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Camp Taliesin angles kids on ‘Wright’ path

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Abbie Wilson had just landed a dream job in December 2020 with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, where she would get to work at the famous architect’s winter home, Taliesin West.

As excited as she was about her job, she was confronted with the tall task of creating one of the most exciting young engineering and architecture camps in the Valley under the veil of the pandemic.

Wilson’s most daunting task was devising an online version of Camp Taliesin West for kids that captured the same fun and creativity that the camp conventionally offers. She was able to find a way to utilize google classroom to provide instructions on how to create crafts, partake in activities and ask all the questions they wanted.

While the in-person camp proceeded with patrons masked up indoors, the online camp became a sensation as kids from countries like Puerto Rico and Ecuador signed up for the closest visit possible to Wright’s winter quarters that a screen could offer.

The online camp was such a hit that this year’s camp will be offered in-person with no restrictions as well as virtually again.

“In light of everything that has happened over the last couple of years, my big belief is that kids need to do hands-on things,” Wilson, who currently operates as the education manager for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation said.

Because of this, each summer camp will kick off with an expansive tour of the campus’ historic areas where kids are wowed

Abbie Wilson, education manager and Jenna Green, senior museum educator, work for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer) seeCAMP page 27

Phoenix Fan Fusion a ‘Disneyland for geeks’

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Phoenix Fan Fusion convention director Matt Solberg likens his upcoming event to a legendary tourist destination.

“It’s really like Disneyland for geeks to come to our show,” he said.

After a multiple-year pandemic-dictated break, Phoenix Fan Fusion will make its return to the Phoenix Convention Center Friday, May 27, to Sunday, May 29.

Solberg assures that only minor changes were made to the 20-year event. It’s still a one-stop shop for actors, comic book creators, authors, cosplayers, costume groups, vendors, artists, creators, dealers and publishers.

“We are bringing badges back, which has been a long-standing attendee request, given their collectible nature,” Solberg adds.

“We are expanding gaming that we do into its own hall within the convention center. We are also really focusing our efforts within the exhibitor hall. I’m creating great energy within the hall by having the actors, the costuming groups, the exhibitors, authors, artists, creators all in one space on the lower level of our exhibitor hall.”

Anticipated guests include actors Doug Jones (“Hellboy,” “Star Trek: Discovery”) and Felicia Day (“Supernatural,” “The Magicians”), along with authors Erin Jade Lange (“Mere Mortals”) and Lisa McMann (“The Unwanteds”), comic book creators Fabian Nicieza (co-creator of “Deadpool”) and Tony Parker (co-creator of “Mayday”) along with various cosplayers and costume groups.

“We’re bringing three full days of the exhibitor hall, panels of events, a full lineup of celebrities, comic creators, authors, costume groups, after dark parties, theatrical events,” Solberg said.

“For our attendees, it should be no different than when they’ve attended our shows in the past. We’re bringing back everything they have come to love and expect.”

Tempe author Lisa McMann and her husband Matt will moderate panels at Phoe-

Return visit

Author Lisa McMann and her husband, Matt, will moderate panels at the event.

The Tempe-based couple debuted at Fan Fusion in 2011 with their daughter, actress Kennedy McMann, with Lisa present-

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by the buildings’ unique geometry and the combinations of shapes the facility’s furniture displays.

One stop on the tour wows students virtually and in person.

“They love seeing the garden room, which is Frank Lloyd Wright’s living room, and I think that’s true for both kiddos onsite and over zoom,” Wilson said. “When they see it, all of a sudden, he becomes a real person with a family who had a living room and not just a historic figure. Then also seeing the historic furniture makes it more real to them.”

After the tour, the students are introduced to the theme of the camp and delve into their instruction and activities.

“We have one entire camp that’s interior-design based. …We show them a lot of furniture and textiles and stuff like that,” Wilson said. “Whereas when it’s more of the architecture kind of camp, we talk more about form and layouts, and stuff like that.”

However, most camps culminate in the kids creating grand models out of recycled materials.

“Some of the projects that we’re hoping to do for this year are based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs and some of his types of activities,” said Jenna Green, Taliesin West senior museum education manager. “Being able to bring their drawings, whether they’re in full scale, or just kind of more of a sketch design to the 3D space and being able to build the models,” Green said. “Oftentimes letting students decorate them is probably one of the biggest highlights for them.”

