The Frank Lloyd Wright Newsblog

2 Comments

1. Bob Blackburn
   Posted November 27, 2007 at 7:23 pm | Permalink

   What a blast from the past! In the early 60’s there were enormous billboards on the freeway from Detroit to Chicago advertising FLlW’s Snowflake Motel. My partner and I were on our way to Taliesin to visit Mrs. Wright re. building an unexecuted Wright house in Canada. I had never heard about this motel; I knew about the Weland Motor Hotel project from a book of unexecuted projects. We dutifully drove to the Snowflake and booked a night’s stay. It was silly in a very-late Wright Baubles, Bangles and Bows kind of way (a poor man’s Marin County) BUT the room was delightful, simple and perfect. The roof sloped up towards the court, the entry was low-ceilinged for drama and there was a Wright deck over the glass wall. The built-ins were perfect. I knew intuitively it was NOT Wright but there were deft touches that I would later attribute to Cornelia Brierly , Jack Howe and John De Koven Hill. We loved our stay. I recall that the owner had a physically-challenged daughter and he felt this motel would serve her well. They were proud of the enormous framed presentation perspective that was in the lobby. I noted that it was not signed.
   When we arrived at Taliesin (Wisc.) Wes became our host and a delightful one at that. Olgivanna was in Switzerland having her face peeled (Thank God) He was a true gentleman and I was not. I did not know that he designed; I thought he engineered them. So I waxed forth about this motel that used FLlW’s name to attract guests. The poor man never said that he had done it. He said it was a work of The Taliesin Associated Architects based on sketches Mr. Wright had once done for a motor court for Broadacres City. I still feel my neck. Wes was a jewel of a man. We did not take evening formal attire for the traditional Saturday event. We had nifty jackets and slacks with shirts and ties BUT not tuxes. The great man, that he was, dressed down to make us feel welcome. I’ll always remember his grace. We were with him for three days and some day I’ll publish the notes I took about who did what to whom - architecturally speaking according to Wes. There were magnificent photos of late Wright works on the walls. There were frivolous, highly decorative structures there and I recall saying, “This isn’t Mr. Wright>” and Wes filled me in. I am truly sorry I was so pedantic and showoffy and hurt him. He was a secondary designer but he made the great one look good. FLlW drew marvelous sketches, Jack Howe fleshed them out and wonderful Wes tucked in the steel that made the cantilevers work.
   To make a very long story short Taliesin forced the Snowflake’s owner to change his billboard’s. I forget the new wording but it would not cause you to make a detour, I’ll tell you.
   Isn’t the power of Wright something?
   I love the guy.

   Be well,

   Bob Blackburn - Toronto

2. Douglas Anders
   Posted November 28, 2007 at 9:04 am | Permalink

   Wes Peters always shined out from the histories of Wright as a good human being and talented artist. It’s nice to know the reality matches the impression.