ANNUAL REPORT 2019
DEAR FRIENDS,
This has been another year of unparalleled exhibitions and performances, a celebration of what’s possible in our new home and with the support of our community.
At the beginning of 2019, we were in the last few weeks of the inaugural exhibition at 120 College Street, Between Form and Content: Perspectives on Jacob Lawrence and Black Mountain College, which was a major accomplishment in its scope and its expansion of community partnerships. Next, we presented an intimate look at the college’s political dimensions, both internal and external, through the exhibition Politics at Black Mountain College. During the same time period, the exhibition Aaron Siskind: A Painter’s Photographer and Works on Paper by BMC Artists revealed the photographer’s elegant approach to abstraction alongside works by others in his circle of influence.
From June through August, our galleries filled with sound as part of Materials, Sounds + Black Mountain College, an exploration of contemporary experimental and material-based processes rooted in theories and practices developed at Black Mountain College. We closed out the year with VanDerBeek + VanDerBeek, an exhibition that bridges the historic and contemporary through an intergenerational artistic conversation.
2019 also marked the 100th birthday of Merce Cunningham, and 100 years since the founding of the Bauhaus, which closed in the same year Black Mountain College opened, seeding the latter with its faculty and utopian values. Both centennials sparked global celebrations, transcending geographic and disciplinary boundaries to honor the impact of courageous communities and collaborators. We joined the world in these celebrations through a special installation of historic dance films of the Cunningham Dance Company at this year’s {Re}HAPPENING, the exhibition BAUHAUS 100, and a virtual reality exploration of the Bauhaus Dessau building, on loan from the Goethe-Institut. Collaborations between Stan VanDerBeek, Merce Cunningham and the Cunningham Dance Company play a key role in our current exhibition, VanDerBeek + VanDerBeek.
PERFORMANCES
We welcomed an impressive roster of performing artists this year as well, continuing our Performance Initiative, which began in 2017. Our 2019 performances brought to light Black Mountain College’s international and multigenerational influences, from showcasing contemporary musicians who continue the legacy of experimental music within a global context, to addressing issues connected to the shared history and community of Western North Carolina, and embracing the interconnectivity of the arts that was at the core of Black Mountain College’s philosophy through multimedia explorations.
SPREAD THE WORD
This array of ambitious undertakings attracted the attention of Hyperallergic, Burnaway and Artsy, further establishing BMCM+AC as a forum for dynamic programs that enliven the regional, national, and international arts community, contributing to Western North Carolina’s reputation as a globally significant hub for creativity.
We also worked to expand the reach of BMC scholarship by resuming publication of The Journal of Black Mountain College Studies, a peer-reviewed open-access digital publication that continues BMC’s tradition of embracing alternative models of publishing, and strives to present diverse works by writers and artists of varied backgrounds.
NEW FACES
Our staff evolved this year as former Development Manager, Molly Silverstein, began her graduate studies at Harvard Divinity School. We welcomed Carissa Pfeiffer as Development Coordinator in April. Carissa’s background in library science has opened up new strategies for our permanent collection and research center, laying the groundwork for increased access to these rich materials.
In addition, we welcomed two new members to our Board of Directors: Hedy Fischer and Teresa Swan Tuite.
Hedy Fischer is a collector, traveler, curator and all around cultural pollinator who resides in Asheville, North Carolina and Merida, Mexico. Her far reaching perspective on global arts and culture resonates with BMC’s international legacy.
Teresa Swan Tuite is Executive Director of Student Success at Lenoir-Rhyne University. A graduate of Yale Divinity School where she received her PhD in Religious Studies, Teresa is expanding our partnerships with local universities and national academic circles.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Building on past accomplishments and looking to the future, this year we adopted a new strategic plan. BMCM+AC 2019-2024 will guide the next stage of the museum’s organizational development, with the aim of establishing BMCM+AC as an international arts center. The core commitment of our plan is to build the financial capacity and visibility to widen the impact of our efforts to continue Black Mountain College’s legacy, and sharing it as much as possible with communities both in this region and around the world.