Although the students are given a creative range with their designs, they are also taught about skills like scale – a mathintensive skill – while using tools that actual architects use to create models like Exacto knives, hot glue guns and foam core.

Although these tasks may seem rigorous, the goal is to help the kids explore the various careers that exist within the architecture and engineering fields.

“Teaching kids about design, whether that is architectural design, interior design or just artistic design, about the math, the science and the art that goes into the design and then about the careers that they could explore through those things,” Wilson said.

“I think it just opens up a whole world for them that maybe they didn’t think about before because they were unfamiliar with all these concepts.” Camp Taliesin West will host five camps this summer discussing topics like city design, interior design, architecture and photography.

No matter which class kids gravitate towards, Wilson is eager to welcome kids back to Taliesin West this summer.

“People are just so happy to have the inperson option available for their kiddos,” Wilson said. “It’s been a rough couple of years for kids and they’re eager to do real things in real life with friends and new friends and old friends.”

The camps and dates are: • Shaping a city camp: ages 11-15. June 20-24 • Dream in color: ages 11-15. July 11-15 Two-Week Virtual Architecture and • Design Camp: Ages 7 – 12. July 11 – 22 • Design Your Dream Space: Advanced: Ages 12 – 15. June 13 – 17, July 25 – 29. • Photographing Wright: Ages 12-16. June 6 – 10, June 27 – July 1 Enrollment fees range from $50 to $350 per session and spots are expected to fi ll quickly. Scholarships are available for qualifying individuals through the Foundation’s Community Access Program. To apply or learn more about fi nancial assistance, campers and parents can contact Education@FrankLloydWright.org. Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation members also receive a 10% discount. Info: Franklloydwright.org/camp

FUSION ���� page 25

ing her book “Cryers Cross.” The story was inspired by Kennedy’s OCD and her acting.

“She (Kennedy) came along with me to Phoenix Fan Fusion, and we did a little panel with the two of us,” Lisa said.

“She spoke about her mental illnesses, with her OCD, and I spoke about the plot of the story and how Kennedy influenced it.”

Kennedy shared her local theater experiences and how that helped calm her. Appearing as Nancy Drew in the CW show of the same name, Kennedy followed her dreams and controls her OCD.

Lisa and Matt have been asked to return to talk about her series “The Unwanteds,” which recently ended its 14-book series with “The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Fury,” among other books. The event generally falls around their wedding anniversary in May.

“What a better place to hang out with a bunch of people dressed up like fantasy characters,” Lisa said.

Matt adds, “I think it’s such a blast and love seeing all the cosplay and meeting all

X-Men meets Spy Kids in the instant New York Times bestseller “Forgotten Five,” the fi rst book in a new middle-grade fantasy/adventure series from the author of

“The Unwanteds.” (Special to GetOut) the authors. It’s exciting for me to return this year to serve as a moderator on some of the author panels.”

At the event, Lisa will speak about “Map of Flames,” the first of the “The Forgotten Five” series. “It’s about five supernatural kids who were born and raised in a deserted hideout, a secret criminal hideout. Now they’re between the ages of 10 to 13 and their parents have disappeared and the last one who stayed with them passed away,” Lisa said.

Devoid of modern amenities like electricity and flushing toilets, the kids are left with a flaming map to Estero, their parents’ city of residence. Via the map, the children are tasked with finding one of their mothers. Consequently, they are trust into a new environment where their powers are criminal.

The next book in the series is set for a November release.

Among the other attendees is comic book, graphic novel creator and storyteller Tony Parker who has attended Fan Fusion since 2008, when it was held in Mesa. He will appear all days of the convention.

Formerly of Phoenix, Parker is looking forward to returning and seeing everyone. “It’s not just the fans and friends I get to see year in and year out,” he said.

“There are new people who come by and talk to me. It’s such a ‘people’ show and is a great family show as well. You can see people of all ages enjoying themselves and enjoying what they see around them.”

Solberg agrees.

“There is really something for everybody at the show, given our interests,” Solberg said.

“It’s a great chance just to people watch. We always have attendees who come out in amazing costumes, and everybody is just in a good mood.”

Phoenix Fan Fusion

When: 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 29 Where: Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third St., Phoenix Cost: $15-$540 Info: phoenixfanfusion.com