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

Sun Nov 16 2025 at 03:00 pm to 04:30 pm UTC-05:00

Sigal Music Museum | Greenville

Sigal Music Museum
Publisher/HostSigal Music Museum
Lecture: Jeff Arnal- Points in Space, Performance at Black Mountain College
Advertisement
Bridging Avant-Garde History and Contemporary Innovation
About this Event

This is a free lecture but registration is required. Use the ticket link to register.

If you like these kinds of events, please consider supporting the Museum's programming by making a donation.

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.

Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sigal Music Museum, 516 Buncombe Street, Greenville, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in Greenville

Rob Leines wsg Jarrett Forrester
Sat, 15 Nov at 08:00 pm Rob Leines wsg Jarrett Forrester

Doc's Tavern

Rodeo 49 @ Sharkey\u2019s!
Sat, 15 Nov at 09:30 pm Rodeo 49 @ Sharkey’s!

Sharkey's Pub

Greenville Princess Day
Sun, 16 Nov at 10:00 am Greenville Princess Day

Greenville Marriott

Holiday Market
Sun, 16 Nov at 12:00 pm Holiday Market

GLAM salon

Jones Oyster Co. November Oyster Roast
Sun, 16 Nov at 02:00 pm Jones Oyster Co. November Oyster Roast

The Jones Oyster Co. (or really - next door)

17th Annual Carolina-Clemson Pep Rally
Sun, 16 Nov at 04:00 pm 17th Annual Carolina-Clemson Pep Rally

Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center

End of the Line - Tribute to The Allman Brothers at Radio Room
Sun, 16 Nov at 08:00 pm End of the Line - Tribute to The Allman Brothers at Radio Room

28 Liberty Lane, Greenville, SC, United States, South Carolina 29607

Campus Nights Tour: Josiah Queen  Hulvey & Claire Leslie
Mon, 17 Nov at 07:00 pm Campus Nights Tour: Josiah Queen Hulvey & Claire Leslie

Mcalister Auditorium - SC

SkySlope - Tips and Tricks
Tue, 18 Nov at 10:00 am SkySlope - Tips and Tricks

1322 Miller Rd

ArtBreak - Who Did It?
Tue, 18 Nov at 12:00 pm ArtBreak - Who Did It?

1700 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29614-1000, United States

Furman Paladins vs. Ohio Christian Trailblazers
Tue, 18 Nov at 07:00 pm Furman Paladins vs. Ohio Christian Trailblazers

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Greenville is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Greenville Events