WJFPR Pride 062823

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

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Pastor Christian Coon leads a pride parade at Urban Village Church-West’s Family Pride Fest on Saturday June 24, 2023.

TODD A. BANNOR

2023 OPALGA+ BACKS ACTIVIST TEENS PAGE B2

RIVER FOREST SCHOOLS MARCH FOR DIVERSITY

GIRL SCOUT PROJECT FOCUSES ON GAY SEX ED

DRAG QUEENS TAKE FOREST PARK STAGE

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Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

OPALGA+ scholarship fund recognizes student leaders Group honored 8 scholars in program’s most generous year to date

By ELIZABETH SHORT

E

Contributing Reporter

very spring the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association (OPALGA+) grants scholarships to local student leaders. In the program’s 10-year history, its board has allocated more than $170,000 to student scholarships.

This year, the board awarded the largest cumulative amount of money yet in one year: $40,000 in scholarships in all, or $5,000 to 8 different students. Seven of the recipients are 2023 high school graduates, with the eighth being a prior winner continuing his college education.

OPALGA+ raises money for the scholarship fund

throughout the year, with its biggest fundraiser being the Annual Scholarship Gala held in October. As reported in this year’s program book, scholarship recipients are “amazing student leaders (who) have demonstrated a commitment to service and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of equal opportunity for all.”

One of this year’s scholarship recipients was Taylor Montes-Williams, a prominent local activist and Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate. “Becoming an activist was more of a necessity than a choice for me,” said Montes-Williams in an email. “Growing up, it was impossible to see the injustice in the world and towards my communities without wanting to change it.”

SARA JANZ

Taylor Montes During her time at OPRF, Montes-Williams led and organized protests in response to police violence and racism, gun violence, and sexual harassment and assault. She was a prominent member of the Revolutionary Youth Action League (ROYAL) and Students Advocating for Equity (S.A.F.E.). In the fall, Montes-Williams will be studying Political Science at the University of New Mexico.

In a video released by OPALGA+, Montes-Williams said she chose New Mexico “to further my education and my experience and be able to advocate for people of color, queer people, other people with marginalized identities across the country. … The scholarship means a lot to me TAYLOR MONTES-WILLIAMS because it can help further Activist and OPRF graduate my education so I can help protect queer people, not just in my community, but those nationwide and those globally.”

Annie Larson, a 2023 Fenwick graduate and scholarship recipient, said she approached her activism in a different way. As a student at the Oak Park-based Catholic school, Larson said she has tried to be a role model for fellow students in the community.

“Growing up, it was impossible to see the injustice in the world and towards my communities without wanting to change it.”

AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

Student Taylor Montes-Williams led a student walk out at OPRF last year following inappropriate social media post, which students say showcased a toxic culture at the high school that permits sexual harassment.

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

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“I didn’t experience a lot of outward the school to relax its dress code with rehomophobia, but there’s plenty of little gard to gender lines. She independently comments,” said Larson. In her activism, organized an annual Easter egg hunt she said she focuses on creating a “safe that raised over $20,000 for Hepzibah space for others.”

Children’s Association. In the fall, she Larson said she makes sure that “if I will be attending Georgetown University. hear something problematAfter receiving the scholic, I don’t just ignore it and I arship, Larson said she make sure I say something. was able to learn about Not just because it’s making and talk to the other recipime uncomfortable, but so ents. Larson said she was that if there’s other people, impressed with her peers’ especially people in the closactivism and mentioned et, that they know that not Montes-Williams. “She is everyone is agreeing with leading protests and giving the problematic statement speeches and she is amazand that there are people on ing,” said Larson. their side defending them.”

Larson said she was ANNIE LARSON Larson came out as bigrateful the OPALGA Fenwick graduate sexual in eighth grade, she board recognized the im-

“If I hear something problematic, I don’t just ignore it and I make sure I say something.”

said. “I was definitely the only one of my close friends to come out at that time.

I think a big role that I’ve played in supporting my community is being that person that it’s easier to come out to.”

As an active member of the Fenwick Pride Alliance, Larson helped to push

portance of “day-to-day” activism as well. To the students, receiving the scholarship was more than a recognition of their achievements. It made way for new possibilities and opportunities. “The scholarship opened doors for me,” said Montes-Williams.

