May 5– June 24, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Studio presents “Frank Lloyd Wright and Usonia: An Experiment in Living”

Curated by: Johanna Cooper
Opening reception: May 5th, from 1-3 p.m.
Opening reception and exhibition viewing free to the public.

Lecture by Roland Reisley: May 5th, 3 p.m. at The Studio.
Author of Usonia New York: Building a Community with Frank Lloyd Wright.
Advance Reservations Required. $10. Fee.

The Studio: An Alternative Space for Contemporary Art is pleased to host Frank Lloyd Wright and Usonia: An Experiment in Living. This landmark exhibition about Usonia, the first in twenty-five years, will include archival materials not previously available to the public. Such items include pages from the New York Times dating back to 1947, architectural drawings by Wright and his Taliesin apprentices, original site plans and color renderings of houses. Visitors will also have the opportunity to listen to recorded statements made by founding members of Usonia. This exhibit will illuminate aspects of American society and culture after WWII, highlighting the ideals and the struggles of the founders of Usonia. The show is also relevant to issues in contemporary architecture and to the environmental concerns of today.

Usonia is the name of a cooperative community located on 100 acres in Westchester County. It consists of 47 homes, 3 of which were designed by Wright himself. Usonia was created by a group of idealistic families who dreamed of a modernist, alternate life style. They were intrigued by the vision of eighty year-old Frank Lloyd Wright, who wanted to create a truly American architectural idiom, accessible to “everyman”. Wright used the term “usonian” to describe houses that were to have a strong connection with nature, echoing the forms of the land and utilizing natural materials, such as wood, glass, stone or other masonry.

About the curator…
Johanna Cooper and her husband have lived in Usonia for thirty-five years, raising three children there. She can remember the first time she saw her usonian house, for her reaction was immediate and positive. However, a true understanding of the underlying principles of Usonia unfolded more slowly, through a process of living in the community. She was fascinated by the strong bonds of the original founding members and noted that that the children growing up in Usonia considered themselves to be part of a large family. She greatly appreciated the reverence for nature and for the esthetics of one of America’s foremost architects that permeated the community. The impact of all of these observations was profound, leading Ms. Cooper to further inquiry, which culminated in her thesis for a graduate degree in Anthropology at Columbia University. This exhibition is based on the research and oral histories obtained for the community study called, “Survival of a Utopian Community.”

Ms. Cooper has designed book jackets. She has worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of African Art, and she is currently a tour guide at the Neuberger Museum of Art. She is also a fine artist who creates geometric abstractions using oil paint on wooden constructions.

About the lecturer…
Roland Reisley is the author of “USONIA NEW YORK: BUILDING A
COMMUNITY WITH FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.” (Princeton Architectural Press) He has been a member of Usonia Homes-A Cooperative since 1950, and secretary, a director, and de facto historian of the community for many years. He was a client of Frank Lloyd Wright in the design and construction of the Reisley House and was the founding secretary and director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. Once a physicist, he is now retired.

Mr. Reisley is an accomplished photographer. He set out to document the houses in Usonia but hesitated, realizing that the buildings would survive, while many members would not. Thus, he decided to record oral histories in order to preserve the particular perspective on the quality of life experienced by the people who created the community.

The Studio is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm during exhibitions and by appointment. The Studio is located at 2 Maryland Avenue in Armonk. For reservations, appointments during the week or directions please call Katie Stratis at (914) 273-1452 or visit the web site at www.thestudiony-alternative.org. The sculpture garden is open year-round and no appointment is needed.

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Copyright: The Studio 2007