Wright Chat

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 791

Most of you have seen photos of the sculptures used to mark the entry to the Ravine Bluffs Subdivision. Wright was busy in Japan at the time, so little is known as to the origins of these concrete sculptures. The drawings appear to be in Van Bergen's hand. This past weekend's rains appear to have been the final straw in the valiant effort to keep the planter at Sylvan and Franklin Streets patched together. Note to self - "always waterproof the inside of a concrete planter, and always provide more than adequate drainage" - the freeze/thaw of moisture over time can cause concrete to literally blow apart.

Roderick Grant · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 3943

Would it be difficult to replace the sphere and restore the rest?

jmcnally · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Posts: 326

It can be restored, as Prof. Storrer says that the two on the street corners are "rebuilt" anyway (I don't know if this is equivalent to "replica"). The one in the wooded cul-de-sac is an original.

My photos from two months ago show where the failure is about to occur (bottom photos):
http://www.flwright.us/FLW185.htm

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 791

I believe all three markers are original - for a while the street markers lacked their light fixture tops, so those were replicated and reinstalled, however the concrete dates from 1915. He may have been fooled by the buildup of several coats of paint on the concrete.

jmcnally · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Posts: 326

or he may have used a term that expresses ambiguity. I would love to hear from others about these interesting sculptures. I was also intrigued on that visit by the nearby bridge that Wright designed. It's really a fascinating place.

Tim · Joined: 07 Feb 2010 Posts: 89

Who owns the sculptures? The city?

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 791

yes, the village of glencoe is responsible for repair and maintenance

Paul Ringstrom · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 2221 Location: Mason City, IA

Chatters who are motivated can contact the Village of Glencoe directly at: 847-835-4111 or email them: info@villageofglencoe.org

I recommend sending along one of the above photos, if you email them.

Paul Ringstrom · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 2221 Location: Mason City, IA

From: John Houde
Subject: FLWright monument planter
To: John Thorpe

Hi John:

Thank you for your email. The three planters are owned by the Village of Glencoe . The one at Franklin and Meadow the Village has a maintenance easement for the portion that is not located on public property. They have been maintained by the Village over the past 30 years. The missing metal light fixtures (not operable) on all three monuments were donated by a resident about 10 years ago using plans I had prepared. The monument you noted at the corner of Franklin and Sylvan had been patched over a period of years by the Village. Several large chunks of concrete, about 20% of the bottom half of the round ball portion of the monument fell off about two weeks ago. The Village will be removing this debris. It is anticipated that the repouring of concrete for the bottom portion of the “ball” will require funds from our Village’s next year municipal budget and/or from private contributions. Thank you for your interest. Please feel free to forward this email to all those who may be interested. We anticipate obtaining a projected budget cost in the near future.

John Houde
Village of Glencoe

jmcnally · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Posts: 326

Paul - thanks for looking into this and posing the right questions, as well as posting the response you received.

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 791

The Glencoe Historical Society will be accepting donations (501c3) for the restoration of ALL 3 of the Ravine Bluffs Markers, though the planter at Sylvan and Franklin is the most pressing project. The restoration cost of this marker is $16,000 and includes stripping of paint, installation of drains, concrete repair and reactivation of the light fixture.

If there are any kind, caring people who would like to donate anything (even $5!) it would be greatly appreciated. We would like to accomplish the work before the cold sets in, and before it gets worse. Please send your donations to:

The Glencoe Historical Society
377 Park Avenue Glencoe, IL 60022–1551
and write "Ravine Bluffs Planter" on the check.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

DavidC · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 3181 Location: Oak Ridge, TN

Pounded by the weather, Wright's Glencoe subdivision markers are crumbling

David

272Sylvan · Joined: 24 Jan 2012 Posts: 49 Location: Glencoe, Illinois

[img]

IMG_1858 by 272Sylvan, on Flickr[/img]
The marker in front of my house is still in one piece, but you can see in this photo from earlier this year that the bottom is covered with cracks. I talked to John Houde (of the Village of Glencoe) at length when I was negotiating the permit for the tree removal from my property. He brought up the markers in that conversation. He asked if I know what had happened to the cover that used to be on the marker in front of my house. You can see it in this photo. Apparently the Village had covers made for them that is supposed to reduce the amount of water that gets into them in the winter. The cover had disappeared and the Village didn't know where it went. So, it seems they have made some attempts to maintain them over the years.

DRN · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 1549 Location: New Jersey

272Sylvan wrote:

outside in · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 791

John Houde and the Village of Glencoe should be very proud of their efforts to maintain the planters. He understood the problem and tried to slow the deterioration as best he could. Painting the markers also served to protect the concrete from the effects of weather. Unfortunately, you can only leave art out in the rain for a limited amount of time before it needs work.