Join summer intern Sophie Weiser as she explores the incredible life and work of Hazel Larsen Archer, the first full-time photography teacher at Black Mountain College (BMC). During her nine years at BMC (1944-1953) Archer developed her unique method of “learning to see” using the camera as a tool. Weiser’s talk will also explore Archer’s experience with disability and how she navigated life on BMC Campus while producing a dazzling array of photos, including her captivating portraits of fellow BMC students and teachers, such as Josef and Anni Albers, Ruth Asawa, and Merce Cunningham.

Bio:

Sophie Weiser is a summer intern at the Asheville Art Museum, working with the Learning and Engagement Department’s Summer Art Camp. She is going into her third year at Trinity College Dublin, where she majors in Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology, with a focus in Classical Civilization. From the ages of three to seven she lived with her parents and twin sister in Asheville, and has continued to return to the area throughout her life. Her time in the robust local art scene of Asheville and its surrounding areas has been integral in developing her commitment to and involvement with the arts and museum world.