“Queer futures matter.”

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Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

Lakeside ensembles continue to march proudly into 26th year

Marching band will be back in Oak Park’s 4th of July parade

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

I ANNETTE LEIBOVITZ/MITZVAH PHOTOGRAPHY

WE ARE MARCHING: Members of the band will be in Oak Park on July 4th.

n the late 1970s, gay pride marching bands emerged across the United States.

One of the bands that formed during this time was the Chicago Gay Pride Band, which performed in the 1979 Chicago Pride Parade. Organizer Jon Dallas officially formed Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles in 1997, originally under the name Chicago Black Lesbian and Gay Band and later Lakeside Pride Freedom Band.

For the past decade, the Lakeside Pride

marching band has been a memorable feature of Oak Park’s annual 4th of July parade. Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles, now in its 26th year, boasts over 400 members including members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as allies.

Clarinetist, public relations officer, and ally to the LGBTQ+ community (as well as occasional flute and saxophone player) Abdo Timejardine-Zomeño said that when he first began playing with the organization in 2013, he was struck by the group’s welcoming environment. “Anytime there’s a new face like in rehearsal, everyone tries to make the ef-

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PRIDE 2023 fort to show that they’re welcome,” he said. book out of fear of retaliation from their employers. It’s nice to know that we’re able “We’re happy to have you.”

The ensembles have no audition process, to provide the space for them and be their which means members range in ability friends.” from upcoming professionals to “people who As states pass legislation attacking LGhaven’t touched their instruments since BTQ+ rights, Lakeside Pride continues high school,” said Timejardine-Zomeño. to flourish as a safe space for creative exAt the time of its founding in pression and marginalized 1997, the organization included communities. In March, the only 25 members. In its short group’s board released a letter history, the organization has about these laws and included grown dramatically. Timejarlocal resources for community dine-Zomeño said he has seen members. Lakeside Pride is a further growth during his time member of the Pride Bands with the organization. “I think Alliance, a network connecta lot of it had to do with the ing pride bands across the napassing of marriage equality tion and the world. Through in 2015,” he said. “People are this network, musicians in seeing that LGBT people exist the LGBTQ+ community are and keep our society moving.” able to connect and play with The four most prominent bands and finda supportive ensembles are the Marching community, wherever they Band, Jazz Orchestra, Symmay be. phonic Band, and Pops Ensem“Especially for those who ble (conducted by drag queen live in Texas and Florida and JORDAN FRANCISCO Manic Maxxie). The organizaLakeside Pride’s marketing officer places like that, that’s a way tion also lists 10 smaller enfor us to say, ‘You can march sembles on its website, ranging with us. You have a place,’” from a Latin band to the “Tiny said Timejardine-Zomeño.

Bubbles ‘Ukulele’ Ensemble.”

Lakeside Pride “is my choTimejardine-Zomeño said the organiza- sen family,” said Francisco. The organization offers a sense of belonging to people who tion does more than play music. The musimight not otherwise find a supportive com- cians “come together to … cause a positive munity. “People, like me, who don’t belong impact to our community,” said Francisco. and people who are in the (LGBTQ+) com- “It brings me great joy.” munity have found a place where they can be The ensembles’ performances slow after themselves and play music.” the busy month of June but interested read“I hear from a lot of people that (Lakeside ers should be sure to check out the marchPride) is their safe space,” said Jordan Fran- ing band’s performance in the Village of cisco, Lakeside Pride’s marketing officer. Oak Park’s annual Fourth of July parade.

“Some members unfortunately cannot have A full schedule of events can be found on their names be included in our program Lakeside Pride’s website, lakesidepride.org.

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

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“I hear from a lot of people that (Lakeside Pride) is their safe space. It’s nice to know that we’re able to provide the space for them and be their friends.”

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ANNETTE LEIBOVITZ/MITZVAH PHOTOGRAPHY

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Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

Drag story hour welcomes Coco Sho-nell back to RF church Urban Village hosts Pride event on church lawn

By STACEY SHERIDAN

U

Senior Reporter

rban Village Church West had a special guest at its family Pride celebration this past Saturday. Chicago drag performer Coco Sho-nell, in full glam, read stories to the children at the event. Her choice in storybooks share central themes: embrace individuality and diversity.

