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Leap Before You Look

Black Mountain College 1933–1957
4.65 goodreads logo

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( 55 ratings, 9 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Leap Before You Look offers a dynamic new perspective on Black Mountain College, the groundbreaking North Carolina art school founded in 1933. Operating for just 24 years, the college was a major incubator of avant-garde art, music, dance, and poetry, fostering creativity through the teachings of artists like Josef and Anni Albers, John Cage, and Merce Cunningham. The book features original essays exploring the college's unique educational approach and legacy, alongside catalogue entries showcasing works by its notable artists and students such as Robert Rauschenberg and Cy Twombly. Published in association with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, it richly captures the experimental spirit that continues to inspire artists and scholars alike.
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Format: Hardback
$15499

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This beautifully illustrated and scholarly volume is essential for readers interested in midcentury American art, avant-garde artistic movements, and the history of experimental education in the arts.

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A dynamic new look at the legendary college that was a major incubator of the arts in midcentury America

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A dynamic new look at the legendary college that was a major incubator of the arts in midcentury America

In 1933, John Rice founded Black Mountain College in North Carolina as an experiment in making artistic experience central to learning. Though it operated for only 24 years, this pioneering school played a significant role in fostering avant-garde art, music, dance, and poetry, and an astonishing number of important artists taught or studied there. Among the instructors were Josef and Anni Albers, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Buckminster Fuller, Karen Karnes, M. C. Richards, and Willem de Kooning, and students included Ruth Asawa, Robert Rauschenberg, and Cy Twombly.

Leap Before You Look is a singular exploration of this legendary school and of the work of the artists who spent time there. Scholars from a variety of fields contribute original essays about diverse aspects of the Collegeβ€”spanning everything from its farm program to the influence of Bauhaus principlesβ€”and about the people and ideas that gave it such a lasting impact. In addition, catalogue entries highlight selected works, including writings, musical compositions, visual arts, and crafts. The book’s fresh approach and rich illustration program convey the atmosphere of creativity and experimentation that was unique to Black Mountain College, and that served as an inspiration to so many. This timely volume will be essential reading for anyone interested in the College and its enduring legacy.

Published in association with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

Exhibition Schedule:

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
(10/10/15–01/24/16)

Hammer Museum, UCLA
(02/21/16–05/14/16)

Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio State University
(09/17/16–01/01/17)

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised by the Wall Street Journal as a "richly illustrated catalog" and featured among the 2015 Best Books for Art Lovers, Leap Before You Look has earned accolades including a finalist spot for the 2015 George Wittenborn Book Award and honorable mention from the Dedalus Foundation Exhibition Catalogue Award. Sebastian Smee of the Boston Globe hailed the catalogue as "beautiful and accessible" with a lasting impact, while Introspective: The 1stdibs Magazine lauded its design and depth in delving into the history of this unconventional art school.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300211917

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 29 October 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 318 color + 170 b-w illus.

Contributors:

  • Contributions by Ruth Erickson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 241.0mm

Height: 318.0mm

Weight: 2812g

Pages: 400

About the Author

Helen Molesworth is chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Ruth Erickson is assistant curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.

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