The Concept Behind American Bauhaus

A Unique Design Approach

Each page of American Bauhaus is dedicated to a single quote from the reunion, presented in full alongside the exact time it was spoken. A fragment of the quote is enlarged, bleeding off the page and extending onto the next spread—creating a dynamic visual representation of the flowing, overlapping conversations from that day.

This design choice mirrors the improvisational and collaborative spirit of BMC itself, where ideas freely intersected and evolved.

Why Black Mountain College Still Matters

Black Mountain College was more than an art school — it was a radical experiment in education and creativity. By blending the Bauhaus philosophy with American innovation, BMC became a blueprint for interdisciplinary collaboration, influencing generations of artists, designers, and thinkers.

Through American Bauhaus, Erik Schmitt not only preserves the school’s history but also celebrates its enduring impact on modern art and design.

Final Thought

As Oberlander’s quote suggests, BMC distilled the Bauhaus ethos into something uniquely American—a testament to the power of creative freedom, experimentation, and community.

For designers and artists today, Black Mountain College remains an inspiration—a reminder that the most groundbreaking work often emerges from unconventional spaces.