Artist, Ronald Robertson (Black Mountain College Collection)
Works by Black Mountain College Artists at Asheville Art Museum
Works of Cubist fragmentation, gridded compositions, and pure geometric abstraction will cover the walls of the Asheville Art Museum through September 30. Geometric Vistas: Landscapes by Artists of Black Mountain College features the work of artists who studied and taught at Black Mountain College from 1933 to 1957. This collection covers a span of years and styles, surpassing realism for a perspective into the world of Black Mountain College and the art that emerged during the period.
Offering abstract views of the revered Blue Ridge Mountains, the works are bonded by their roots in nature and geometry. A special art break will be held September 9 at noon with a discussion facilitated by curatorial graduate intern Tamara Vaughan. The art talk is free with museum admission or membership.
Tamara will share the history of some of the pieces and background information on many of the artists featured. “I talked to the artists about why some works were titled in certain ways, as well as how geometry and landscape play a role in their artistic portfolios,” she says. “I also learned more about how professors inspired and influenced many of their students’ future work through the use of line, color and movement.”
Artists at Black Mountain College displayed widely different views of landscapes that offered inspiration and beauty during their time at the college. From cityscapes of Paris and Florence to the campus of the college itself, there is something to draw the eye of any art lover. The artists’ integral focus on the Appalachian Mountains through geometric shapes and compositions recreates the way we view the world, taking viewers to another time and place.
Ronald Robertson’s work, “Studies Building at Black Mountain College,” is an oil painting that was created during his time in Black Mountain—a featured work that lends a burst of color and intrigue. Patrons will also see pieces by professors like Josef Albers, whose teaching style and art reflected his time at Bauhaus in Germany.
“The students and teachers of Black Mountain College have had an incredible impact on the mountain community throughout the years,” Tamara says. “This exhibit hearkens back to a time of wonderful artistry and rich culture in the Asheville region, and the museum welcomes people of all ages to experience some of the best works of Black Mountain artists.”
The museum will have books for sale in the gift shop that lend a deeper view into the College, its artists, and their influence.
The Asheville Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1–5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for seniors and students. Children five and under are admitted free of charge. For more information on this exhibit and others, visit ashevilleart.org.
