An Afternoon with Frank Lloyd Wright

Lecture Event to be held in Quasqueton, Iowa at 1 p.m., Saturday, October 24th.

An Afternoon With Frank Lloyd Wright Save the date!

Plan to be in Quasqueton, Iowa on Saturday, October 24th for an event titled "An Afternoon with Frank Lloyd Wright". Why there? Well, the Wright-designed Lowell Walter House (or "Cedar Rock") is close by and this event is presented by the Cedar Rock Friends Group. Read more after the jump...

"An Afternoon with Frank Lloyd Wright" will feature two speakers: Steve Sikora and Phil Fedderson. Steve Sikora calls himself a Wright home restorationist. Mr. Sikora has an design firm in Minnesota. He and his wife are the current owner of the Wright designed Willey House. His presentation is titled "Wright to Life" and will include some first hand home-owner experiences.

Phil Feddersen is a semi-retired architect from Iowa who not only has been photographing Wright's buildings for almost 60 years he was a friend of Wright's personal secretary Eugene Masselink. His presentation is titled "Wrightian Fragments" and should be a wealth of information on many things Wright.

The Cedar Rock Friends Group is a growing group of wonderful people who are willing to volunteer their time and energies to support the Walter House at Cedar Rock State Park. Their defined mission statement is "To support and sustain the preservation, maintenance, and development of Frank Lloyd Wright's Walter House through education, promotion, and fundraising,"

The event starts at 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in downtown Quasqueton, IA and ends at 4:00 p.m. so that participants can catch the last tour of the day at Cedar Rock - which is at 4:30 p.m. Guests are asked to donate $7.00 to the Cedar Rock Friends Group to help defray expenses of the event. People with questions, or who want to reserve a chair are invited to e-mail Cedar_Rock@dnr.iowa.gov.

This looks like it will be a fantastic event that should not be missed! See you there!

Seating is limited, so please reserve your place today. For reservations or additional information, contact Pat Schmitz, Cedar Rock State Park by e-mail at Cedar_Rock@dnr.iowa.gov or by phone at (319) 934-3572.

Celebrate Frank Lloyd Wright's Birthday at Cedar Rock

Join us for a celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Birthday at the Walters Residence - Cedar Rock State Park on June 6.

When Iowa businessman Lowell Walter died in August of 1981, he and his wife, Agnes, left their dream home, Cedar Rock, to the Iowa Conservation Commission and the people of Iowa. Designed by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the residence lies on a limestone bluff overlooking the Wapsipinicon River near Quasqueton in Buchanan County. Cedar Rock is one of seven residences Wright designed in Iowa.

The Walter house was one of Wright's most complete designs. Nearly everything at Cedar Rock bears the architect's imprint. Wright designed the furniture, selected the carpets, chose the draperies and even picked out the accessories. Cedar Rock was begun in 1948 and completed in 1950. It's roof and floors are concrete; the walls are brick, glass and walnut.

The Walter house is an example of a simplified style of house Frank Lloyd Wright developed and called "Usonian". The plan for the Walter house follows the characteristic "tadpole" form, typical of Wright's Usonian homes - the bedroom wing of the house constituting the tail of the "tadpole" and the living/dining room the head. The house is one story and the overall length is about 150 feet.

Everything about the Walter residence is compact and efficient - everything, that is, but the combination living/dining room which Wright called "the Garden Room". The Garden Room covers more than 900 square feet and has a fireplace which can hold five-foot logs.

The view of the river and wooded valley, through the Garden Room's three glass walls, is breathtaking. Glass doors open directly from living areas to ground-level terraces.

Natural light fills the house. Broad overhangs with upturned edges soften sunlight and shade the glass walls. There are openings in the overhangs covered with vines for summer shade. Clerestory windows, or "skylights", are incorporated in every room to brighten interior spaces and release hot air trapped near the ceiling. Recessed artificial lighting creates the effect of natural light, even at night.

The Walters were justifiably proud of Cedar Rock. Very little has been altered in the house since its construction and the structure and furnishings are in good condition.

Cedar Rock State Park - Candle Light Walk

When: Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

What: Celebrate the 142nd anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright's upcoming birthday. Take this chance to enjoy the estate by luminary light. The typically inaccessible maid's quarters and boat pavilion will be open. Birthday refreshments will be served around a fire at the Walter House grounds. Guests meet at the Cedar Rock visitor center.

Questions can be directed to cedar_rock@dnr.iowa.gov or by calling the park office at 319-934-3572.