AMERICAN BAUHAUS

American Bauhaus explores the history of Black Mountain College, a unique creative haven for artists fleeing Europe during World War II. This book delves into the lives and works of influential figures such as Willem de Kooning, John Cage, and Merce Cunningham. In 1992, author Erik Schmitt attended a reunion of Black Mountain College in San Francisco, where he met relatives who had attended the school. These encounters inspired extensive notes and photographs that form the basis of this book. Each quote is presented in its entirety, accompanied by the time it was spoken, while a fragment of the quote is reproduced at large scale to evoke the conversation. The title "American Bauhaus" reflects a quote from Peter Oberlander, who recalled Joseph Albers saying "Black Mountain is a minimal version of the Bauhaus ? Go there." This book offers a glimpse into the creative freedom and artistic innovation that defined Black Mountain College.