“Love the skin that you’re in and find the beauty within yourself,” Sho-nell explained.

The church invited Sho-nell to read at the Pride celebration through the Drag Story Hour, a movement begun in 2015 with drag queens reading to children in San Francisco.

It is now a registered 501c3 non-profit. Sho-nell performed at the church once before in 2021 and Rev. Christian Coons was happy to welcome her back again.

“She’s a great performer and she loves children,” said Coons.

Drag Story Hour provides kids an introduction to the LGBTQ+ community to build understanding and acceptance of diversity.

Sho-nell’s choice in reading materials reflects that.

One of her favorite books is “There’s Only One You” by Kathryn COCO SHO-NELL Helling and Deborah Hembrook, which teaches children that no one person is exactly the same as another.

“You may have straight hair. You may need glasses to see or you need to maybe use a wheelchair,” she explained. “It’s OK. That’s just who you are.”

Her other favorite book is Academy Award-winning actor Lupita N’yongo’s “Sulwe,” which tells the story about a little girl whose skin is darker than anyone else’s she knows, including that of her mother. The book explores colorism and self-worth, ultimately leading its young protagonist to embrace and be proud of what makes her unique.

PHOTOS BY TODD A. BANNOR

Pastor Christian Coon rallies people for a parade at the Urban Village Church West’s Family Pride Fest on Saturday June 24.

“It’s OK if you don’t look like everybody else. That’s what makes you, you,” she said.

No protestors showed up to the River Forest event, except some uninvited deer that brazenly grazed near the bounce castle Saturday afternoon, but that has not been the case at similar events outside the Chicago area. NBC News reported that a group of masked neo-Nazis disrupted a drag storybook reading two weekends ago in New Hampshire by chanting homophobic slurs.

Those who purport drag to be an act of the nefarious and immoral lack an understanding of the world and an openness to learn, according to Sho-nell.

“Humans fear what they don’t understand,” she said. “We’re trying to break that stigma.”

Coons echoed her sentiment, adding that he believes many people who oppose drag have never had meaningful re-

lationships or even a conversation with someone who does not fit the mold of being cisgender and heterosexual.

“Once you do, you begin to see the fruit of their lives,” he said. “I just can’t see how you can, in good conscience say, that this is not a child of God.” Legislation to criminalize drag and reduce the rights of the wider LGBTQ+ community is being pushed – and challenged – across the country as well, with one of the most notable efforts coming from presidential hopeful and governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis.

Passed in April, the sweeping “Let Kids be Kids” bill prohibits the discussion of gender identity in schools and bars transgender minors from receiving gender affirming medical care. The legislation also makes it illegal for minors to attend drag performances. Florida State Rep. Randy Fine, who sponsored the bill, said the law will “protect

PRIDE 2023 our children by ending the gateway propaganda to this evil – ‘Drag Queen Story Time.’”

A Central Florida federal judge has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the age restriction at drag performances, ruling June 23 that a drag performer reading to children does not constitute an obscene performance.

Within the conservative Christian community, drag performers and their storybook reading have come under fire. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham was quoted in a September issue of “Christianity Today” encouraging parents and grandparents to quit patronizing libraries in protest.

This stance is activeREV. CHRISTIAN COONS ly opposed by Coons and Urban Village, which Coons said has always been welcoming of LGBTQ+ worshippers and other groups “pushed to the margins.” Nor does he believe it should be scandalous to invite drag performers to read books with positive messaging to kids.

“We are for them; we love them; we believe they are created in the image of God just as anyone else is,” Coons said.

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

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“We are for them; we love them; we believe they are created in the image of God just as anyone else is.”

TODD A. BANNOR

Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America table at the Urban Village Church West’s Family Pride Fest.

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Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

River Forest struts with Pride during district event The second annual Pride Walk kicked off the month’s celebrations

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

A

Staff Reporter

cceptance, love, and equality was the message shared by those attending River Forest District 90’s Pride Walk, which was held on Thursday, June 1 in partnership with the River Forest community.

Attendees gathered at Village Hall, 400 Park Ave., to enjoy the flag raising. In attendance was Ken Johnson, River Forest trustee and co-chair of the village’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory group, who expressed the importance of the day and the efforts to create an inclusive community for everyone to feel accepted and safe.

