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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Some Serious Business Records, 1972-1986, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.someserb
- Creators:
-
Some Serious Business (Firm)
- Dates:
-
1972-1986
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
4.8 Linear feet
- Repository:
The records of Some Serious Business measure 4.8 linear feet and date from 1972 to 1986. The records document the history of the California arts organization through mission statements, organization prospectus, draft catalogs, tax exemption applications, and other administrative files; invoices, bank statements, ledgers, grant and fellowship applications, and other financial records; artists files consisting of resumes, photographs, announcements, correspondence, and clippings related to artists who worked with the organization; and exhibition files consisting of correspondence, clippings, agreements, announcements, and other material related to primarily video based exhibitions and programs hosted by the organization.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The records of Some Serious Business measure 4.8 linear feet and date from 1972 to 1986. The records document the history of the art organization through, mission statements, organization prospectus, draft catalogs, tax exemption applications, and other administrative files; invoices, bank statements, ledgers, grant and fellowship applications, and other financial records; artists files consisting of resumes, photographs, announcements, correspondence, and clippings related to artists who worked with the organization; and exhibition files consisting of correspondence, clippings, agreements, announcements, and other material related to primarily video based exhibitions and programs hosted by the organization.
Administrative files consist of a mission statement, the organization's prospectus, interview transcript with the founders, draft brochures and catalogs, and exhibition lists. Also included are applications for state and federal tax exemptions, consulting services for lighting and magazine articles, and charity events such as the Artist for Artists fundraiser and the Hillside Home for Children benefit.
Financial material consists of grant and fellowship applications, invoices, bank statements from Security Pacific National Bank and Bank of America, tax forms, and cash disbursements. Some of the grant applications include the NEA Visual Arts grant, the NEA Aid to Video and Film Exhibitions grant, and the ARCO Video Art grant.
Artist files consist of files related to artists represented by the organization. Files consist of correspondence, resumes, photographs, clippings, announcements and posters. Some of the artists represented include Bob & Bob, Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, Robert Kushner, Richard Mock, Rachel Rosenthal, and William Talen.
Exhibition files consist of files related to primarily video based programming and exhibitions produced by the organization. Files consist of correspondence, clippings, exhibition announcements and posters, agreements, and some photographs. Some of the ehibitions and programming include "Doctor Video," "Ramona" play, "VideoNight," "Gospel at Colonus," and the Art of Spectacle art festival.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into four series.
- Series 1: Administrative Files, 1973-1986 (1.3 linear feet; Box 1, 6)
- Series 2: Financial Records, 1977-1985 (0.8 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 3: Artist Files, 1972-1983 (1.5 linear feet; Boxes 2-5, OV 7)
- Series 4: Exhibition Files, 1975-1986 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 4-5, OV 7)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Some Serious Business is an art organization founded in Venice, California in the 1970s. The organization was founded by Susan Martin, Elizabeth Freeman and Nancy Drew, and it was among the leading avant-garde organizations sponsoring artists working principally in the fields of performance, videotape, installation and environmental works, and photography. The organization did not have its own dedicated space, and it instead partnered with other organizations throughout the greater Los Angeles area to showcase its artists.
Administration
Author
Ricky Gomez
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 2000 by Susan Martin.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2022.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Some Serious Business records, 1972-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts organizations -- California | Function | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
