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December Issue 2004
Black Mountain
College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville, NC, Features Works
by Leo Krikorian
The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville,
NC, announces an exhibition entitled, Implied Space, featuring
Black Mountain College artist Leo Krikorian's abstract paintings
and prints from 1948-2003. The exhibit will be on view from Dec.
3 through Apr. 30, 2005.
Tracing an artistic journey of over 50 years, these colorful,
vibrant works of geometric abstraction show an amazing constancy
of vision and single-minded exploration of light, color, and space.
A student of both Josef Albers and Ilya Bolotowsky at Black Mountain
College, Krikorian arrived at the college in 1947 and stayed for
one year. After a brief stint in New York City, he returned to
his native California and enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute
where he studied under Ansel Adams, Minor White, and Clifford
Still.
Among his many accomplishments, Krikorian became known as the
"Grandfather of the Beats" because of a legendary bar
he opened in 1953 called The Place in North Beach, California.
The Place was a watering hole and cultural mecca for Beat era
poets, artists, musicians and filmmakers. Jack Kerouac (The Subterraneans
was largely set at The Place), Ken Kesey, Lawrence Ferlinghetti,
Robert Creeley, William S. Burroughs, Richard Brautigan, Jonathan
Williams, Paul Desmond, and Allen Ginsberg were all regulars at
the bar Krikonan started with fellow BMC student Knute Stiles.
The Place became the West Coast equivalent of the famous Cedar
Bar in New York City - where artists met to talk, drink and socialize.
In honor of Krikorian' s role in the development of the Beat Movement,
BMCMAC plans three events: two nights of poetry and music at BMCMAC's
downtown Asheville home, 56 Broadway, and a screening of the film
What Happened to Kerouac? at the Fine Arts Theatre. The
two nights of poetry will celebrate the West Coast Beat Movement
(Dec. 10) and the East Coast Beat Movement (Feb. 11, 2005). What
Happened to Kerouac? will be screened at the Fine Arts Theatre
on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 at 9:30pm. This excellent documentary
directed by Richard Lerner and Lewis MacAdams includes archival
footage of Jack Kerouac and interviews with Beat writers like
William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Gregory Corso.
The Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center preserves
and continues the unique legacy of educational and artistic innovation
of Black Mountain College for public study and enjoyment. We achieve
our mission through collection, conservation, and educational
activities including exhibition, publication, and public programs.
For more information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings,
contact Alice Sebrell at 828/350-8484 or e-mail at (bmcmac@bellsouth.net).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.