Dawson, Fielding

The Black Mountain Book

New York, NY: Croton Press, 1970. First Edition. Softcover. “Time is ironic (at Black Mountain there was no time); point of view from the outside world I was there for four years and four and a half summers in a row….When you went between the low white paint-chipped and tilting fences, with the chipped black and white calmly bewitched little sign, that in one of the biggest understatements of my life said BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE, when I passed that, and walked up that gutted dirt road towards the Dining Hall…I walked into a different world; a beautiful and violent world of change” (Abridged Qtn. from pgs. 1-2). If you’re here—have arrived at this listing, that is, or have some modicum of background knowledge about the art-historical heft and profundity that comes, like designer baggage, with all discussion of Black Mountain College—I’d bet you’re already initiated. I likely don’t, for example, need to state the fact that Black Mountain College was an art school founded in 1933 by a criminally underappreciated educator & theorist by the name of John Andrew Rice. It’s probably the case, however, that you know BMC, but have yet to make readerly [or visual] acquaintance with the polymathic Fielding Dawson (1930-2002) — poet, painter, novelist and educator commonly associated not only with BMC, but Mimeograph Revolution-era New York (which was a common landing spot for the Black Mountain bunch; they even had their own bar). If that is indeed the case, I’ll say this: “The Black Mountain Book” is a perfect introduction as to why Dawson’s apprenticeship history (studying under not only Charles Olson and Franz Kline, but many more mid-century [and early-modern] giants of Art & Literature) matters. It’s THIS seeking, ambition-crested, diploma-less history that comprises the bulk of the anecdotes here arrayed. Softcover Original: “First Edition, 1970” as explicated on copyright page; First Printing, with no mention of subsequent printings thereon. In very fine condition with only minute shelf-wear, light bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine & light age-toning to same; frankly, among the cleanest copies of this work we’ve ever seen. Very Fine. [Item #5377]

Price: $30.00