Frank Lloyd Wright and Me

Max Abramovitz Distinguished Lecture

Monday, February 2, 2004
7:00 P.M. - Lawrence J. Plym Auditorium
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall

Edgar Tafel, Architect

Edgar Tafel studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright from 1932 to 1941 at both Taliesin and Taliesin West. As senior apprentice, Mr. Tafel worked with Wright on all phases of the design and construction of such major projects as Fallingwater, the Johnson Wax Building and the Johnson home, Wingspread. Throughout his years of practice, Mr. Tafel has been involved with Wright buildings and with their preservation. Mr. Tafel's current office and home are in New York City where he heads an active practice in planning and designing colleges, schools, churches, synagogues, factories, residences and other buildings. In addition to his practice, he is the author of numerous articles and two books about the work of Wright, Years with Wright: Apprentice to Genius and About Wright. Prior to his apprenticeship at Taliesin, Mr. Tafel studied architecture at the School of Architecture at New York University and holds the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York. His writings have been extensively published and he has lectured both in Europe and the United States.

In his lecture Mr. Tafel will discuss his years of apprenticeship to Wright and the projects with which he was intimately involved. Through the lense of personal experience he will outline both the creation of these works, as well as ongoing efforts to preserve them. Mr. Tafel will present examples of his own firm's work in and around New York City and describe his experience with the Landmarks Commission. An accompanying exhibit on the work of Frank Lloyd Wright will be displayed in the west gallery of Temple Hoyne Buell Hall.