Jennie Hirsch, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art, Maryland Institute College of Art 

A New Way of Learning: Black Mountain College (1933-1957)

Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at 1:30 PM EDT

Hybrid in-person and online program at The Woman's Club of Roland Park & via Zoom

This lecture introduces and explores the rich and complex history of Black Mountain College, an experimental liberal arts college set in the mountains of North Carolina. Though only operative for about 25 years, this radical institution founded by John Andrew Rice was rooted in collaborative and experiential learning, producing one of the most impressive lists of instructors and alumni in the history of art education in the United States. With decision making and responsibilities shared equally amongst staff and students, Black Mountain College was a radically democratic institution that manifested many of John Dewey's educational theories. Formed just as the Bauhaus was forced to close its doors by the Nazi regime in Germany, Black Mountain College absorbed not only individuals from the Bauhaus, such as Josef and Anni Albers, but also that institution's combined curriculum of art, architecture, and craft. Under the direction of luminaries, including Buckminster Fuller and Walter Gropius, this unique and quirky college brought together incredible artists, such as Ruth Asawa, WIllem De Kooning, Merce Cunningham, and more.

$15 fee for guests and subscribers (no fee for members)

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