The Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound (SASSAS)
Encyclopedia
The Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound (SASSAS) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that serves as a catalyst for the creation, presentation, and recognition of experimental art and sound practices in the Greater Los Angeles area.
SASSAS members are dedicated professionals interested in the intersections between experimental art, architecture and music practices. To create programs that encourage social interaction between these diverse but related creative practices, Los Angeles artist Cindy Bernard initiated the “sound.” concert series in 1999. In addition to facilitating relationships between diverse groups of musicians, the series guaranteed fair compensation for artists and provided a suitable location for focused listening, one of the few ongoing experimental music
series to do so in Los Angeles at that time. In 2000, “sound.” moved to the MAK Center for Art and Architecture (R.M. Schindler House - Kings Road House
) in West Hollywood. The indoor/outdoor nature of the Schindler House enables audiences to experience the fusion of numerous experimental forms within a seminal example of Modern architecture
. Building on the success of “sound.”, SASSAS was incorporated and a Board of Directors formed in 2002. Starting in 2004, SASSAS developed partnerships with larger venues such as REDCAT
and the Ford Amphitheatre, bringing even greater exposure to the Los Angeles experimental community. To date, more than 40 concerts have been presented including performances by Pauline Oliveros
, James Tenney
, Nels Cline
, Petra Haden
, Wadada Leo Smith
, Kelan Phil Cohran
, Roscoe Mitchell
, Joseph Jarman
, Harold Budd
, Glenn Branca
, Tetuzi Akiyama
and many others.
In addition to producing concerts, SASSAS maintains an extensive public on line archive of recordings of past concerts.
SASSAS members are dedicated professionals interested in the intersections between experimental art, architecture and music practices. To create programs that encourage social interaction between these diverse but related creative practices, Los Angeles artist Cindy Bernard initiated the “sound.” concert series in 1999. In addition to facilitating relationships between diverse groups of musicians, the series guaranteed fair compensation for artists and provided a suitable location for focused listening, one of the few ongoing experimental music
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
series to do so in Los Angeles at that time. In 2000, “sound.” moved to the MAK Center for Art and Architecture (R.M. Schindler House - Kings Road House
Kings Road House
The Schindler House, also known as the Kings Road House or Schindler Chace house, is a house in West Hollywood, California designed by architect Rudolf Schindler. The Schindler House is considered to be the first house built in the Modern style...
) in West Hollywood. The indoor/outdoor nature of the Schindler House enables audiences to experience the fusion of numerous experimental forms within a seminal example of Modern architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
. Building on the success of “sound.”, SASSAS was incorporated and a Board of Directors formed in 2002. Starting in 2004, SASSAS developed partnerships with larger venues such as REDCAT
REDCAT
Opened November 2003, REDCAT is a contemporary arts center that is an extension of CalArts campus, and serves as the professional presenting arm of the Institute...
and the Ford Amphitheatre, bringing even greater exposure to the Los Angeles experimental community. To date, more than 40 concerts have been presented including performances by Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros is an American accordionist and composer who is a central figure in the development of post-war electronic art music....
, James Tenney
James Tenney
James Tenney was an American composer and influential music theorist.-Biography:Tenney was born in Silver City, New Mexico, and grew up in Arizona and Colorado. He attended the University of Denver, the Juilliard School of Music, Bennington College and the University of Illinois...
, Nels Cline
Nels Cline
Nels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
, Petra Haden
Petra Haden
Petra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
, Wadada Leo Smith
Wadada Leo Smith
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
, Kelan Phil Cohran
Phil Cohran
Kelan Phil Cohran is a jazz musician. He is known most for his trumpet contributions in the Sun Ra Arkestra in Chicago during 1959-1961 and for his involvement in the foundation of the AACM.-Biography:...
, Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...
, Joseph Jarman
Joseph Jarman
Joseph Jarman , is a jazz musician, composer and Shinshu Buddhist priest. He is perhaps best known as one of the first members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Early life:Jarman grew up in Chicago, Illinois...
, Harold Budd
Harold Budd
Harold Budd is an American ambient/avant-garde composer and poet. Born in Los Angeles, he was raised in the Mojave Desert, and was inspired at an early age by the humming tone caused by wind blown across telephone wires....
, Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
, Tetuzi Akiyama
Tetuzi Akiyama
Tetuzi Akiyama is a Japanese guitarist, violinist, and instrument-maker.Akiyama formed the improvisation group Madhar in 1987, and the classical ensemble Hikyo String Quintet in 1994 . In 1995, Akiyama and Sugimoto formed a guitar duo, and played at venues in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit...
and many others.
In addition to producing concerts, SASSAS maintains an extensive public on line archive of recordings of past concerts.