Lecture: Jeff Arnal- Points in Space, Performance at Black Mountain College

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Black Mountain College (BMC) is renowned for its radical approach to interdisciplinary arts, where music, visual arts, theater, and experimental performance converged to form a groundbreaking educational and creative environment. From its founding in 1933 to its closure in 1957, BMC became a nexus for the avant-garde, where the boundaries of artistic disciplines were continually pushed, influenced by European émigrés fleeing Nazi Germany, and fueled by the philosophical undercurrents of the Bauhaus movement. The college’s rich legacy in performance and experimental music is the focal point of the exhibition Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College, presented by the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center from September 5, 2025 – January 10, 2026.

This presentation explores how BMC’s interdisciplinary spirit not only shaped the avant-garde movements of its time but continues to resonate in contemporary performance practices. We will examine key moments from BMC’s history, such as the Summer Music Institutes, which attracted luminaries like Heinrich Jalowetz, Edward Lowinsky, and Ursula Mamlok, whose time at BMC helped redefine the American musical landscape. We will also dive into significant interdisciplinary collaborations, such as The Glyph Exchange (1951), and the groundbreaking Theater Piece No. 1 (1952), which featured David Tudor, Merce Cunningham, Charles Olson, and Robert Rauschenberg.

The influence of BMC on subsequent movements, including Fluxus, Judson Dance Theater, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, will be explored in depth. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the impact of BMC’s experimental approach on figures like John Cage, Nam June Paik, and Stan VanDerBeek, whose works expanded the possibilities of multimedia, performance, and time-based art.

Points in Space aims to connect these historic achievements to contemporary artistic practices. Through performance-integrated exhibitions, multimedia installations, and public programs, the exhibition fosters an ongoing dialogue between the innovative artistic methods of BMC and the work of contemporary artists who continue to be inspired by BMC's radical approach to art, education, and community engagement.

Join us as we explore the profound legacy of Black Mountain College, and its continued relevance to today’s interdisciplinary and experimental art world. This presentation will offer a deep dive into Black Mountain College’s remarkable contributions to the development of performance art and its lasting influence on today’s innovative and interdisciplinary creative practices.

Bio:

Jeff Arnal is a percussionist and the Executive Director of the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville, NC. An active artist and curator since the 1990s, he co-founded Brooklyn’s Improvised and Otherwise festival in 2002, a critical platform for experimental, time-based artists. Before joining BMCM+AC in 2016, Arnal served as Senior Music and Performance Program Officer at the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. At the museum, he launched the Active Archive Residency and Performance Initiative, and led a successful capital campaign to secure its permanent home. With over 30 albums, Arnal continues to perform internationally and is curating the 2025 exhibition Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College.

Black Mountain College was a revolutionary institution that championed the intersection of arts, experimentation, collaboration, and experiential learning. As a cornerstone of 20th-century arts, craft, and progressive education, its influence remains profound. For over 30 years, the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center has preserved and promoted this legacy through exhibitions, programs, and publications that celebrate BMC alumni and their lasting impact on contemporary art. As the only museum dedicated to this history, BMCM+AC continues to uphold the college's founding principles, fostering new collaborations and creative explorations in the spirit of Black Mountain College.

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