Monthly Update
First OA+D Celebration A Success!
Earlier this month, the OA+D Archives held its inaugural "Organic Architecture and Design Celebration" in Chandler, Arizona. The event, held over November 8th, 9th, and 10th, saw scores of people passionate about all things organic come to the city of Chandler to participate in an informative symposium of speakers, take self-guided tours of local Wright-related sites, experience the special OA+D artifacts exhibits, see Louis Wiehle receive the fist OA+D Lifetime Achievement Award, and socially catch-up with old and new friends.
One of the highlights of the entire weekend took place Sunday morning at the OA+D Study Center, where William Minnich regaled attendees with the history and personal stories of his family's business, Minic Accessories, working in the 1950s with Frank Lloyd Wright. The Minnich's helped create and craft a series uniquely-designed wooden vases to complement Mr. Wright's "Taliesin Line" of decorative accessories. The discussion perfectly complemented the special exhibit of prototype Minic wood vases donated by Mr. Minnich, which are on display at the OA+D Study Center.
We wanted to extend our deep appreciation to everyone who attended, our event partners and generous sponsors who helped make it all happen, and our extended OA+D family for all their hard work pulling the Celebration together. We're already planning for next year's event and we will share news and updates as we develop things for 2025.
In the meantime, if you are near the Chandler area and want to view the "Treasures of OA+D" exhibit at the Chandler Museum, it will be on view in the Price House gallery until January 26, 2025. More details here.
From The Archives
This month we feature an artifact that OA+D was able to save from the now-lost Ascension Lutheran Church: A large hanging chandelier. One of two we were able to salvage, the chandelier's design is a combination of five interlocking pentagons made of brass rods that hold five semi-transparent white acrylic globes which are also comprised of nested pentagons. Each of these massive lighting fixtures originally hung over the congregation and illuminated the interior of the Taliesin Associated Architects-designed church. OA+D carefully removed both chandeliers, along with several other important decorative items once housed in the church. Our hope is that by preserving these artifacts we can help educate the public and avoid cultural losses like this in the future.
OA+D NEWS & EVENTS
Pre-Order Journal OA+D V12:N3 :: Coming Soon
We're excited to announce the winter 2024 issue of the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design, which documents the history and tragic loss of William Wesley Peters' Ascension Lutheran Church, formally of Paradise Valley, AZ.
In early 2024 OA+D received an unusual donor request: save what you can of Ascension Lutheran Church before demolition to make way for new luxury homes. Efforts to save or repurpose the iconic 1961 church designed by Taliesin Architect William Wesley Peters had failed and a deadline was set for demolition plans to begin. OA+D responded with a series of visits, meetings with congregation leaders, and ultimately two days worth of careful deconstruction and removal of original design elements. Although important materials from the building were saved, the loss of this unique design merits deeper discussion.
This 40-page publication is a memorial to this lost work of organic architecture: its origins, the ideas behind its design, how it ultimately came to be built, and finally destroyed. Includes vintage construction photos, drawings, plans, and photo documentation of the building's exterior and interior features prior to its demolition. A final portfolio of photos documents OA+D's efforts to preserve what was possible from the building as a way to hopefully inform and inspire others to avoid losses like this in the future.
Subscribers to the journal can look forward to their copies arriving to their mailboxes near the end of December. Others can PRE-ORDER this issue HERE and be one of the first to receive it when it does ship.
Or you can give the gift of this issue and more by purchasing an annual subscription to the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design HERE.
Support OA+D On Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is around the corner and there's no better time to help support the exciting and important work being done at the OA+D Archives.
In 2024, the generosity of donors helped OA+D further its mission to preserve the legacy of organic architecture and design through conservation of original archival materials, education, publication, and exhibition. The support we've received directly impacts our efforts. But we need your continued financial support.
So, what does it mean when you give to OA+D?
• $1,000 could help towards the printing costs of one of our groundbreaking issues of the Journal of Organic Architecture + Design.
• $500 could help cover the costs of scanning and describing a group of materials for upload to our online archival catalog.
• $250 could help towards the development of new exhibitions, educational programming, and special events.
• $100 helps towards the purchase of vital archival storage folders to keep sensitive original drawings protected.
• A gift of any amount helps in the ongoing effort to preserve the organic legacy and inspire future generations.
EVERY DONATION COUNTS
Show your support with a year-end tax-deductible donation in time for Giving Tuesday!