LEARN & EXPLORE
Hollyhock House has inspired generations of artists, architects, and designers. It is a harbinger of California Modernism and designed by Wright in response to the region (capturing the drama of Hollywood and embracing native building traditions of the American southwest).
There is so much to learn from Hollyhock House and its influence continues to grow and evolve today. We encourage you to learn and explore with us! Below are art and educational activities to be used at home and in the classroom. Hollyhock House also has recorded programs and digital resources (like the VIRTUAL TOUR and DIGITAL ARCHIVE) that seek to make the site accessible to audiences near and far.
ART ACTIVITIES
Frank Lloyd Wright used simple shapes, innovative abstractions, and playful patterning to create designs that reflected the world around him. These art activities build on Wright’s design principles and philosophies as seen at Hollyhock House. We hope they inspire kids to see and appreciate the patterns and beauty of the natural and built world around them.
Calling all budding artists, designers, and architects!
– Learn from Wright and Hollyhock House
– Create designs of your own
– And break the box (just like Wright)
Share your artwork on Facebook or Instagram with the tag #HollyhockHouse for the chance to have it featured on Hollyhock House’s social channels.
AGES 6-12
Explore the natural world through art. Use geometric shapes to create an abstract representation of your favorite flower
Frank Lloyd Wright designed not only buildings but also furniture, rugs, and even plates. Create a dynamic composition using only shapes to design a plate.
Experiment with symmetry and color in design with this multi-step art project. Using colored paper, scissors, and pens. Transform ordinary sheets of paper into beautiful balanced works of art.
Learn from the patterned elements found at Hollyhock House and practice making your own patterns with simple aspects of art like lines, shapes, and color.
Bring the beauty of nature inside. Dream up your favorite outdoor landscape, and depict it through a window in your own home.
Hunt for different geometric shapes in the artwork above the fireplace at Hollyhock House, and then create a masterpiece of your own.
AGES 12-18
Observe how Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired by where he grew up and other local environments when creating his buildings. Design your own “dream home,” which will reveal who you are and where you come from.
Identify arrangements of buildings and space. Then develop a floor plan for a community center where a specific type of activity takes place.
See how Frank Lloyd Wright incorporated all four natural elements (fire, earth, air, and water) in his fireplace design at Hollyhock House. Use your imagination to reinvent your bedroom by incorporating natural elements.
Discover the special qualities of Japanese screens with this 3D art activity. Develop a scene inspired by nature that tells a story across multiple panels.
Uncover how music and architecture are similar in this exploration of rhythm. Use your imagination to create a structure inspired by your favorite song.
Try your hand at graphic design while promoting a cause that you feel strongly about. Size, font, color, shape, and space are the artistic elements you will explore when trying to grab people’s attention.
MORE ACTIVITES
VIRTUAL TOUR DISCOVERY GUIDE (ages 8+)
Explore Hollyhock House’s Virtual Accessibility Experience (VAE) with our Discovery Guide. Perfect for students at home or anyone wanting to ensure they catch every detail in the virtual tour. Throughout the guide, participants learn how to use the different features of the VAE, note what they see, and answer questions about each space. There are 85 questions across the two parts, so give yourself the afternoon to virtually explore Hollyhock House. Thanks to Susan Power for developing this guide.
Virtual Tour Discovery Guide, Part 1
Virtual Tour Discovery Guide, Part 2
CROSSWORD PUZZLES (ages 8+)
How well do you know Frank Lloyd Wright? Test your knowledge with these four crossword puzzles. There is one crossword specific to Hollyhock House, and three cover Wright’s life and career generally. These puzzles are for all, whether you are new to Wright’s work or a seasoned expert. Thanks to Gordon Prend and Danny Shapiro for developing these puzzles.
WORD SEARCHES (ages 6+)
For the young and young at heart, find all of the WRIGHT words in these puzzles. See how fast you can spot them all. Ready, set, go! Thanks to Danny Shaprio for developing these puzzles.
HOLLYHOCK@HOME GUIDE
Created in 2020 as a response to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, the HOLLYHOCK@HOME Guide provides resources to engage with Hollyhock House from home. Take a virtual tour, dive into our digital archive, get book, film, and podcast recommendations for docents and staff, find Spotify playlists inspired by the house, and snag ZOOM backgrounds that will have you virtually in Hollyhock House today. The art and education activities featured above were also initially part of the guide, which offers audiences of all ages fun and fascinating tools to explore site history and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.
LECTURES & PROGRAMS
Interested in learning more about restoration efforts at Hollyhock House? Missed one of our live virtual programs? Whenever possible, Hollyhock House shares recorded lectures and programs on its YouTube page. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss out on the Wright content!