UVic returns Frank Lloyd Wright art glass to Martin House

Seven exquisite stained glass windows, designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and owned by the University of Victoria since 1968, will be reinstalled in Martin House, a public landmark and architectural masterpiece designed by Wright in the early 20th century in Buffalo, New York. The windows are being returned by UVic as a gesture of deep community commitment in this 150th anniversary of Wright’s birth.

“We are doing the ‘Wright’ thing by reuniting these stunningly beautiful light screens within their original context,” says Director of UVic Legacy Art Galleries Mary Jo Hughes. “Because UVic recognizes that Wright’s work can only fully be understood when seen as a unified whole, the light screens will go home this fall to Martin House, following five decades of careful stewardship by the university.”

Originally containing a brilliant collection of nearly 400 art glass windows, doors, skylights and casements, as well as custom furnishings and other decorative objects, Martin House was designed and built by Wright for wealthy Buffalo businessman Darwin D. Martin in the early 1900s. Martin’s patronage of the young Wright brought acclaim to the architect’s early career and the Darwin D. Martin Complex is one of Wright’s most impressive structures. It is his only residential project to include multiple buildings.

Executive Director of Martin House Mary Roberts adds: “The light screens represent a broad sampling of Wright’s genius in glass, which is critical to the scholarly interpretation and general appreciation of the complex.”

UVic Legacy Art Galleries serves the university and wider community through exhibitions, programs and events, and as a teaching and research resource. It is the official steward of the university’s extensive art collection and oversees approximately 20,000 objects.

Everyone has a chance to bid farewell to the light screens during the upcoming exhibition, “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright” (July 15 to Sept. 16) curated by UVic alumna Emerald Johnstone-Bedell at Legacy Downtown, UVic’s free public art gallery on Yates Street. The windows will be shipped to the US in October.

A presskit containing high-resolution photos is available to media on Dropbox.

More about the Frank Lloyd Wright light screens

Darwin D. Martin House press release

Follow @UVICGalleries #SoLongFLW #FLW150

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