Olgivanna Lloyd Wright
Encyclopedia
Olgivanna Lloyd Wright was the third and final wife of Frank Lloyd Wright
and had significant influence in his life and work, due in part to her extensive Theosophical
associations. She was a Serb Montenegrin dancer. While her "language, cultural background and upbringing were almost exotically alien to his own," she was critical in introducing Wright to Greek-Armenian mystic G. I. Gurdjieff
, a man whom he alternately despised and admired. She is a principal character in T.C. Boyle's 2009
novel, The Women
.
on 27 December 1898. to Ivan Lazovich and Militza Miljanova, daughter of Vojvoda Marko Miljanov
. She was the granddaughter of a famous Montenegrin writer, tribe leader of Kuči, Montenegrin duke, and hero Marko Miljanov
. A long-time pupil and devotee of G. I. Gurdjieff (even after her involvement with Wright), she was also a nurse to Katherine Mansfield
on her deathbed at G. I. Gurdjieff's Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man at the Prieuré des Basses Loges on 9 January 1923. She had begun her career with Gurdjieff as a student of sacred dance, which she later mastered.
She was married first to Vlademar Hinzenberg, a Russia
n architect
.
Wright and Olgivanna married August 1928 in La Jolla, and honeymooned in Phoenix, Arizona
. According to architectural writer Walt Lockley, "The Foundation and the Fellowship would not exist in any form if Wright hadn't gone to the opera with a friend one Sunday afternoon in 1924 Chicago and sat near to the dark-haired Montenegrin dancer." Olgivanna continued to run Wright's Taliesin Fellowship
long after his death, from 9 April 1959 until her own death in Scottsdale, Arizona
in 1985. The last quarter-century of Wright's life—his Arizona years with Olgivanna, from 1932 to 1959—were arguably his most productive, representing "more than half of [Wright's] building" and including the authorship of his autobiography.
Embroiled in scandal and controversy from the beginning of their relationship (since both were married at its start), Olgivanna's legacy extended past her natural life. She had planned the removal of Wright's body from its Wisconsin grave, which was then "cremated, mixed with her ashes and used in the walls of a memorial garden to be built on the grounds of their home at Taliesin West." The Wisconsin legislature prohibited this move, but nonetheless her plan was carried out successfully:
Iovanna Lazovich Lloyd Wright was Olgivanna's only child with Wright. Olgivanna's only other daughter, Svetlana Hinzenberg, adopted the surname Wright and married one of Wright's apprentices, Fellowship member William Wesley "Wes" Peters
- who helped Wright ward off creditors and bankruptcy
. When Svetlana Hinzenberg died in a car crash with her elder son, Daniel, Olgivanna curiously arranged for his subsequent marriage to Svetlana Alliluyeva
, the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin
. After producing with Wes Peters
a daughter, Olga, in a marriage that lasted 20 months, Svetlana Alliluyeva
came away with a less than glowing impression of the matriarch and her management of Taliesin
:
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
and had significant influence in his life and work, due in part to her extensive Theosophical
Neo-Theosophy
The term Neo-Theosophy is a term, originally derogatory, used by the followers of Blavatsky to denominate the system of Theosophical ideas expounded by Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbeater following the death of Madame Blavatsky in 1891...
associations. She was a Serb Montenegrin dancer. While her "language, cultural background and upbringing were almost exotically alien to his own," she was critical in introducing Wright to Greek-Armenian mystic G. I. Gurdjieff
G. I. Gurdjieff
George Ivanovich Gurdjieff according to Gurdjieff's principles and instructions, or the "Fourth Way."At one point he described his teaching as "esoteric Christianity."...
, a man whom he alternately despised and admired. She is a principal character in T.C. Boyle's 2009
2009 in literature
The year 2009 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*8 October - Romanian-born German novelist Herta Müller wins the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature....
novel, The Women
The Women (2009 novel)
The Women is a 2009 novel by T. C. Boyle. It is a biographical novel of Frank Lloyd Wright, told through his relationships with four women: the young Serbian dancer Olgivanna; Miriam, the morphine-addicted and obsessive Southern belle; Mamah, whose life ended in a massacre at Taliesin, the home...
.
Biography
She was born as Olga (Olgivanna) Ivanovna Lazovich in MontenegroMontenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
on 27 December 1898. to Ivan Lazovich and Militza Miljanova, daughter of Vojvoda Marko Miljanov
Marko Miljanov
Marko Miljanov Popović was a warrior and writer from Montenegro. He led the Kuči clan against the Turks in 1862 and distinguished himself in the War of 1876-78...
