Tracing the history of performance at Black Mountain College
Black Mountain College was never just a school — it was a laboratory for experimentation that reshaped the course of modern art. Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College explores the radical intersections of performance, theater, music, dance, film, and visual art that flourished there between 1933 and 1957. Opening this September, the exhibition brings together historical documents, rare photographs, and contemporary installations to illuminate how avant-garde figures such as John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Lou Harrison, Alma Stone Williams, Ursula Mamlok, Robert Rauschenberg, and Stefan Wolpe shaped a new language of collaboration and time-based art. “Points in Space aims to bridge the past and present, ensuring BMC’s interdisciplinary spirit continues to inspire new generations,” reads a press statement. “Through performance-integrated exhibitions and public programs, the exhibition will foster a dynamic dialogue between historical and contemporary artistic practices, expanding the reach and relevance of BMC’s radical approach to art, education, and community engagement.”
Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College: September 5-January 10, 2026
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center / 120 College St., Asheville / blackmountaincollege.org