Andrew “Andy” Oates was raised in Graniteville, Rhode Island. He served in the Pacific Theater in the Navy during World War II and later graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.

He was Black Mountain College’s first graduate in photography in May 1951. His examiner was Edward Steichen. Oates took classes under Hazel Archer, who in 1949-50 produced with her students a photographic publicity “viewbook” and a photography journal, Five Photographers, which was printed and bound at the college.

The journal, which appeared only once, contained statements and individually printed photographs by Oates and other students. He also studied weaving with Anni Albers, Trude Guermonprez, Marli Ehrmann, and Ellen Siegel. He worked in both photography and weaving and was the co-founder of Nantucket Looms.

His photographs are in the permanent collection of the Artists Association of Nantucket.

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed Andrew in 1974 (transcript) and 2002 (transcript) which are available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics 1974: Noah production – outing to Folly Beach– Hazel Larsen Archer approach to photography and teaching – Victor Kalos – BMC graduation – student Mary Bishop – Robert Rauschenberg and Susan Weil – BMC conflicts – photography students – Delores Fullman – Anni Albers as teacher – post-BMC life with Paul and Vera Williams in Hyde Park and Boylston Street Print Gallery – textiles for Breuer Asheville house – Josef Albers as teacher – BMC Engelhardt textile collection – Vashi and Veena dance recital – drama productions – music concerts – parties – film series – film making at BMC – printshop

Topics 2002: Hearing about BMC at RISDfrom student – application – family background in Graniteville, RI – train to BMC – introduction to college and BMC students and community life – weaving with Anni Albers – building backstrap loom – working on handloom – Robert Rauschenberg and Susan Weil – Delores Fullman – Donald Droll – chorus – Sundays in African-American church – Charlotte Schesinger – Trude Guermonprez – Pre-Columbian Textile Collection – Marcel Breuer House – Ellen Siegel – Josef Albers classes – photography with Hazel Larsen Archer – photography magazine – graduation in photography with Steichen as examiner – visit to Carl Sandburg farm – Max Dehn – senior division exam – Charles Olson – Natasha Goldowski and Madame Goldowski – role as student moderator – costume design for Marriage on the Eiffel Towel – Katherine Litz dance – work program – Malrey Few cook – discussion of what did and didn’t work at college – Ruth Asawa – Rauschenberg and Weil blueprints – proprietor of Boylston Street Print Gallery in Boston – move to Nantucket and partner Bill Euler – founding and history of Nantucket Looms – loan from Paul Mellon – friendship with Bunny Mellon – friendship with Ray Johnson – homosexual community at BMC – integration issues off campus