Visit the "Usonia" Exhibit this Summer at The SC Johnson Gallery: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright

RACINE, Wis., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of families embark on road trips each summer, touring America's vibrant cities and landmarks to create memories to last the rest of the year. This summer, plan an educational and affordable road trip by visiting Usonia: Frank Lloyd Wright's Vision Of The American Home, a new, free exhibit at The SC Johnson Gallery: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright, in Racine, Wis.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Racine is a short drive for more than 15 million people within the Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis-metropolitan areas. Racine is also home to the Wright-designed campus of SC Johnson – the family company known for trusted household products including Windex® and Ziploc®. While traveling through Wright's home state of Wisconsin, visitors to the exhibit will be able to explore the legendary architect's "Usonian" period, a term that describes his vision for the development of cities featuring affordable and practical, yet beautiful, homes.

"As a family company, we are pleased to provide an opportunity for a unique and inspirational road trip this summer," said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President – Global Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability for SC Johnson. "We're thrilled to be able to share our expansive collection of Frank Lloyd Wright artifacts and architectural designs with visitors and create memories that will last a lifetime."

Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Vision
Wright began designing his first Usonian home during the Great Depression as a way to bring great architecture to every person, a challenge which concerned him throughout his career. The designs incorporated a strong visual connection between the interior and exterior spaces, as well as a focus on the main living areas, including the fireplace, encouraging families to gather together.

The first Usonian house, Jacobs House I, was complete in 1936 for Herbert Jacobs, a journalist in Madison, Wis. The new exhibited includes an "exploded" model of this house on special loan from the Milwaukee Art Museum. Exhibit visitors can explore the exact proportions, scale and natural materials Wright used to create this masterpiece. Other highlights of the exhibit include a model of Jester House, which offers visitors an appreciation for Wright's ability to adapt design to beautiful, natural surroundings and several important furniture pieces that resulted from Wright's 1955 venture with Heritage-Henredon furniture makers.  

The Gallery, housed in the award-winning Fosters + Partners-designed Fortaleza Hall on SC Johnson's campus, is also home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Research Library that features a collection of more than 800 items. It is co-curated by Brady Roberts, Chief Curator of The Milwaukee Art Museum.

SC Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright

The relationship between Wright and H.F. Johnson Jr. began more than 75 years ago. The first building Wright designed for the company was the Administration Building in 1936, followed by the Research Tower in 1944. Today, more than 6,000 Wright enthusiasts and admirers visit the Administration Building and the SC Johnson campus each year to marvel at architectural landmarks. From the miles of Pyrex glass tubing to the dendriform columns, the Administration Building, one of the few Wright commercial designs to continue to operate in its original state, is truly a unique work of art that reflects the innovation, creation and adventure that is still the spirit of SC Johnson today.

Tours Are Free & Open to the Public: SC Johnson offers three tour programs that provide different views of the company's architecture. Tours are on Fridays and Saturdays and are all free of charge. They include:

• The Legacies Tour (3.5 hours) – In this in-depth, 3.5-hour tour, explore the Wright-designed SC Johnson Administration Building as well as the award-winning Foster + Partners-designed Fortaleza Hall with the Spirit of Carnaúba airplane soaring at its heart. See Sam Johnson's acclaimed film Carnaúba: A Son's Memoir, with its enduring family message, and enjoy the Academy Award-winning documentary To Be Alive! This tour also includes The Gallery.
• The Landmarks Tour (2 hours) – Designed in 1936, the Administration Building was the first project that Wright designed for SC Johnson. Renowned for its unique dendriform columns, open concept half-acre of workspace, circular "bird cage" elevators and 43 miles of glass tubing, this landmark is celebrated as one of the top 25 buildings of the 20th century. In this 2-hour tour, explore the Administration Building and visit Fortaleza Hall. Then, enjoy The Gallery.
• The Gallery Tour (1 hour) – The 1-hour Gallery Tour is designed for those who want to focus on The Gallery and its current exhibit.  

All tours also include a visit to The Lily Pad, a gift shop featuring exclusive SC Johnson memorabilia and brand gift merchandise, as well as Wright-inspired items.

For more information on tours of the SC Johnson campus, please call (262) 260-2154, email [email protected], use the online scheduling tool at scjohnson.com/visit or visit @VisitSCJ on Twitter.

About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR. MUSCLE®, and RIDSECT®. The 127-year-old company, that generates $9 billion in sales, employs nearly 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world.

SOURCE SC Johnson