A Quiet Legacy: Artist Jack Boul and the Jewish Roots of Camp Catawba, Published - July 30, 2025

Jack Boul: Land, City, Home, Installation View. Photo: Asher Davidson

Story written by: Shira Firestone, CJN

This fall, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum — just a short drive from Charlotte — will present Jack Boul: Land, City, Home (August 30, 2025 – March 7, 2026), a retrospective of the acclaimed Jewish American artist whose work captures both quiet domestic moments and lyrical landscapes.

But this exhibition carries a unique resonance for North Carolina’s Jewish community. Boul’s connection to the region traces back to Camp Catawba, a Jewish music and arts camp founded by Holocaust survivor Dr. Vera Lachmann, just outside Blowing Rock. For decades, this little-known chapter of Jewish life in the Blue Ridge Mountains offered a haven for children and artists—many of whom were refugees or descendants of refugees—whose stories intersected with broader themes of resilience and renewal.

Boul’s own life was deeply rooted in Jewish identity — from his early years in New York to his time working at Jewish institutions like Camp Kinderland. His meaningful connection to Camp Catawba, where he taught art in the 1960s, left a lasting impression on his work.

We’re fortunate to share this connection through a personal reflection from his son, David Boul, who attended Camp Catawba as a child. His memories reveal how his father’s time in the Blue Ridge helped shape his artistic vision—and how Jewish history continues to echo through his landscapes.