It’s not every day that a local historic site is cold called by one of the nation’s biggest television shows. In fact, according to Celeste Adams, president and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, it had never happened before — until this spring, when she heard from location scouts for the hit Hulu series The Bear. The show asked for permission to film a part of season four in the iconic Home & Studio. Adams readily agreed.
“They approached the trust and specifically wanted to see the Home & Studio, said Adams. “We were quite honored that they selected us. We were so pleased with their treatment of the site. Their approach was thoughtful and inspirational, things the trust always wants to achieve when people visit.”
Christine Trevino, digital communications manager for the trust, was on hand during the filming to answer any questions and ended up making her television debut with star Jeremey Allen White, who plays Chef Carmy Berzatto on the show.
Trevino says it was clear that the people behind the show had done their homework and knew the importance of the Home & Studio as an historic site. She said, “They directed and filmed with such care. They were always aware that it was an historic site.”
According to Adams, the show’s representatives drove the agenda for the day of filming. “They came in prepared. They had ideas, and then Christine was there to answer any questions. It was very much their creative choice driving the day.”
Trevino and Adams say that the workers were very respectful and wanted to keep disruptions to the Home & Studio’s schedule to a minimum. Filming was completed in just one morning, allowing the Home & Studio to reopen for tours quickly.
Adams and Trevino have no records of the Home & Studio being featured in a scripted television or movie prior to The Bear, but based on their experience, it was definitely a worthwhile venture.
One of the most difficult parts of the process was being sworn to secrecy. Trevino, who admits that the experience of welcoming one of television’s biggest stars into her workplace was a bit outside her normal work experience, said her own brother was surprised to see her on the screen when he tuned in to watch the new season.
Summer Open House
The trust is not letting fame go to its head and is continuing full-speed ahead with fundraising efforts for its new Learning Center. On Saturday, July 19 the trust will welcome neighbors to its Oak Park campus for a look into what’s new with the trust, the new Resource Center and plans for its Learning Center.
State Senate President Don Harmon, Village President Vicki Scaman and Trust Board Vice President and Executive Chair Patty Hunt will speak. Celeste Adams and Tom Pierce will provide an update on the Learning Center, and participants in this summer’s kid camp will display their design models.
Adams says the trust has completed restoration of the Resource Center, reading room and archive with roughly $2.5 million spent on the restoration. The last phase of the project is the pavilion which will house the Learning Center, which is expected to cost $10 million.
The trust has reached half of that fundraising goal and is looking to raise the final $5 million to create the modern pavilion, which will form a sort of bridge between the two older homes to the east of the Home & Studio on the trust campus.
“People are very excited about this phase,” said Adams. “We’re pleased to have community support, and we need community engagement. We really have a campus now. We’ve been a part of this community for over 50 years, and while we have always been a site for education and tourism, we’re looking forward to engaging with the community and life-long learning with our new center.”
Adams invites all to the event which she says is meant to “build awareness, share the facts and tell people who we are as we’re headed into the home stretch.”
The event will take place on the campus of the Home & Studio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 19. Guests can enjoy coffee from U3 and treats from Courageous Bakery.
Design studio opens in Forest Park
Kathryn Murphy Interiors opened a new studio in Forest Park on June 18. Previously, the Oak Park-based interior designer worked from her home. Kathryn Humphreys’ new Madison Street studio allows her team of three to meet with clients and host small events.
At the June 18 ribbon cutting ceremony, Humphreys was joined by her family, her two staff members, past and current clients, and representatives of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Forest Park Bank.
The new studio, 7416 Madison St., showcases Humphreys’ style with a living room-like set up in the front room complete with a faux fireplace and a Frame TV which shares images of projects. The back room includes a kitchenette, as well as table and wall space for gathering design inspiration in the form of tiles, wallpaper, hardware and cabinet samples.
The studio is open by appointment. Visit https://www.kmurphyinteriors.com/ to learn more.