Antoni Gaudí, Treister created environments defined by sculptural concrete forms, lush interior gardens, stained glass, carved wood, and integrated artistic elements. Each project is conceived as a total work, designed to be experienced over time.
As this issue begins to arrive, now is the moment to ensure you remain part of the readership.
If your subscription has lapsed, renew today. If you are new to the Journal, consider becoming a Friend of OA+D. Sustaining members automatically receive every issue as it is released, ensuring you never miss a publication while directly supporting the preservation, study, and sharing of organic architecture.
Stay connected. Stay inspired. Renew or join today and keep the Journal coming.