Playboy Mansion Grotto Secrets Hefner - Lascaux

Hefner - Lascaux - Playboy Mansion Grotto Secrets - Part 1 Playboy Mansion Grotto Secrets
From the story - Bob Gregory, Editor:
The grotto was conceived as having evolved from the earth perhaps in ancient times like the
caves at Lascaux ... possibly the aftermath residue of some cataclysmic eruption.
Underground streams, waterfalls, secret caves and caverns beckon exploration. All sorts of
mysterious, exotic and sensual experiences await the visitor. Four sculptured fused glass panels,
nestled, almost hidden within the organic stone vaulted ceiling, wait to be discovered. They tell a
small intriguing part of the story ... the beauty of the natural environment; the mysteries of the
cosmic universe; and the human being's never ending search for truth. What shall be the future of
humans? Can we learn from the past? How does the 400 million year old radiolaria trapped in
amber relate to the evolution of ideas and life? What joy awaits you here? These are the themes
to provoke and prod the senses in this magical place. They are not visible from the entry but only
found one by one as surprises, while exploring the grotto and searching among the stone ceiling
crevices.
The Grotto
Lascaux I - Great Hall of the Aurochs
“What does Hugh Hefner have in common with the Reverend Russell Bletzer, Minister of the
North Shore Unitarian Church ?” This was the headline of a long article in the suburban
Chicago Pioneer Press newspaper that was framed and hung on the wall of Russell’s study. It
was placed right next to the certified block of Playboy stock that Hefner had given to the church
to support their sculptured fused glass window project. Russell loved to talk about this to
everyone with a wry smile on his face and an --- “I’ll never tell” --- glint in his eye." See:
Funding The Fused Glass Windows.
Hugh M. Hefner was one of The Dirsmith Group clients, along with many friends, business
associates and colleagues, who had agreed to help the North Shore Unitarian Church in their own
remarkable endeavor. Suzanne and Ron had commissioned Bob White to create
4 of his profound glass fusions as their gift to Mr. Hefner that were embedded
into the stone vaulted ceiling of his famed Grotto. They were designing and
building many of Hefner's Los Angeles Mansion projects at the same time as
NSUC was being built. That’s another story unto itself. To see some of the
original drawings of the Grotto, click HERE.
There is a deep connection ... between the physical and spiritual beauty of the caves of Lascaux,
Hefner's Grotto, and the Sculptured Fused Glass Wall of the North Shore Unitarian Church.
The Museum of the National Academy of Design and Fine Arts in New York City, the oldest
professional arts association in the United States, has recently acquired a portfolio of 102 prints,
drawings and photographs of the work of The Dirsmith Group for its permanent collection of
pre-eminent American architecture, design and art. Included are 12 images of the North Shore
Unitarian Church ... and 12 images of work for Hugh M. Hefner including the famed Grotto.
This acquisition followed the recent election of Ron Dirsmith to the Academy, only the 3rd
architect elected from Illinois since the Academy's founding in 1825.
Your vision is the mission of The Dirsmith Group Design and Consulting Team ...
architects, engineers, artisans, sculptors, and landscape planners
Contact Suzanne Roe Dirsmith, President
847-433-3616 or email [email protected]
Dirsmith Group International Architects and Landscape Planners - on facebook
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Ron Dirsmith, FAAR, NA
Prix de Rome
American Academy in Rome
National Academy of Design, New York
[email protected]
The Dirsmith Group
International Architects
Architecture Landscape Planning Lighting Environments
318 Maple Avenue
Highland Park, Illinois 60035
Ph: 847-433-3616 Fax: 847-433-3664
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