Event #1: Hammer Museum

Event #1

Leap Before You Look: Black Mountain College (1933-1957)

            Visiting this exhibit was very interesting as this college was created to encourage artists of all kinds to experiment with artistic creations and to “learn by doing”. The educational system is created in such a way that we are taught a lesson, complete practice problems, and then tested on how well we retained and understood the information taught to us. However, Black Mountain College looked to a more progressive way of teaching the arts. This way of teaching gave way to a lot of creativity and progression of both visual and applied arts. Visiting the exhibit helped me understand the artistic inventions and achievements we have studied the last few weeks. These artists did not simply learn about something and try to make their own renditions. They used their creativity and experimented to create something truly unique and helped progress the world of art (i.e. Gutenberg’s press, Golden ratios, abstract art). While we take for granted how these artists create such beautiful art, it is their creativity and willingness to think outside the box that resulted in new ideas and thinking. Black Mountain College, as proof by the exhibit and art on display, encouraged their students and teachers to think outside the box and “expand their internal horizons”.

            After going to the exhibit I was blown away by how the school operated and produced some of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. I recommend other Desma students to visit because it opens your eyes to what can be accomplished when people use their own creativity to make art.

"In-Gallery Performances." The Hammer Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2016.