Muntu Dance Theatre
Unity Dance Series Muntu Dance Theatre October 23, 2021 “In essence you are visitors to our village which is wherever we are. We welcome you with Dyembes (drums) and Esparoro (chant). Through the chant we
Unity Temple Congregation 1909 Testimonial
David Sokol is the author of the book The Noble Room which gives a historical perspective of Wright's process in designing and building Unity Temple, as well as the life of the congregation that hired him.
Music in Unity Temple
I recently attended two concerts at Unity Temple, one by Lincoln Trio and the other by Cellissimo. These were my first experiences of hearing music in this venue and both were wonderful. Combining two art
Human Scale & Soaring Spaces
People experience many different emotions as they spend time in buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; awe, amazement, inspiration, calm and, sometimes, a bit of claustrophobia. Wright developed a unique and distinctive style of architecture,
Unity Church Society
The road to design and completion of Unity Temple was hard and slow. By September 26,1909, almost 4 and a half years after the old church was destroyed in the fire, the completed building was
The Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright
A Few Thoughts on The Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, by Lisa Schrenk As a volunteer interpreter at the Home & Studio, I am always interested in adding to my knowledge about the
CENTER OF ATTENTION IN UNITY TEMPLE
It was the Spring of 1987 and I had only lived in Oak Park for about a year. It was my first visit inside of Oak Park’s landmark Unity Temple and now I was front
Concrete Column Capitals
Lacking any other exterior ornamentation, the geometric forms cast into the concrete columns tucked under the eaves of Unity Temple catch your eye. Having parted ways about 10 years earlier with his former employer and
The Gale Family
The lot upon which Unity Temple was constructed was purchased from a prominent congregation member, Edwin O. Gale. The Gale family had deep roots in Chicago and the Oak Park area and a much stronger
A Personal Perspective on Unity Temple
“Architects may come, and architects may go, and never change your point of view. When I run dry, I’ll stop awhile and think of you.” Poet and songwriter Paul Simon, from So long, Frank Lloyd
Wright’s use of Froebel Blocks
For anyone wanting to broaden their understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s design philosophy and techniques, I highly recommend an important book: Inventing Kindergarten by Norman Brosterman (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1997). I think the book
Post Office Neighbor
When Unity Temple was constructed, it was surrounded by houses with the exception of the First Congregational Church and Scoville Institute across the street. Oak Park was experiencing rapid growth during the time Unity Temple
Roberts & Wright Collaborations
Charles Roberts had many interests and activities: inventor, manufacturer, educator, and musician to name but a few. Of these wide ranging activities, his role as chair of the building committee following the 1905 fire that
Hillside at Taliesin
Until Covid-19, I worked for 25 years in various capacities at Taliesin Preservation, including as its historian. When asked to write something here, I remembered the connection between Unity Temple and the Hillside Home School
Two for One: Memories of Unity Temple
As a preservation architect who was raised in Oak Park, it is impossible NOT to have memories of Unity Temple. So, I’ll share a “two for one” memory. In the early years of practice as
Victorian Society of America
As Director of the Victorian Society in America Chicago Summer School program, I have the opportunity to visit many unforgettable buildings in Chicago and the surrounding area. There are several “must see” sites on this
Two Fires Produce Two New Churches
It is easy to find contrasting architectural styles throughout Oak Park. The starkest contrasts are often between the steeply peaked roofs and turrets of Victorian structures and the horizontal lines of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie
Unity Temple – A Visual Interpretation
I was invited to photograph Unity Temple in Oak Park a year ago by Heidi Ruehle, Executive Director of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation, at the annual Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy conference. I took
The Wrights and Augusta Chapin
It is well known that Frank Lloyd Wright came from a family of Unitarians and that he designed Unity Temple while he was living in Oak Park in the home he designed located on Forest
How Did He Dream It?
Contributor Peggy Lami was captured on a first visit to Unity Temple in March of 1985, leading to decades of Wright+ station tours, custom group tours, docent training lectures, and Froebel Blocks workshops. Scroll through
Who Was Edward Ehrman?
On June 9, 1905, only five days after the fire which destroyed the old Unity Church, the congregation voted unanimously to build a new edifice. The committee on the construction of the new church was
The Noble Room
I had been involved with the Wright Home and Studio pretty much since square one and had just served a few months on its Board when I was elected to the Village Board in 1977.
In the Beginning
In the BeginningSometime in the late Spring of 1975, I began leading tours at Unity Temple. It was shortly after what is now the Frank Lloyd Trust had begun restoring the Home & Studio. In
“Cement Gun” Invention
Shotcrete was used to repair the concrete façade of Unity Temple in the 1970s and again during the recent restoration completed in 2017. This product has an interesting local history. The original dry version of