CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A former apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright will present an anecdotal account of his experiences working alongside the celebrated architect during a public talk Feb. 2 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Edgar Tafel, who studied under Wright from 1932-1941 at the architect’s Taliesin and Taliesin West studios, will speak at 7 p.m. in the Plym Auditorium of Temple Hoyne Buell Hall, 611 Lorado Taft Drive, Champaign. His talk, part of the School of Architecture‘s Max Abramovitz Distinguished Lecture series, is titled “Frank Lloyd Wright and Me.”
As senior apprentice to Wright, Tafel worked on all phases of design and construction of some of Wright’s major projects, including Fallingwater, the Johnson Wax building and the Johnson home, Wingspread. Throughout his career, Tafel – who was the head of his own architectural practice in New York – has been involved with various efforts to preserve Wright buildings.
Tafel, who studied architecture at New York University before his apprenticeship with Wright, has written numerous articles about his master teacher, along with two books: “Years With Wright: Apprentice to Genius” and “About Wright.” He has lectured in Europe and the United States, and holds an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York.
During his lecture at Illinois, Tafel plans to discuss his relationship with Wright, the projects they completed, and subsequent conservation of Wright buildings. He also will talk about his experience with the Landmarks Commission and will present examples of his own firm’s planning and design projects, which range from schools, colleges, churches and synagogues to factories and residences.