“Diversity and gay pride are important because they represent the progress we have made as a society of recognizing and celebrating the rights of all people regardless of their sexual orientation,” said Johnson. “We have come a long way in recognizing the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.”

Megan Keskitalo, PTO member who worked on developing the Pride Walk for Lincoln Elementary School, 511 Park Ave., led the cheering crowd in the flag raising, which was followed by the Pride Walk around the block, led

by Principal Casey Godfrey.

“I am so proud to work in a community, in a district that is so inclusive of everyone,” Godfrey said. “To carry the flag and to represent our district and all of our kids was a special moment.”

While the event was to celebrate Pride, with the message of equality and inclusion, the walk reached out to broader communities in River Forest.

For Britt Gentile, of River Forest, who is on Lincoln’s Belongingness and Inclusion Committee, the event was a way to support and foster inclusion and acceptance for everyone.

“It was important for me to participate because I have sons who have disabilities and I just feel that there should be inclusion of all levels of all people,” Gentile said. “Whatever someone determines is their sexuality or their pronouns, they have every right in the world to do that and who are we to take that away.”

The walk ended at the Franklin playground where the celebration continued with free Kona Shaved Ice and music as River Forest kicked off Pride Month.

PHOTOS BY AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

Principal Casey Godfrey (top) leads the walk waving the Pride flag during D90’s event. Residents (left and right) gathered at the River Forest Village Hall to celebrate Pride Month and raise the flag together.

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

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Forest Park’s colorful celebration of Pride

Walk & Roll brings out the best in the community

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

R

Staff Reporter

esidents of Forest Park who wanted an extra colorful way to celebrate Pride month attended the Rainbow Walk & Roll event on Sat., June 3 to get an early start on the month’s festivities.

The Walk & Roll event was a partnership between the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd., and Forest Park School District 91.

“The partnership was fairly simple,” said Nurys Uceta-Ramos, family and community engagement manager for District 91. “The library reached out to us with the idea, and we were excited to be a part of it.”

The event started at Garfield Elementary School, 543 Hannah Ave., at 8 a.m.

Shannon Wood, District 91 school board president, attended the event and said it was great to see so many supportive members of the Forest Park community come together to celebrate Pride month.

“There were so many smiles -- families and community members,” Wood said.

“This was an event that reminds me how our community can and does come together for one another.”

Woods said the library provided flags and ribbons for participants to carry during the walk and at the end those who wanted to participate could throw colorful powder up in the air, which was a big hit with children.

“It was very exciting to see our community come and support the event in a safe and respectful manner,” UcetaRamos said.

TODD A. BANNOR

Children celebrated the Walk & Roll and created fun memories throwing colorful powder into the air to celebrate the beginning of Pride month.

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Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

Prioritizing Inclusion: Girl Scout focuses on LGBTQ+ sex ed in service project OPRF senior’s website aimed at middle school students

By ELIZABETH SHORT

F

Contributing Reporter

ewer than six percent of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement a scout can complete.

The 80-hour service project requires high school scouts to complete a “longterm project with sustainable and ongoing impact that addresses a root cause of an issue.” One scout who is determined to be part of this six percent is rising OPRF senior Emma Costello-Wollwage.

As part of her project, “Prioritizing Inclusion,” Costello-Wollwage compiled a comprehensive guide to sex education for middle schoolers. Her website (sites.google. com/view/prioritizinginclusion) offers information on LGBTQ+ issues and history, as well as her “amended lesson plan regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion for sexual education programs in middle schools.” Accompanying her website is an Instagram account, @ prioritizinginclusion.

In creating the website and Instagram page, Costello-Wollwage met with middle school students and spent hours researching and writing for the website.

“As a queer student, I was never taught how to protect myself sexually whilst in a sexual relationship with another non man,” writes Costello-Wollwage on the website.

“Since I came out/discovered my queer identity in the sixth grade, I was only taught straight sex and viewed a single five-minute video regarding LGBTQ+ sex in my sex ed classroom. This was not enough.”

Lee Chaloemtiarana, Costello-Wollwage’s partner, witnessed similar problems in health class. “We didn’t know how to navigate a queer relationship,” said Chaloemtiarana. “It went by different rules than heterosexual relationships -- and that’s all we learned about in health class. We didn’t know how to be safe (or) how to maintain a healthy relationship.”

