“Growing Up Wright” with author Lonnie Lovness

Lovness Estate in Grant, Minnesota

 Local resident Lonnie Lovness will present the story of her parents Don and Virginia Lovness, who built two Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes by hand just west of Stillwater.  At the age of four she carried small rocks in a bucket to help as her parents labored long hours, and when the first home was completed in 1957 she moved with them from an old trailer into a work of art.

Wright called them his “Do-it-yourself couple”, and her parents became close to Mrs. Wright and the architects and apprentices at Taliesin over several decades.  They were avid proponents of Wright’s philosophies and became noted collectors of Oriental and pre-Columbian art.  Don re-created the Midway Garden “sprites”, built Wright-designed furniture, and was instrumental in saving the Francis Little house in Minnetonka.  Lonnie’s book “Growing Up Wright” tells the story in 288 pages with over 600 photos.

Her presentation will describe the experience of creating and living in a Wright Usonian home, and the adventures her parents had as owners and “unofficial” members of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Fellowship. A book signing will follow the talk and slide show.

Lonnie Lovness