This potential, as we continue to grow, is only possible thanks to the generous spirit of the community we serve. Please consider donating, becoming a member, or volunteering with us if you have not yet.
As a nonprofit, our achievements are the fruit of everyone who has contributed in myriad ways to the ongoing story of Black Mountain College. We are tremendously grateful to our donors, community partners, volunteers, and friends.
On behalf of our staff, board, and all who enjoy and participate in all that we do throughout the year, thank you for your part in helping us achieve our mission. As we move forward into 2020, we pledge to be worthy of the trust you place in us to extend this vital legacy.
BY THE NUMBERS
IN THE GALLERY
Visitors: 10,500
Active members: 524
First time members: 143
Collaborating artists and performers: 150+
Exhibitions: 6
PROGRAMS
Total Events: 40
Lectures + gallery talks: 14
Films@BMCM+AC: 5
Workshops: 5
Performances: 13
Literary events/readings: 3
DIGITAL
5,000+ website visitors
11,000+ Facebook followers
6,000+ Instagram followers (@bmcmuseum and @bmcbooks)
3,745+ e-newsletter subscribers
DIVE DEEPER
There’s so much to share with you, from our full roster of exhibitions and programs to this year’s collection acquisitions and publications.
You can find all this and more in the 2019 Annual Report PDF linked below.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 SUPPORTERS
Aaron Copland Fund for Music
Australian Arts Council
The Beattie Foundation
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
The Community Foundation of Western Carolina
Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation
Furthermore: a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund
The Henry Luce Foundation
The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts
The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation
The National Endowment for the Arts
New England Foundation for the Arts
North Carolina Arts Council
Windgate Charitable Foundation
BMC Circle $20,000+
John Cram + Matt Chambers
Hedy Fischer + Randy Shull
BMC Circle $10,000+
Anonymous Donor
Donald + Cynthia Carson
Sydney + Michael Green
Jim + Kendall Oliver / AVL Technologies
BMC Advocates $5,000+
John Byrd + Ellen Clarke
Laurie Corral
Rob Pulleyn
BMC Patrons $4,000+
Helga + Jack Beam
Elizabeth Holden
BMC Patrons $2,000+
Thomas Frank
Marya Roland
Will Sibbald + Lee Brown
Susan Turner
BMC Patrons $1,000+
Marion L. Johnson Church
Todd Fowler
Barry + Sandy Friedlander
Ron Janssen
Mary Lynn Kotz
Robert + Karen Milnes
Peggy Newell
Dorothea Rockburne
In memory of Michael Rumaker
Patrick Rumaker
Andy Scott
BMC Benefactors $500+
Kit Dreier
Lisa Goldberg
Lynne Goode + Harrison Williams
Nancy Holmes
Larry Hopkins
Bruce Hughes + Nancy Kirkland
Linda + Ron Larsen
Bruce and Jan Manes
Terry + Holly Reiling
Jim Samsel
Glen Shults + Linda Vespereny
Larry Turner
Brent Skidmore
UNC Asheville STEAM Studio
Warren Wilson College Art Department
David Worley
BMC Sustainers $250+
Asheville School
Joel + Marla Adams
Henry Bass
Polly + Scott Beam
John English
Jeffrey Gardiner
Miegan + Chan Gordon
Caprice + Michael Hamlin-Krout
Harvest Records
Rick Holman
Ruth Asawa Lanier Inc.
