Mirande "Randy" Geissbuhler

Mirande Geissbuhler Holl was a student at Black Mountain College for the 1947 spring semester and the 1947-48 academic year. She studied under M.C. Richards and Ilya Bolotowsky.

While at Black Mountain College she met student and artist Harry Holl whom she married. The Holls moved to Estacada, Oregon where they were members of Viewpoint Community, a community created by John Wallen and Black Mountain students. They then moved to Cape Cod where her parents, both of whom were artists, had a home and studio. Harry Holl established a pottery studio Scargo Pottery.

After their divorce, Mirande Holl had a nursery school and summer camp on Cape Cod in Yarmouth. The school had animals and the children grew their food. She and Harry Holl remained friends and their four daughters continue to run the pottery studio. Mirande and former Black Mountain student Larry Fox were long-time companions until his death in 2007.

Biography written by Mary Emma Harris for the Black Mountain College Project.

Alternative Names: Mirande Holl

Relationships

Husband: Fellow BMC student, Harry William Holl

Long time companion of BMC student, Lawrence Fox

Asheville Art Museum Collection

Writings about Mirande can be seen in digitized college bulletins on Asheville Art Museum's collection website: collection.ashevilleart.org. They can be found by searching these accession numbers:

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)"

Courses Taken

Second 1946-1947: Human Relations with Wallen, Drawing with Bolotowsky, History of Small Communities with Rondthalen, Intro to Music with Schlesinger, French with Hansgirg

First 1947-1948: Individual and Society with Levi, Fiction with Richards, Group Process with Wallen, French with Goldowsky, Nursery Training with Wallen

Second 1947-1948: Pre-School Children (Tutorial) with Levi, Contemporary Philosophy with Levi, Physics with N. Goldowsky, Sculpture with Holl, French (Tutorial) with Mme. Goldowsky, Math (Tutorial) with N. Goldowsky