BOONE, N.C. — The story of Black Mountain College (BMC) began in 1933 and comprised a fascinating chapter in the history of education and the arts. Black Mountain College was fundamentally different from other colleges and universities of the time. It was owned and operated by the faculty and was committed to democratic governance and the idea that the arts are central to the experience of learning.

“At BMC, they taught students in an interdisciplinary way to solve problems, to use the arts and other disciplines to explore and learn. A lot of their curriculum involved interactive learning, which is one of the things we do well here at Appalachian,” said Dr. Neva Specht, dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

In the spirit of Black Mountain College, the BMC Semester at Appalachian has partnered with North Carolina’s K-12 educators through collaborations among Appalachian’s College of Arts and Sciences, Reich College of Education, the Center for Appalachian Studies and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA).

Educators have the opportunity to earn continuing education units through an educator workshop and lecture series held on Appalachian’s campus during the months of March and April that brings art to the forefront of education. Educators can participate in hands-on activities, attend lectures and receive a private tour of the TCVA exhibition on Black Mountain College. This series includes topics such as painting, poetry, sustainability, photography and resourceful artmaking with many of the semester’s visiting speakers.

The BMC Semester project team also invites educators to participate in a workshop for lesson plan development, which will be held on campus in July. The workshop will offer continuing education units for educators to develop online lesson plans for North Carolina students based on BMC Semester resources, including the project’s digital timeline and a special double issue of the Appalachian Journal on Black Mountain College.

“The collaboration and partnerships in creating this semester-long tribute — among university departments, regional museums and the approximately 20 prominent scholars, writers and artists associated with Black Mountain College who are participating — also exemplify the curiosity inherent in a liberal arts education, and the innovation that can result from people working and creating together and expanding on each other’s ideas,” Specht said.

April and May events

Apr

4

Black Mountain College Semester Lecture with Mary Emma Harris

Part of the Black Mountain College Semester (BMCS)

April 4, 2018

7 p.m.

421 Belk Library and Information Commons

Mary Emma Harris has long been regarded as one of the most prominent scholars on Black Mountain College (BMC). Her book, "The Arts at Black Mountain College" (1987), is one of the most influential publications on the history of BMC. She will be delivering a talk on the history and reach of BMC.

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Apr

6

“Theatre Piece #1 Revisited: A Happening” — A Celebration of the Original 1952 Happening

Part of the Black Mountain College Semester (BMCS)

April 6, 2018

6 - 8 p.m.

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

The event is a celebration of what is credited to be the original “happening,” which occurred at the Black Mountain Summer School in 1952. It was coordinated over six decades ago by Merce Cunningham and John Cage, who wanted to encourage students and the community to look at art in a new and different manner. The evening will include refreshments, a cash bar and is free and open to the public.

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Apr

11

CANCELED: Black Mountain College Semester Lecture with Lucy Massie Phenix

Part of the Black Mountain College Semester (BMCS)

April 11, 2018

7 p.m.

114 Belk Library and Information Commons

This appearance by Lucy Massie Phenix has been canceled. Lucy Massie Phenix created the 2008 award-winning film, "Don’t Know, We’ll See: The Work of Karen Karnes," that explores the poetry and mystery of the life and work of master clay artist, Karen Karnes, who studied and taught at Black Mountain College.

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Apr

18

ArtTALKS: Alice Sebrell

Part of the Black Mountain College Semester (BMCS)

April 18, 2018

6 p.m.

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

Alice Sebrell earned her MFA in Photography from The Savannah College of Art and Design and her BFA from the University of Delaware. She has worked for the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center since 1999 and is currently the Program Director for the organization.

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Apr

27

Performance of “The Ruse of Medusa,” a surrealist play

Part of the Black Mountain College Semester (BMCS)

April 27, 2018

6 p.m.

Living Learning Center

“The Ruse of Medusa,” a surrealist play by French composer and pianist Erik Satie, was translated into English by M.C. Richards — a poet, potter, essayist, translator and painter who taught at Black Mountain College in the late 1940s. The performance will be given by Dr. Christina Sornito's class, BMCS Fellows and the Department of Anthropology. Refreshments begin at 6 p.m. and the performance begins at 7 p.m.

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May

17

TAC Talk — Jeffery Beam presents “Jonathan Williams: Lord of Orchards”

Part of the Black Mountain College Semester (BMCS)

May 17, 2018

6 p.m.

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

Join poet Jeffery Beam as he discusses poet Jonathan Williams, one of the last students at Black Mountain College. Williams was an early and sometimes first-time publisher for many of the writers who became known as the Black Mountain Poets. Eventually his press championed scores of other avant-garde and ignored writers and artists of the 20th century.

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View the complete event schedule

Ongoing events

Jan

12

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Jun

2

Creative Democracy: The Legacy of Black Mountain College

Jan. 12 - June 2, 2018

Turchin Center for the Visual Arts

As part of the campus-wide celebration of the historical legacy of Black Mountain College (BMC) at Appalachian State University during the Spring 2018 semester, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts will feature a selection of art and artifacts from Black Mountain College artists and writers.

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Nov

24

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Apr

7

Arts at the Center: A History of Black Mountain College

Nov. 24, 2017 - April 7, 2018

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

“Arts at the Center: A History of Black Mountain College” explores several components of the rich history of BMC — including an overview of the history and concepts behind BMC alongside historic photographs and artwork created by some of its most recognized students and faculty — and its relationship to North Carolina.

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About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

Black Mountain College Semester — exemplifying the value of a liberal arts education

Q&A with Dr. Neva Specht, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Feb. 22, 2018

Dr. Neva Specht, dean of Appalachian’s College of Arts and Sciences, addresses the value of a liberal arts education and how Black Mountain College Semester exemplifies this worth to society.

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Black Mountain College Semester

Appalachian State University
Spring semester 2018

For Appalachian State University’s Black Mountain College (BMC) Semester in spring 2018, multiple departments across the university are collaborating with area museums and other venues to host exhibits, lectures and workshops that will highlight the importance of BMC’s influence within the Appalachian region’s creative, educational and political movements.

Visit the official website

View the complete event schedule

Ahead of its time: Exhibition in Boone celebrates Black Mountain College’s diverse creative legacy

WHKY

May 13, 2018

More than 60 years after it went bankrupt, sold off its campus near Asheville and formally dissolved, Black Mountain College exerts an enduring influence on art and education in the U.S. and abroad. Appalachian State University is celebrating that legacy this spring with a series of events and programs centering on Black Mountain’s history and some of the people who taught, studied and made art there.

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