Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay : Reflections on Art, Family, and Survival

**__New York Times__ 100 Notable Books of 2012 "Beautiful, haunted, evocative and so open to where memory takes you. I kept thinking that this is the book that I have waited for: where objects, and poetry intertwine. Just wonderful and completely sui generis." (Edmund de Waal, author of __The Hare with Amber Eyes__)** An unforgettable voyage across the reaches of America and the depths of memory, __Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay__ follows one incredible family to discover a unique craft tradition grounded in America1s vast natural landscape. Looking back through the generations, renowned critic Christopher Benfey unearths an ancestry--and an aesthetic--that is quintessentially American. His mother descends from colonial explorers and Quaker craftsmen, who carved new arts from the trackless wilds of the frontier. Benfey1s father escaped from Nazi Europe--along with his aunt and uncle, the famed Bauhaus artists Josef and Anni Albers--by fleeing across the Atlantic and finding an eventual haven in the American South. Bricks form the backbone of life in North Carolina1s rural Piedmont, where Benfey1s mother was raised among centuries-old folk potteries, tobacco farms, and clay pits. Her father, like his father before him, believed in the deep honesty of brick, that men might build good lives with the bricks they laid. Nurtured in this red-clay world of ancient craft and Quaker radicalism, Benfey1s mother was poised to set out from home when a tragic romance cracked her young life in two. Salvaging the broken shards of his mother1s past and exploring the revitalized folk arts resisting industrialization, Benfey discovers a world brimming with possibility and creativity. Benfey1s father had no such foundation in his young life, nor did his aunt and uncle. Exiled artists from Berlin1s Bauhaus school, Josef and Anni Albers were offered sanctuary not far from the Piedmont at Black Mountain College. A radical experiment in unifying education and art, Black Mountain made a monumental impact on American culture under Josef1s leadership, counting Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, and Buckminster Fuller among its influential students and teachers. Focusing on the natural world, innovative craftsmanship, and the physical reality of materials, Black Mountain became a home and symbol for an emerging vision of American art. Threading these stories together into a radiant and mesmerizing harmony, __Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay__ is an extraordinary quest to the heart of America and the origins of its art. An Incandescent Journey To Unearth The Beginnings Of American Art. An Unforgettable Voyage Across The Reaches Of America And The Depths Of Memory, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay Tells The Story Of America's Artistic Birth. Following His Family Back Through The Generations, Renowned Critic Christopher Benfey Unearths An Ancestry- And An Aesthetic-that Is Quintessentially American. His Mother Descends From Colonial Craftsmen, Such As The Quaker Artist- Explorer William Bartram. Benfey's Father-along With His Aunt And Uncle, The Famed Bauhaus Artists Josef And Anni Albers-escaped From Nazi Europe By Fleeing To The American South. Struggling To Find Themselves In This New World, Benfey's Family Found Strength And Salvation In The Rich Craft Tradition Grounded In America's Vast Natural Landscape. Bricks Form The Backbone Of Life In The Rural Piedmont Of North Carolina, Where Benfey's Mother Was Raised Among Centuries-old Folk Potteries, Tobacco Farms, And Clay Pits.^ Her Father, Like His Father Before Him, Believed In The Deep Honesty Of Brick, That Men Might Build Good Lives With The Bricks They Laid. Nurtured In This Red-clay World Of Ancient Craft And Quaker Radicalism, Benfey's Mother Was Poised To Set Out From Home When A Tragic Romance Cracked Her Young Life In Two. Salvaging The Broken Shards Of His Mother's Former Life And Exploring The Revitalized Folk Arts Resisting Industrialization, Benfey Discovers A World Brimming With Possibility And Creativity. Benfey's Father Had No Such Foundation In His Young Life, Nor Did His Aunt And Uncle. Exiled Artists From Berlin's Bauhaus School, Josef And Anni Albers Were Offered Sanctuary Not Far From The Red Piedmont At Black Mountain College. A Radical Experiment In Unifying Education And Art, Black Mountain Made A Monumental Impact On American Culture Under Josef's Leadership, Counting Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, And Buckminster Fuller Among Its Influential Students And Teachers.^ Focusing On The Natural World, Innovative Craftsmanship, And The Physical Reality Of Materials, Black Mountain Became A Home And Symbol For An Emerging Vision Of American Art. Threading These Stories Together Into A Radiant And Mesmerizing Harmony, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay Is An Extraordinary Quest To The Heart Of America And The Origins Of Its Art. --provided By Publisher. An Unforgettable Voyage Across The Reaches And The Depths Of Memory, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay Tells The Story Of America's Artistic Birth. Following His Family Back Through The Generations, Renowned Critic Christopher Benfey Unearths An Ancestry--and An Aesthetic--that Is Quintessentially American. His Mother Descends From Colonial Craftsmen, Such As The Quaker Artist-explorer William Bartram. Benfey's Father--along With His Aunt And Uncle, The Famed Bauhaus Artists Josef And Anni Albers--escaped From Nazi Europe By Fleeing To The American South. Struggling To Find Themselves In This New World, Benfey's Family Found Strength And Salvation In The Rich Craft Tradition Grounded In America's Vast Natural Landscape. Threading These Stories Together Into A Radiant And Mesmerizing Harmony, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay Is An Extraordinary Quest To The Heart Of