In honor of the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth this June, New Canaan Library is pleased to present a lecture by Professor Joseph Siry of Wesleyan University. Professor Siry will speak about the sacred spaces designed by the renowned architect. The lecture takes place on Sunday, June 18 at 2 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room. Please register online at newcanaanlibrary.org.
Though most famous for his residential architecture, Wright also designed religious spaces for Christian and Jewish congregations. He incorporated the religious symbols and customs of each denomination into the design of the buildings, in tandem with an innovative use of modern materials. Examples of his religious architecture include: Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois (1909), Annie M. Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College (1938), First Unitarian Society Meeting House, Madison, Wisconsin (1952), Beth Sholom Synagogue, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania (1959), and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1961).
Joseph Siry is a Professor of Modern Architectural History at Wesleyan University. In 2015, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy gave him its Wright Spirit Award for his decades of scholarship on Wright’s architecture. He has published numerous acclaimed books and articles about Wright.