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Volunteer

January Volunteer Spotlight

In 2006, Jeri Mazur and her husband attended a private party at the Barton House, which piqued her curiosity about the estate. Soon she was back for a tour to learn more, and this month’s volunteer in the spotlight was hooked. Docent training was just beginning, and she immediately enrolled.…
Martin House
January 21, 2021
Volunteer

December Volunteer Spotlight

Debbie Houck, our volunteer in the spotlight this month, hit a special milestone earlier this year: 20 years of service to the Martin House. Even after all this time, the estate still takes her breath away. A lifelong resident of North Buffalo, Debbie taught in the Buffalo Public Schools for…
Martin House
December 14, 2020
Press

Wright Spirit Awards: Martin House in the Spotlight

Introduced in 1991, the Wright Spirit Award recognizes efforts of extraordinary individuals and organizations that have preserved the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright through tireless dedication and persistent efforts. The awards are presented annually at the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Conference. Eleven Spirit Awards were presented this year, and…
Martin House
November 18, 2020
Volunteer

November Volunteer Spotlight

It was the late 1990s when Gail Sfeir attended her first Martin House volunteer meeting. She knew at that time it was going to be a significant project for the City of Buffalo, and today she’s proud to report that she's been a part of the team throughout every phase…
Martin House
November 18, 2020
Press

Could Wright Design the Ideal Home Office?

This article originally appeared in Quartz on October 25, 2020. How would America’s greatest architect design a home office? Could Frank Lloyd Wright, who had visionary solutions for contemporary living—from sustainable design, air conditioning, even open-plan offices—have an answer to the search for ideal Covid-era remote working configurations? A clue…
Martin House
October 25, 2020
Volunteer

October Volunteer Spotlight

Cynthia Silverstein began volunteering more than eleven years ago when she recognized that the Martin House was a “jewel shining in the city” and in her own neighborhood. College studies brought her to Western New York, but the city’s potential for historic renovation, tourism, and community engagement kept her here…
Martin House
October 20, 2020
Volunteer

September Volunteer Spotlight

It wasn’t long after settling into her new Parkside home when Rebecca Morris-Chatta arrived at the Martin House and raised her hand to volunteer. She started as a Chaperone but soon trained to be a Docent, eventually landing in the role of Education Docent – a perfect fit for the…
Martin House
September 21, 2020
Volunteer

August Volunteer Spotlight

Mary Anne Rokitka thinks she might have been born with a red pen in one hand and pruning shears in the other. The red pen comes in handy as a member of the editorial board of a scientific journal, and she finds great joy in pruning, deadheading, and even pulling…
Martin House
August 24, 2020
News

Wright Virtual Visits: Phase II

In response to the shutdowns caused by the pandemic, the Wright Virtual Visits project began in April 2020 when more than 20 Wright sites from across the country participated in swapping weekly pre-recorded videos. After a brief hiatus this summer, the popular project is back! And this time around, tune…
Martin House
August 19, 2020
Community

Martin House Receives Parks and Trails NY Grant

The Martin House Restoration Corporation is pleased to announce that it has received a grant in the amount of $10,000 from Parks and Trails New York. Funds will be used to support the care and management of the extraordinary collections of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. With the assistance of a curatorial…
Martin House
August 5, 2020
Volunteer

July Volunteer Spotlight

In 1997, Buffalo hosted the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy Conference, and Gary Kwiatkowski eagerly signed up to volunteer. The United States Air Force veteran had earned his AAS in Architecture Technology from Alfred State College where he was introduced to Frank Lloyd Wright. At the conference, Gary connected with people from the…
Martin House
July 27, 2020
Volunteer

June Volunteer Spotlight

Diane Schrenk has been a Martin House volunteer for an incredible 27 years. Her passion for Frank Lloyd Wright was ignited during a visit to a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. She was struck by the soulful expression of beauty, architecture, and art…
Martin House
June 15, 2020