Harry Holl

At Black Mountain College

Harry Holl was a student of sculpture and woodworking from summer 1947 to summer 1948.

During World War II he served in the Army. When the war ended, he studied at the Art Students League of New York until a teacher suggested he attend Black Mountain College. While there he met Mirande Geissbuhler, whose father, Arnold, was a prominent sculptor.

Mr. Holl left Black Mountain with a group of 10 people who formed a commune in Estacada, Ore. He was the only one among them who had a job, teaching at the Portland museum while finishing a master’s in education degree at Lewis & Clark College.

Art Career

Throughout his career, he was best known for his pottery, sculptures, and paintings that centered around Zen Buddhism. In 1952, he established Scargo Pottery in Dennis, settling on land formerly owned by the parents of his first wife, Mirande. Over the next six decades, he became the Cape’s best-known potter. He contributed heavily to the art's community in Cape Cod and founded Scargo Pottery in Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Times regularly wrote of his art and contribution to the community.

The Boston Globe shared a great obituary summarizing his contribution to the arts. There was also a documentary made on his life in 2002, “A Centered Universe: The Life and Art of Harry Holl,” some of which has been uploaded to Youtube.

Relationships:

Wife: Fellow BMC student, Mirande Geissbuhler

Asheville Art Museum Collection

2017.40.047 November 1949 bulletin, "Randy Geissbuhler and Harry Holl were married in August on Cape Cod, are now living in Oregon in connection with Viewpoint Farm (Warren, Adamy, Weitzer, Schauffler, Mullholland)"