Few names in American architecture carry the weight of Frank Lloyd Wright. Known for his visionary approach and enduring influence, Wright’s legacy lives on in buildings across the country—but nowhere more personally than at Taliesin, his Wisconsin home, studio, and school. The Conservation Center is honored to partner with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation on the conservation of a historic screen from Hillside Theatre at Taliesin.
Hillside Theatre at Taliesin, courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
One of Taliesin’s most iconic public spaces, the Hillside Theater, has just completed a multi-year, $1.1 million restoration. With its proscenium rebuilt, original doors replicated, and accessibility features added, the theater was formally reopened in summer 2024 with a performance by Grammy-winning ensemble Third Coast Percussion. Thanks to funding from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the theater once again reflects Wright’s immersive vision—now with renewed capacity to welcome modern audiences.
As part of the UNESCO World Heritage, the designated Taliesin estate is more than a venue—it’s a vital piece of living history. And now, the final element of its restoration is set to begin.
From the website of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation:
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is thrilled to announce that we’ve received National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects (NEA GAP) and E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation awards to complete the last piece in the Hillside Theater restoration. This Spring we will begin work on the 10-foot tall, 12-panel Chinese Coromandel folding screen which was displayed in the Hillside Drafting Studio and then Dana Gallery from 1942-1956, and then in the Theater when it reopened post-fire reconstruction in 1956.
More than just decoration, the screen reflects Wright’s deep engagement with Asian art and design. Its presence in the Theater for nearly 70 years makes it a significant part of the building’s cultural fabric—and its conservation marks a vital final step in bringing the Hillside Theater fully back to life.
The screen prior to conservation, courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
Step One: Transportation
Before conservation could begin, the screen needed to make its way from Taliesin to The Center. Transporting such a large and delicate object is no small feat—especially one with age, wear, and decades of history.
Our conservators stabilized the screen before transportation.
Our team began by separating and labeling the individual panels, removing hinge hardware (some original, some previously replaced) for future research and reassembly. To safeguard fragile areas during the move, a reversible adhesive was used for temporary stabilization, and each panel was laid flat on a supportive surface. A protective low-tack film was applied to prevent surface disturbance, followed by a soft foam layer to evenly distribute pressure across the screen’s irregular surface.
The disassembled screen before transportation.
The entire assembly was then enclosed in rigid honeycomb board, clamped, flipped, reinforced, and finally stretch-wrapped under tension to secure the package for transit. After careful packing, the screen arrived safely at our lab—marking the successful completion of the first step in this exciting conservation journey.
Our conservators stretch-wrapped the screen under tension prior to transport for added safety.
In the coming months, our conservators will examine the screen’s structure, materials, and condition to determine the most appropriate conservation approach. Each decision will be grounded in research, guided by best practices, and made in close collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
We’re proud to be part of this final chapter in the restoration of the Hillside Theater—and we look forward to sharing the behind-the-scenes details of the work as it unfolds.