Toby Levy
James Lindsey
Amy Mitchell
Dave Peifer + Brenda Carleton
Richard Perry
Jim Peterson
Barbara Reynolds
Joel Rosenberg
Paul + Cherry Saenger
Samsel Architects
Mary Holden Thompson
In memory of James Thompson
Michael + Mary Ann Weston
Amanda Wiles
BMC Fans $120+
Linda Andrews
Rod + Bess Baird
Ann Batchelder + Henri Kieffer
Richard + Diana Brewster
Renee Bumbaugh
Missy + Wes Cochran
Marcia Cohen
Dorothy E. Corbin
Thorns + Perry Craven
Aiko Cuneo
Libby + Michael de Caetani
Docents of the Asheville Art Museum
Patrick Ellingham
Nina Gregg + Douglas Gamble
Robert Jolly + Lois Koufman
Kenn + Michelle Lappas Kotara
Jeff Kinzel + Diana Stoll
Charles Krekelberg + Aimee Ellingsen
Elizabeth Llewellyn
Gregory Lyon
Virginia McKinley
Gail Meadows
Rachel Meginnes
Penland School of Craft
Demetri Poulis
Melinda Raab
Isabel Rubio
Libby Skamfer
Ira Sloan + Lina Evans
Lan Sluder + Sheila Lambert
Ted + Susan Stebbins
Leslie Paul Symington
In memory of Ragland Watkins
Helen Wykle
BMC Creative Partners $75+
Mary Alm + Darrell Russell
Carol Anders
Joseph + Joan Bathanti
Karen Bell
Connie Bostic
Clara Boza
Wade Brickhouse
Nathan + Anne Burkhardt
Pat + Ed Butler
Michael Carlebach + Margot Ammidown
William Eakins
Ann Ehringhaus
Catherine Frank
Patti Glazer
Rick + Sharon Gruber
Deborah Haynes
David G. Hill
Bert + Hertha Horwitz
Patti Hughes
Julia Jordan
Bob Kelly
Nancy + Matt Liddle
Steven LaMoy
Adam Larsen
Susan Maley
David McConville
Margit Meissner
Herbert Oppenheimer
Hilary Rice
Ute Roth
Constance Schrader
Gayle Speck
Bill + Heli Tomford
Martha Treichler
Faith Williams
David + Sheri Wright
Donors up to $75
Brian Airedale
Peter Alberice + Sandra Stambaugh
Ben Alper
LuAnn Arena
Sylvia Ashby
Sally + Bill Atkins
Robin August
Carroll Austin
Lee + Nancy Averett
Matthew Banash
Genevieve Barnhart
Claire E. Barratt
James Barron
Pinky Bass
Cecily Bastedo
Duffy Baum
Jeffery Beam + Stanley Finch
Karen A. Bearor
Linda Beltran
Theodora Benezra
Margaret Berman
Lois Bernard
Patsy Beyer
Lisa Blackburn + John Hartom
Philip + Jacqueline Blocklyn
Ronna Bloom
Jackie Blount
Nick Boone
William + Martha Boyd
Rebecca Boyden + Geoffrey Cunningham
Mary Elizabeth Boyle
Norma Bradley
Cynthia Bringle
Ryan Brisini
Hill Brown
Mary Ellen Brown
Kellie Brown
Bear Brown
Jamil Brownson
Candace Buck
Tom Butler
Sharon Campbell
Denise Carbonell + Derek Dominy
Julie Caro
Daniel Casse
James Cavanaugh
Katherine Chaddock
Justin Childress
Hilary Chiz
George Chu
Betty Clark
Andrea Clarke
Curt + Julie Cloninger
Noon Coda
Alberto Colonia + George Hunker
Katie Cornell
Robin Croog
Laura Crutchfield
Vicki Cummings
John Dancy-Jones
Brenda Danilowitz
Blaise deFranceaux
Fred Dewey
Anne Dickens + Craig Bogdon
Andrew Dietz
Suzanne Dittenber
Michelle Dorf
Christine Dowd
Sarah Downing
Joy Drury Cox
Judith Duncan
Mignon Durham
Robert Early
Dean Eastman
Mark Endries
Walter Ähnle
Constance Ensner
Maria Epes
Sharon + Vic Fahrer
David Feingold
Robert Feirstein
Anita Feldman
Lesley Firestein
Craig Fischer
Suzanne + Marshall Fisher
Chas Fitzgerald
Keely Flow
Robert Freet
Michael Friedlander
