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Date of birth:
1920
Profession
Designer
Craftsman
Jeweler
Student
1938-39
1939-40
1940-41
1941fall (drafted
15 November
l941)
Guest
Faculty
Woodworking
1951 Summer Session
Faculty
Woodworking and Work Program Director
1951-52
1952 Institute in the Arts
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Leonard Billing was born in China
where his
parents were teaching missionaries. In 1936 he came to the United States. He first
heard about Black
Mountain
through Louis
Adamic’s article on the college. He recalled that he was interested in a
small college and had considered Berea
and Antioch
but chose to
apply to Black
Mountain. There he
took a general curriculum with a focus on art,
architecture and music. Before leaving the college to join the
Civilian Public Service, he passed the Senior Division Exam with a plan to
graduate in Designing as it Relates to Housing and Community Planning.
In
New York
after the war, Billing worked in the design and
construction division of Americraft, which designed and made lamps and
sold the work of many craftsmen.
He
returned to Black
Mountain
with his wife
and daughter as Guest Faculty in Woodworking in the summer of 1951. In the
fall he was appointed to the faculty to teach woodworking and direct the
work program. He remained through the summer of 1952.
On
his return to New York Billing worked in his father-in-law’s metal
spinning business, designing and making lamps, enamel-on-copper bowls and
other items. In 1957 he moved to New Hampshire
with his wife
and two children where he designed a line of jewelry that was sold in the
League of New Hampshire League Craft Shops and in summer craft fairs. In
the 1960's he returned to New York
to work with
his father-in-law. After the latter’s death he continued to run to run
the business, spinning copper bowls for enamelists, as well as other
projects. He continued to design and make jewelry, and in 1972 he moved to
Connecticut
to
concentrate on his jewelry making.
He
presently lives in Connecticut
with his
wife.
JEWELRY BY
BILLING
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