. She was the granddaughter of a famous Montenegrin writer, tribe leader of Kuči, Montenegrin duke, and hero Marko Miljanov
Marko Miljanov
Marko Miljanov Popović was a warrior and writer from Montenegro. He led the Kuči clan against the Turks in 1862 and distinguished himself in the War of 1876-78...
. A long-time pupil and devotee of G. I. Gurdjieff (even after her involvement with Wright), she was also a nurse to Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp Murry was a prominent modernist writer of short fiction who was born and brought up in colonial New Zealand and wrote under the pen name of Katherine Mansfield. Mansfield left for Great Britain in 1908 where she encountered Modernist writers such as D.H. Lawrence and...
on her deathbed at G. I. Gurdjieff's Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man at the Prieuré des Basses Loges on 9 January 1923. She had begun her career with Gurdjieff as a student of sacred dance, which she later mastered.
She was married first to Vlademar Hinzenberg, a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Wright and Olgivanna married August 1928 in La Jolla, and honeymooned in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. According to architectural writer Walt Lockley, "The Foundation and the Fellowship would not exist in any form if Wright hadn't gone to the opera with a friend one Sunday afternoon in 1924 Chicago and sat near to the dark-haired Montenegrin dancer." Olgivanna continued to run Wright's Taliesin Fellowship
Taliesin West
Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959 at the age of 91. Today it is the main campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.Open to the public for tours, Taliesin...
long after his death, from 9 April 1959 until her own death in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
in 1985. The last quarter-century of Wright's life—his Arizona years with Olgivanna, from 1932 to 1959—were arguably his most productive, representing "more than half of [Wright's] building" and including the authorship of his autobiography.
Embroiled in scandal and controversy from the beginning of their relationship (since both were married at its start), Olgivanna's legacy extended past her natural life. She had planned the removal of Wright's body from its Wisconsin grave, which was then "cremated, mixed with her ashes and used in the walls of a memorial garden to be built on the grounds of their home at Taliesin West." The Wisconsin legislature prohibited this move, but nonetheless her plan was carried out successfully:
When Robert Llewellyn Wright--the son who 26 years earlier had driven through the night to return Frank Lloyd Wright's body to Wisconsin after Wright died at St. Joseph's HospitalSt. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterSt. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. It is currently operated by Catholic Healthcare West , one of the largest healthcare systems in the West with 40 hospitals in Arizona, California and Nevada. St...
in PhoenixPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
--objected to the "desecration," Iovanna sent him a terse telegram: "The heritage of Taliesin is not for the likes of you."
Iovanna Lazovich Lloyd Wright was Olgivanna's only child with Wright. Olgivanna's only other daughter, Svetlana Hinzenberg, adopted the surname Wright and married one of Wright's apprentices, Fellowship member William Wesley "Wes" Peters
William Wesley Peters
William Wesley Peters was a noted architect and engineer, apprentice to and protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright.Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Peters was educated at Evansville College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
- who helped Wright ward off creditors and bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. When Svetlana Hinzenberg died in a car crash with her elder son, Daniel, Olgivanna curiously arranged for his subsequent marriage to Svetlana Alliluyeva
Svetlana Alliluyeva
Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva , later known as Lana Peters, was the youngest child and only daughter of Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Stalin's second wife...
, the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. After producing with Wes Peters
William Wesley Peters
William Wesley Peters was a noted architect and engineer, apprentice to and protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright.Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Peters was educated at Evansville College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
a daughter, Olga, in a marriage that lasted 20 months, Svetlana Alliluyeva
Svetlana Alliluyeva
Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva , later known as Lana Peters, was the youngest child and only daughter of Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Stalin's second wife...
came away with a less than glowing impression of the matriarch and her management of Taliesin
Taliesin West
Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959 at the age of 91. Today it is the main campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.Open to the public for tours, Taliesin...
:
This hierarchical system was appalling: the widow at the top, then the board of directors (a formality); then her own close inner circle, making all the real decisions; then working architects - the real working horses; at the bottom, students who paid high sums to be admitted, only to be sent the next day to work in the kitchen to peel potatoes….. Mrs. Wright's word was law. She had to be adored and worshipped and flattered as often as possible; flowers send by mail and presented by hand she enjoyed and encouraged. She gave advice to the architects, guided a drama circle, a dance group and a choir, counseling on private lives and relationships, expecting everyone to make personal confessions to her. She was a 'spiritual leader' and self-appointed minister, preaching on Sunday mornings on matters of God and man, when everyone was supposed to be in her large living room…
Videography
- Frank Lloyd Wright - A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. (1998). PBS Home Video, August 28, 2001 (153 minutes). ASIN: B00005MEPO.
- Partner to Genius: A Biography of Olgivanna Lloyd Wright. PBS Home Video, VHS, May 13, 1997. ASIN: B00000JKXH.