Gaetana Friedman
Belinda Fromson
Roxanne Frue
Phil Fryberger
Will Gale
Louise Galindo
Josephine Garibaldi
Bill + Nancy Gettys
Joseph P. Gigliotti
Diana Gillispie + Michael Robinson
Christopher Glass
David + Barbara Goist
John Goist
Mary Goodkind
Lorrie Goulet
Gillian Grant
Arch Gregory
Charlott Greub
Gerry Grimm
Linda Gritta
Kiel Haywood
Irene Hall
Alan Hantz
Kristin Harkey
Barbara + Cliff Harmon
Mary Emma Harris
Sandra Hartmannsgruber
Michael Hatch
Gary Hawkins
Mary Beth Hayes
Tom Hayes
Harrison Haynes
Babara Hearn
David Heckel
Carey Hedlund
Alice Helms
Stephen Hendricks
Brian Hersh
Michael Hettich
Patrick Hill
Elaine Hill
Joshua Hoeynck
Karen Hoffman
Grace Holden
Susan Holden
Amanda Hollomon-Cook
William Hooper
Tyler Housholder
Liz Huesemann
Jon Jicha
Henrikus Joko Yulianto
Eric Jungermann
Stephen Keeble + Karen DePew
Aparna Keshaviah
Eric King
Lesley King
Kyoko Kinoshita
Anna Koloseike
Sandy Konkel
Lucy Amelia Kruesel
Lee Kucera
Adele La Brecque
Laura Ladendorf
Lee Lancaster
Elizabeth Lang
Monique Lanoix
Carol Lawrence + Peter Caulfield
Amory LeCuyer
Deborah Lewis + Tom Lang
Rena Lindstrom
Billie Lofland
Andreas Luescher
Gabriele Marewski
Jennifer Marsh
Alli Marshall
Sara Marshall
Sebastian Matthews + Alison Climo
Paul McDonald + John McClain
Jean McLaughlin
Pennie McLean
Tony Micocci
Carol Mills
Bonnie Milne Gardner
Glen Miska
Ged Moody + Debbie Tallarico
Laura Moody
Susie Mosher
William Murdoch
Yasuhito Nagahara
Dale Neal
Bonni Nechemias
Alan O’Neal
Sally Ogletree
Katrina Ohstrom
Susan Oliver
Sarah Oram
Sylvia Organ
John Orr
Donna + Ronald Oser
Nicki Ostrishko
Betty Paine
Ralph Paquin
Jim Parker
James Parker
Lauren Patton
Elizabeth Pedersen
George Peery + Mary Stair
Megan Pendleton
Joanna Perkinson
Patsy Pettus
Joan Petty
Judith + Richard Pigossi
Vicky Pinney
Joseph Pisa
Rachel Pohl
Judith Pohl-Zaretsky
Steve Poppe
Mary Ellen Porter
Doris Potash
Barbara Pressman
Craig Quintero
Jason Reeves
Michael + Tamara Reid
Sarah Reincke
Daniel Remein
Susan Rhew
Vicki Richards
Deborah Robertson
Helen Robinson
Sarah Ross
Seth Rouser
Karen Rowlett
Leisa Rundquist
Sammy Sams
Deborah Schauffler
Lee Seabrook
Roxanne Semon
Jan Sheaffer
Kelsey Sheaffer
Robin Sholder
Amy Shumaker
David Silver
Madeleine Sis
Clarissa Sligh
Linda Smathers + Sam Speciale
Leverett Smith, Jr.
Elaine Smyth
Sylvia + James Smythe
Katherine Soniat
Michelle Soule
Heather South
Susan Sowell
Jim Stern
Michael Stewart
Irene Stoll
Linda Stover
Bill Swafford
Vaughn Talbert
Jo + Porter Taylor
Julie Thomson
Lacey Torge
Elizabeth Towers
Doug Trimbach
Kathy Triplett
Judy Upjohn
Kristy Urquhart
Aaron VanSteinberg
Roberta Wall
Joanna Walsh
Callie Warner
Hope Warshaw
Ragland Watkins
Chuck Welch
Christina Whiteman
Stephen Williams
Richard Wilson
Carol Ann Winter
Katharine Woodwell
Gregory Zack
Paul Zmolek
2019 Annual Report
Dear Friends,
This has been another year of unparalleled exhibitions and performances, a celebration of what’s possible in our new home and with the support of our community. Follow the link below for our full Annual Report for 2019.