SASSAS Archive Preserves L.A.'s Experimental Music Scene
The SASSAS Archive, established by Cindy Bernard and operational from 1999 to 2019, aims to preserve Los Angeles' vibrant experimental music scene. It features an extensive collection at the Getty Research Institute and an online presence at sassas.org. Notable performances include Akio Suzuki's debut in L.A. at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in 2017 and Pauline Oliveros' 2001 concert at the MAK Center. The 2012 Welcome Inn Time Machine showcased micro-concerts in motel rooms. The final event, "20th Anniversary Corpse," included over 25 artists. The archive also reflects on now-closed venues like Sacred Grounds and The Box.
Key facts
- SASSAS ran from 1999 to 2019, founded by Cindy Bernard.
- Archive includes website sassas.org and collection at Getty Research Institute.
- Akio Suzuki performed at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in 2017, his first L.A. performance.
- Pauline Oliveros performed at MAK Center in 2001.
- Welcome Inn Time Machine (2012) used motel rooms for micro-concerts.
- Final concert '20th Anniversary Corpse' in 2019 featured 25+ artists.
- SASSAS concerts were free and artists were always compensated.
- Archive documents now-shuttered venues like Sacred Grounds and The Box.
Entities
Artists
- Akio Suzuki
- Aki Onda
- Pauline Oliveros
- James Tenney
- Mike Kelley
- Cindy Bernard
- Joe Potts
- Rick Potts
- Tom Recchion
- Fredrik Nilsen
- Frances Stark
- Gabie Strong
- Anita Pace
- Alvin Lucier
- Robert Irwin
- James Turrell
- Philip Gelb
- Kelan Philip Cohran
- Glenn Branca
- Roscoe Mitchell
- Tetuzi Akiyama
- Michael Ned Holte
- Thomas Crow
- Lucy Lippard
- Rosalind Krauss
- John Cage
- Merce Cunningham
- James Joyce
- Bruce Conner
- Steve Gregoropoulos
- Joseph Hammer
- Solid Eye
- Extended Organ
- Vetza
- Kira Vollman
- Phil Teele
- Bruce Fowler
- Wild Don Lewis
- Sam Durant
Institutions
- SASSAS
- Getty Research Institute
- MAK Center for Art and Architecture
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
- Angels Gate Cultural Center
- Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
- Los Angeles Free Music Society
- Welcome Inn
- Eighth Veil
- Amoeba Music
- The Box
- Sacred Grounds
- Canary Test
- Coaxial
- Human Resources
- Automata
- ISSUE Project Room
- Mills College
- University of California, San Diego
- Carla
- Yale University Press
- Art International
- October
- The Musical Quarterly
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Crenshaw
- Culver City
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
- California
- Nagoya
- Japan
- San Diego
- La Jolla
- Oakland
- Eagle Rock
- West Hollywood
- Sunset Boulevard
- New York
- Dublin
- Ireland