Errisinola "Erris/Misi" Ginesi

Errisinola was the daughter of Robert Ginesi and Zuleika Lombard. The family immigrated to the United States in 1935 and settled in Riverside, Connecticut. Errisinola graduate from Greenwich Academy in 1948. She learned of the college from BMC student Lynne Hatcher. While at BMC she became engaged to fellow student Jay Gilbert Watt (per December 1949 newspaper announcement). It is unknown if the two actually married because on October 22, 1950 she married another BMC student, John McKinley Boyd. Her third marriage was to Robert T. Burnett.

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed Errisinola in 2010 and the transcript is available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics: Early life in Italy – immigration to USA – pre-BMC studies – general curriculum at BMC – Josef Albers classes – weaving with Anni Albers--- Robert Rauschenberg – BMC students – Jay Watt – marriage to Jack Boyd and Boyd background – Peek’s Tavern – Thanksgiving dinner and draining the lake – Marriage on the Eiffel Tower production

Courses Taken

First 1948-1949: Elementary German with Rice, Physics with Goldowski, Drawing with Albers, Chorus with Schlesinger

Second 1948-1949: General Biology with Tsui, German with Bodky, Drawing, Albers, Chorus with Schlesinger, Style and Structure in Music with Bodky

Fall 1949-1950: Drawing with Fiore, Medieval European History with Freeman, Piano with Hetherington, Chorus with Freeman, Book Binding with Jalowetz

Spring 1949-1950: Weaving with Siegel, Ceramics with Turner, General Anthropology with Leser, Chorus with Freeman, Book Binding with Jalowetz