According to Chaloemtiarana, the sex education they received in middle school barely covered LGBTQ+ issues, “which is

TODD A. BANNOR

Incoming OPRF freshman Shay Sokolowski, who participated in Rainbow Tribe, described Costello-Wollwage as being “highly relatable.” Similarly, Costello-Wollwage said she could see herself in the Rainbow Tribe students.

The students she spoke to in Rainbow Tribe were “so, so out,” said Costello-Wollwage. “They’re under the impression that OPRF and Oak Park are going to be as accepting as their peers, their friends, and their teachers. But that’s just not true.”

During her (virtual) freshman year at OPRF, Costello-Wollwage experienced cyberbullying directed at her sexuality. “We all have prejudice embedded in us,” said Costello-Wollwage. “It’s our responsibility to reteach ourselves.”

Costello-Wollwage successfully completed all 80 hours of service. As she waits for the Girl Scout council to approve her project, she said she hopes the website reaches a broader audience. “I’m hoping it can become a really accessible education tool.”

While researching and compiling the website, Costello-Wollwage said she was able to expand her knowledge on these issues.

“I learned a lot during that process,” she said. “It was really enjoyable for me because I got to learn about stuff that I missed out on. Creating that website, everything’s going to stick with me. … I really liked learning about my community and helping other kids. It means a lot to me.”

Emma Costello-Wollwage working toward top Girl Scout honor. really ironic considering middle school is a time where a lot of people find out about being gay (and begin that) self-exploration journey.”

Witnessing this imbalance in education, along with peers’ ignorance and hatred toward members of the LGBTQ+ community and in particular toward transgender people, Costello-Wollwage grew more aware of her privilege as well as her duty to fight for herself and others within the community.

“We are the ones who have to make chang-

es,” she said.

After coming out in sixth grade, CostelloWollwage said her sexuality became an important part of her identity. “I was really happy that I had taken the time and found something that special,” she said. Over the next few years, she participated in Percy Julian Middle School’s Rainbow Tribe and was “very, very out.”

While researching the project, CostelloWollwage went back to Rainbow Tribe to speak with current middle school students.

“We all have prejudice embedded in us. It’s our responsibility to reteach ourselves.”

EMMA COSTELLO-WOLLWAGE OPRF senior

PRIDE 2023

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

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Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

PRIDE 2023

Forest Park Pride celebration notes challenges, draws crowd Event returns after successful 2022 debut

By IGOR STUDENKOV

A TODD A. BANNOR

Drag queen Fox E. Kim performs at the Pride event in Constitution Court on Friday June 23, 2023.

TODD A. BANNOR

Drag queen Dymond C. Calloway performs at the Pride event.

Staff Reporter

large crowd, many clad in “Pride is Love Forest Park” T-shirts, gathered at Forest Park’s Constitution Court on Madison Street the evening of June 23 to watch the centerpiece of the village’s second annual Pride celebration.

The event featured 8 drag performers, including returning performers Angel LeBare, Britney Taylor and Fox E. Kim. Keri Traid, Akasha Voyer, Mariela Duarte, Moana Lotte and Dymond C. Calloway made their Forest Park Pride debut this year.

As happened last year, the drag queens walked to several Madison Street businesses

beforehand, chatting with customers and posing for pictures. This year’s participants included Brown Cow, Twisted Cookie, Fiore, Team Blonde, Play it Again Sports, MacDaddy Salon, Schauer’s Hardware, NOLA Louisiana Kitchen and Kribi Coffee Air Roastery.

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), OPALGA+ (Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association), the Howard Brown Health Center and Energy Tees custom apparel company set up tables at Constitution Court.

“This is perfect for us [as a business],” said Energy Tees owner Eric Priceman.

“Why wouldn’t we be here? We’re part of this village.”

Mayor Rory Hoskins, village commissioners Maria Maxham and Michelle MelinRogovin, Village Clerk Vanessa Moritz and

TODD A. BANNOR

Drag queen Angel Lebare performs at the Pride event in Constitution Court on Friday June 23, 2023.

PRIDE 2023 several members of the Forest Park School District 91 Board of Education attended the drag show.

“We’re a very progressive community, and we have a very equitable school board, and we value openness and inclusion,” Hoskins said.

