Massen Noland

Neil Noland (1927-2013) was the youngest of the three Noland brothers — Harry, Ken and Neil — who enrolled at Black Mountain College (BMC). Noland took a general curriculum with an emphasis on art, music and ceramics. He left to spend a year in Europe on the GI Bill. After a time in Washington D.C., he moved to New York and studied ceramics at Greenwich House while supporting himself working for newspapers and the Arab Information Center. In ceramics,he explored the fish form as an avenue to abstraction. In Amagansett, he worked in various media, including metal and fiberglass.

Written by Mary Emma Harris for BMC Project

Relationships

Sibling: Fellow BMC student, Kenneth Noland

Sibling: Fellow BMC student, Harry Noland

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed Neil in 1997 and the transcript is available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics: Family background in Asheville – influence of Harry Noland on brothers – service after World War II – family interest in jazz – interest in BMC – M.C. Richards class – Robert Turner as teacher – ceramicsprogram -- Natasha Goldowski and Madame Goldowski – Fielding Dawson – Stan Vanderbeek – jazz at BMC – Jay Watt – concerts and parties – 1950 summer session – summer conflicts – Katy Litz – Reichian therapy – early work and ceramics in New York – later professional work in Amagansett – influence of BMC on life and work – discussion of works