#500FLLWPROJECT / PROJECT Q&A
Q: What was the inspiration for you to embark on this journey? When did it start?
A: It was actually first announced by chance on a local NPR interview I did in 2016. Lauren Gilger, the host was interviewing me because I was starting to photograph a lot of Wright sites, I think I had photographed 15 by then. The last question she asks me was how many I wanted to photograph? It was a simple question but one I had never even thought about, I was only really thinking of the next Wright site I wanted to photograph. Making it my lifelong project never crossed my mind until that question. With that simply question, the only way you can answer that type of question is “Well, all of them.” Boom, the project was born and the adventure began.
Q: What are the goals of the project?
A: (01/03) Re-capture Wright's designs as they are today.
Photographers like Pedro Guerrero, Ezra Stoller, Julius Shulman and Yukio Futagawa captured them so beautifully years ago; all four of them are a daily inspiration in my photography. But there has not been a comprehensive photographic study of Wright buildings in 30+ years. When I say “comprehensive photographic study, I mean not photographing the design from the road. All the Wright design in the project have been done with permission and they all include both interior and exterior images. So I would hope one aspect of this project will be just that, more of a documentary side to it. The images would inform the state of Frank Lloyd Wright designs in the 2000’s.
A: (02/03) Facilitate a viewer's experience with Wright's work.
It's one experience to see Wright’s designs in a book or online. It's a completely different experience to visit and “feel” his architecture. Wright didn't just design buildings, he created spaces that enriched the lives of people that live or have visited his buildings by connecting them with the landscape that surrounds them. I love the quote, “ A good photograph you see, a great photograph you feel”. In my photography if I can capture just a small part of that magic and connection you feel, I would consider that a success.
A: (03/03) Continue Wright's legacy of education.
Wright was a great architect and also an educator, having his architecture school at both Taliesin in Wisconsin and Taliesin West in Arizona since 1932. I am committed to sharing my experiences and project with others through presentations, publications and photography workshops for both kids and adults. A portion of all the print sales in my shop will go directly back to the youth education at Frank Lloyd Wright sites around the country.
Q: How many Wright sites have you photographed so far?
A: It all starting with Taliesin West in my home state of Arizona in 2011. To date, 114 sites of the 431 remaining sites.
Additional FAQs
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A: Frank Lloyd Wright designed over 1000 structures, 532 of them were actually built. Today more then 400 still stand. The #500fllwproject hashtag is an ode to the entire group of designs that were build.
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A: 15 states. See the list.
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A: No, to be included in the project both the interior and exterior of the design must be photographed.
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A: Access is actually the hardest part of the project and one I approach with the upmost respect and privacy. All the designs included in the project have been approved with the owners or directors.
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A: This will be a lifelong passion project for me and a surprise to most it is over 90% self funded. I often get asked how people can support the project. There are a two ways to do this:
1. Making purchases through my Shop page. These purchases support the project and also support Wright's legacy as a portion of the proceeds go to other Frank Lloyd Wright sites–specifically to fund their youth education programs.
2. Donate directly to the project. These funds will only be used for the travel expenses needed to photograph the remaining 300+ Wright sites around the world.
Have a question? Help add to this list.