Frank Lloyd Wright and Ralph Waldo Emerson: Reclaiming the Promise of the American Project

Part of the Frank Lloyd Wright and the American Landscape Lecture Series, this presentation features guest speaker Professor Ayad Rahmani of Washington State University. By the middle of the 19th century, America was losing ground socially and politically, leading many to question its continued claim on freedom. This lecture examines how Frank Lloyd Wright looked to the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson to restore Americans’ capacity for insight and innovation.

As part of a four-part public lecture series commemorating America’s 250th, this program explores Wright’s architectural principles and how his ideas offer valuable lessons for contemporary issues surrounding housing, sustainability, and social equity.

About the Speaker: Ayad Rahmani is a Professor of Architecture at Washington State University, where he teaches design and theory. He is the author of three books, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Ralph Waldo Emerson: Transforming the American Mind (2023). His research focuses on the intersection of architecture, literature, and critical theory. He has written extensively on urban planning, psychology, and modern space, serves as the architectural critic for the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, and resides in Pullman, Washington.

Note: General admission tickets for Hillside Theater are seated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

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