Frank Lloyd Wright Smith House Closer Look: Urban Jupena Tapestry

Selections from an interview with textile artist Urban Jupena. Jupena wove a large tapestry for Melvyn Maxwell and Sara Stein Smith of Bloomfield Township, Michigan, for their 1950 Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian home.
Part of an ongoing series of oral history interviews conducted by the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research with artists, designers, architects, and family members associated with the remarkable Smith House. Please visit our website for more information: www.cranbrook.edu/center
Image Credits:
Urban Jupena in his Cranbrook Studio, c. 1969. Courtesy of the Artist.
Urban Jupena with his tapestry at Cranbrook, c. 1970. Courtesy of the Artist.
Urban Jupena waving his screen printed textile at Cranbrook Academy Art Museum, c. 1970. Courtesy of the Artist.
Urban Jupena in his Cranbrook Studio, Pontiac Press, Feb. 2, 1970. Courtesy of the Artist.
Urban Jupena at his loom in his Cranbrook Studio, Pontiac Press, Feb. 2, 1970. Courtesy of the Artist.
Melvyn Maxwell Smith and Sara Stein Smith at their home, c. 1971. Courtesy of the Smith House Archives.
Reverse of Yaw Gallery promotional postcard for "Urban Jupena: Tapestries," 1974. Courtesy of the Artist.
Installation view of Urban Jupena's "Cave Rug" at Cranbrook Art Museum, "Cranbrook Time Machine," 2016. Photo by PD Rearick, Courtesy of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum.
View of the Urban Jupena at Smith House, c. 1976. Courtesy of the Artist.
All original photography of the Smith House filmed in September and October 2017 by Kevin Adkisson.
Interview conducted in the Smith House by Kevin Adkisson in July 2017.
Edited and produced in the Cranbrook Academy of Art Media Center by Kevin Adkisson, Collections Fellow, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research.

[@DavidJGillCA]

When I was a college student Melvin Maxwell Smith was kind enough to give me a private tour (limited to the LV, kitchen and study) of his magnificent house. The enthusiasm that most original Wright owners possessed for their homes and their patience with the relentless inquiries from strangers like me amazes me.

[@SC-ls3iv]

Are you familiar with the Smith's daughter who was also a teacher, possibly a some time substitute? I remember spending time with her in the kitchen circa 1964-ish.

[@blondeboywilson9221]

I remember your brother who was for a time my teacher and mentor showing me an article about your work. It left a big impression on me and I occasionally have looked in on your work over the decades. Salute!