Erich Krumrei, owner of Play it Again Sports, organized the Forest Park Pride Celebration. In his speech before the show, he touched on the challenges the LGBT community, especially the trans community, continues to face.

“Unfortunately, there is still a lot of hate out there,” he said. “I talked to some businesses [about taking part in the celebration] and I got an earful from them. And, you know – it’s their option.”

Krumrei urged the attendees to celebrate, but also to show support.

“It’ s not about me,” he said. “It’s about supporting the trans community and supporting the LGBT community. We need your support, because we’re in a tough, everyday battle, and it’s become very politicized, unfortunately.”

TODD A. BANNOR

Drag queen Akasha Voyer performs at the Pride event.

Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review, June 28, 2023

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TODD A. BANNOR

Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins speaks before the Pride event.

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Wednesday Journal, June 28, 2023

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Wednesday Journal, June 28, 2023

B15

A preservation icon passes on

Wisconsin.

Remembering Donald Kalec, Green, He began teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1969 and in the early a founding member of the 1970s was one of a group of preservationists dedicated to saving and restoring Wright’s Wright Home & Studio Home & Studio in Oak Park.

“I met Don the first day I ever got involved Foundation with the Home & Studio,” said Jack Lesn-

By LACEY SIKORA

H

Contributing Reporter

istoric preservation in Oak Park lost one of its stalwart supporters in May when Donald Kalec died at the age of 87. One of the founding members of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Foundation (now the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust), Kalec devoted his life to architecture and historic preservation.

Kalec received his B.A. from Auburn University and his B.Arch. from the University of Florida. From 1965-69, he apprenticed with the Taliesin Fellowship at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin in Spring

iak, architect and longtime FLW Trust volunteer. “Don was already involved. He knew a lot about Frank Lloyd Wright, and when he approached the first group of volunteers, they grabbed him with open arms.”

Working alongside architects John Thorpe, Bill Dring and Carl Hunter, Kalec developed a master plan that was used as a guide to restore the Home & Studio. The book was adopted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a model for other restoration programs across the country.

In an email recalling his time working alongside Kalec, Dring called him a quiet and modest man, who had “a strong determination to get the project finished and finish it right.”

COURTESY OF THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Donald Kalec (7th from the left) was one of the founding volunteers of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, the ‘originals,’ pictured above in 1974.

PROVIDED

Donald Kalec Dring recounts a moment in the restoration when they were focused on the dining room -- the first major restoration project, which would set a precedent for the rest of their work. The Wright-designed furniture was a key part of the room’s design, and the group considered having reproductions of the high-backed chairs commissioned.

Kalec remembered that the original chairs were stored in an outbuilding at Taliesin in Wisconsin and suggested contacting Wright’s widow, Olgivanna, about them. Dring says Kalec drafted a letter to the architect’s widow, and to their surprise, she agreed to donate the chairs.

“She was jealous of any group that tried to take part of FLW’s legacy,” Dring wrote.

“Plus, the value of the chairs was very high -- possibly $500,000. The gift was unprecedented. This could not have happened without Don.” Lesniak states that after much deliberation, Kalec and the early founders decided to return the Home & Studio to what it looked like in 1909, the last year that Frank Lloyd Wright lived and worked in there.

While Kalec was one of the major players involved in making decisions and drafting drawings of the restoration, Lesniak says the quiet man who smiled a lot wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and do dirty

work either.

“There was a group of volunteers called the Saturday Strippers, who would go in on weekends and touch up the walls and try to determine the original paint colors.

Don was often part of that group doing the hands-on demolition or investigation,” Lesniak recalled.

Kalec became the director of research and restoration for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and worked to undo many of the changes that had been made be later owners to Wright’s early design.

Several small apartments were deconverted to accurately recreate Wright’s studio. The studio restoration garnered a National Merit Award in 1987 from the American Institute of Architects.

At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Kalec helped develop the interior architecture program and also developed a graduate curriculum for the Master of Science degree in historic preservation.

Although he retired from the School of the Art Institute in 2012 and assumed professor emeritus status, Kalec continued to teach through the 2018-19 academic year.

Kalec lived much of his adult life in Chicago, just over the border from Oak Park.

He died near his family in Florida on May 26, 2023.

B16

Wednesday Journal, June 28, 2023

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