America And The Origins Of Its Art--provided By Publisher. The Bamboo Grove -- Jugtown -- The Snuffbox -- Mexico -- The Meander -- On The Divide -- Cherokee Clay -- Wedgwood -- Xanadu -- Arrangement In Gray And Black. Christopher Benfey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. " An incandescent journey to unearth the beginnings of American art. An unforgettable voyage across the reaches of America and the depths of memory, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay tells the story of America's artistic birth. Following his family back through the generations, renowned critic Christopher Benfey unearths an ancestry- and an aesthetic-that is quintessentially American. His mother descends from colonial craftsmen, such as the Quaker artist- explorer William Bartram. Benfey's father-along with his aunt and uncle, the famed Bauhaus artists Josef and Anni Albers-escaped from Nazi Europe by fleeing to the American South. Struggling to find themselves in this new world, Benfey's family found strength and salvation in the rich craft tradition grounded in America's vast natural landscape. Bricks form the backbone of life in the rural Piedmont of North Carolina, where Benfey's mother was raised among centuries-old folk potteries, tobacco farms, and clay pits. Her father, like his father before him, believed in the deep honesty of brick, that men might build good lives with the bricks they laid. Nurtured in this red-clay world of ancient craft and Quaker radicalism, Benfey's mother was poised to set out from home when a tragic romance cracked her young life in two. Salvaging the broken shards of his mother's former life and exploring the revitalized folk arts resisting industrialization, Benfey discovers a world brimming with possibility and creativity. Benfey's father had no such foundation in his young life, nor did his aunt and uncle. Exiled artists from Berlin's Bauhaus school, Josef and Anni Albers were offered sanctuary not far from the red Piedmont at Black Mountain College. A radical experiment in unifying education and art, Black Mountain made a monumental impact on American culture under Josef's leadership, counting Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, and Buckminster Fuller among its influential students and teachers. Focusing on the natural world, innovative craftsmanship, and the physical reality of materials, Black Mountain became a home and symbol for an emerging vision of American art. Threading these stories together into a radiant and mesmerizing harmony, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay is an extraordinary quest to the heart of America and the origins of its art. "-- "An unforgettable voyage across the reaches and the depths of memory, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay tells the story of America's artistic birth. Following his family back through the generations, renowned critic Christopher Benfey unearths an ancestry--and an aesthetic--that is quintessentially American. His mother descends from colonial craftsmen, such as the Quaker artist-explorer William Bartram. Benfey's father--along with his aunt and uncle, the famed Bauhaus artists Josef and Anni Albers--escaped from Nazi Europe by fleeing to the American South. Struggling to find themselves in this new world, Benfey's family found strength and salvation in the rich craft tradition grounded in America's vast natural landscape. Threading these stories together into a radiant and mesmerizing harmony, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay is an extraordinary quest to the heart of America and the origins of its art"-- "An incandescent journey to unearth the beginnings of American art. An unforgettable voyage across the reaches of America and the depths of memory, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay tells the story of America's artistic birth. Following his family back through the generations, renowned critic Christopher Benfey unearths an ancestry- and an aesthetic-that is quintessentially American. His mother descends from colonial craftsmen, such as the Quaker artist- explorer William Bartram. Benfey's father-along with his aunt and uncle, the famed Bauhaus artists Josef and Anni Albers-escaped from Nazi Europe by fleeing to the American South. Struggling to find themselves in this new world, Benfey's family found strength and salvation in the rich craft tradition grounded in America's vast natural landscape. Bricks form the backbone of life in the rural Piedmont of North Carolina, where Benfey's mother was raised among centuries-old folk potteries, tobacco farms, and clay pits. Her father, like his father before him, believed in the deep honesty of brick, that men might build good lives with the bricks they laid. Nurtured in this red-clay world of ancient craft and Quaker radicalism, Benfey's mother was poised to set out from home when a tragic romance cracked her young life in two. Salvaging the broken shards of his mother's former life and exploring the revitalized folk arts resisting industrialization, Benfey discovers a world brimming with possibility and creativity. Benfey's father had no such foundation in his young life, nor did his aunt and uncle. Exiled artists from Berlin's Bauhaus school, Josef and Anni Albers were offered sanctuary not far from the red Piedmont at Black Mountain College. A radical experiment in unifying education and art, Black Mountain made a monumental impact on American culture under Josef's leadership, counting Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, and Buckminster Fuller among its influential students and teachers. Focusing on the natural world, innovative craftsmanship, and the physical reality of materials, Black Mountain became a home and symbol for an emerging vision of American art. Threading these stories together into a radiant and mesmerizing harmony, Red Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay is an extraordinary quest to the heart of America and the origins of its art."--Éditeur