April 24 Sirchio Lecture with Henry Whiting II '73

On Wednesday, April 24th Cranbrook Schools alumnus Henry Whiting II ‘73, restorer and resident of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Teater Studio, will speak on campus as part of Cranbrook Schools' Sirchio Distinguished Speaker Series. The lecture is open to the public and will begin at 7pm at deSalle Auditorium at the Cranbrook Art Museum.

 

Whiting will share his passion for mid-century design and his expertise in the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. His journey into the world of architecture was uniquely shaped by his great-uncle, renowned architect Alden B. Dow, as well as his early exposure to the Cranbrook campus and the architecture of Eliel Saarinen. Whiting is the author of two seminal works, "At Nature's Edge: Frank Lloyd Wright's Artist Studio" and "Teater's Knoll: Frank Lloyd Wright's Idaho Legacy," as well as numerous articles detailing the studio's significance.

 

Feeding Whiting’s early passion for architectural design, Whiting's early immersion in Frank Lloyd Wright's aesthetic and philosophy led him to Idaho, where he played a role in the design and realization of his parents' home in Sun Valley. His connection with Wright's principles led him to commission a contemporary protégé, architect Bart Prince, for a house in Greenhorn Gulch, epitomizing the enduring legacy of Mid-Twentieth Century architecture.

 

Today, residing in Frank Lloyd Wright’s only Idaho building, the Archie Teater Studio in Bliss, Whiting has dedicated over 40 years to its restoration. Renowned as an expert in Wright’s vision of harmonious architectural integration with the landscape, Whiting's lecture will give insight into his lifelong relationship with Mid-Twentieth Century architecture and design. Whiting opens Teater’s Knoll to visitors regularly, and speaks around the country, offering a firsthand account of living within the Mid-Century Modern design ethos and advocating for the preservation of this quintessentially American movement.

 

The Sirchio Lecture is open to the public and there is no charge for tickets, however seating is limited, so let us know you are coming by emailing alumni@cranbrook.edu to ensure availability.

 

Past speakers have included Michael Barone ‘62, Daniel Ellsberg ‘48, Sven Birkerts ‘69, Ward Just ‘53, Natalie Zemon Davis '45, Michael Hodges ’73, Tod Williams ‘61 and Billie Tsien, Rob Edwards ‘81, planetary scientist Cathy Sybert Olkin '84, and author Edmund White ’58.

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