Spruce Street Forum and Fresh Sound Records
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2014
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Descriptive Summary
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Spruce Street Forum and Fresh Sound Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0751
Physical Description:
1.6 Linear feet
(4 archives boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1995-2013
Abstract: The collection consists of the records of Spruce Street Forum, an organization founded in 1995 by Bonnie Broderick Wright
as a venue for experimental and avant-garde artists, writers, theorists and scholars to present their work. It contains artist
files relating to performances and exhibitions, flyers, press clippings and administrative materials such as board meeting
minutes and financial records. It also includes records for the Fresh Sound experimental music series, which began at Spruce
Street Forum.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of the records of Spruce Street Forum, an organization founded in 1995 by Bonnie Broderick Wright
as a venue for experimental and avant-garde artists, writers, theorists and scholars to present their work. It contains artist
files relating to performances and exhibitions, flyers, press clippings, photographs, and administrative materials such as
board meeting minutes and financial records. It also includes records for the Fresh Sound experimental music series, which
began at Spruce Street Forum. The bulk of the material is from the Spruce Street Forum and ranges in date from 1995 to 2002.
The papers are arranged in three series: 1) ARTIST FILES, 2) PUBLICITY FILES and 3) ADMINISTRATIVE FILES.
Historical Background
The Spruce Street Forum was a non-profit organization founded in 1995 by Bonnie Broderick Wright as a venue for artists from
multiple disciplines to present their work. The organization made its home at 301 Spruce Street in the Balboa Park area of
San Diego. The goals of the Spruce Street Forum as described in their early press releases were "to provide an environment
for artistic innovation, to provide a venue for creative thought and on-going discussion, to encourage interdisciplinary and
intercultural exchange, and to foster collaboration in the arts: music, text, visual."
As the Spruce Street Forum's director, Bonnie Broderick Wright (a former board member of Sushi Performance and Visual Art)
identified a lack of gallery and performance space for San Diego area artists. She opened the venue on Spruce Street hoping
to cultivate and promote interdisciplinary and multicultural art. The Spruce Street Forum eventually closed its doors on January
31, 2002. From the Forum, Wright, executive producer of Henceforth Records, continued as curator of her Fresh Sound music
series, promoting experimental non-mainstream music at the Sushi Performance & Visual Arts space in downtown San Diego, then
at The Loft at Wright's alma mater, University of California, San Diego. In 2013 Fresh Sound moved its location to Bread &
Salt on Julian Avenue.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2012, 2013.
Preferred Citation
Spruce Street Forum and Fresh Sound Records, MSS 751. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Restrictions
Photographic negatives are restricted.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Performance art -- California -- San Diego -- 21st century
Art -- California -- San Diego -- 20th century
Performance art -- California -- San Diego -- 20th century
Avant-garde (Music) -- California -- San Diego -- 21st century
Art -- California -- San Diego -- 21st century
Avant-garde (Music) -- California -- San Diego -- 20th century
Spruce Street Forum -- Archives
Fresh Sound -- Archives
ARTIST FILES
Scope and Content of Series
These files are arranged alphabetically by artist and contain materials relating to artist performances at the Spruce Street
Forum, such as correspondence with the program director, artist statements and other related materials. Photographs and slides
are housed together and are arranged alphabetically by artist's last name. Artists include Derek Bailey, Sarah K. Bean, Steven
Feld, John Heward, Peter Liashkov, Matmos, and Sylvia Safdie.
Box 1, Folder 1
Bailey, Derek
2002 October
Box 1, Folder 4
Carson Exhibit
1999 September
Conditions Governing Access
Photographic negatives are restricted.
General
Original negatives located in ANC1/M751/1/1-15.
Box 1, Folder 5
Ellis, Lisle and Paul Plimley
Box 1, Folder 6
Ellis, Lisle, Larry Ochs and Donald Robinson - "What We Live"
Box 1, Folder 7
Eneidi, Marco, Peter Brotzman, and Jackson Krall
Box 2, Folder 1
Safdie, Sylvia and John Heward
PUBLICITY FILES
Scope and Content of Series
The PUBLICITY FILES series is arranged chronologically and includes promotional materials for artist performances such as
flyers, postcards and other emphera; newpaper press clippings and some reviews.
Box 2, Folder 4
Spruce Street Forum flyers
Box 2, Folder 5
Spruce Street Forum & Fresh Sound flyers
ADMINISTRATIVE FILES
Scope and Contents of Series
This series contains administrative materials such as opening plans for the Spruce Street Forum, board meeting minutes, a
history of performances, Spruce Street lease records, and ledgers of reservations and payment records. Also included are some
biographical materials about the Forum founder and director, Bonnie Broderick Wright and her Fresh Sound experimental music
series.
Box 3, Folder 12-14
Board meeting minutes
ca. 2000-2003
Box 3, Folder 15
Fresh Sound - History of performances
Box 3, Folder 16
Spruce Street lease records
Ledger of reservations/payment records
Box 4, Folder 2
1999-March 2001, Spring-Fall 2001
