Finding Aid for the Karen Filter photographs LSC.2432

Finding aid prepared by Paola Salazar with assistance from Kelly Besser, 2022.

UCLA Library Special Collections

Online Finding Aid last updated 2023 March 30.

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575

Business Number: 310-825-4988

Fax Number: 310-206-1864

AskLSC@library.ucla.edu

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This record is made available under an Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license.

Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections

Title: Karen Filter photographs

Creator: Filter, Karen

source: Filter, Karen

Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2432

Physical Description: 0.9 linear feet (1 box)

Date (inclusive): 1979-1985

Abstract: Karen Filter is a photographer who documented the Los Angeles punk scene from 1979-1985. Originally from Canton, Ohio, she attended college at UCLA and received a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1976, and later attended the Brooks Institute of Photography where she received a professional photography degree in 1978. Materials consist of 22 black and white silver gelatin prints and 3 Resin Coated prints which document the Los Angeles punk scene from 1979-1985. These images capture performers and scene makers across Los Angeles and provide documentation of historic venues such as Hong Kong Cafe, New Wave Theater, Whisky-a-Go-Go, and Club 88.

Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Karen Filter, 2022.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9996911713506533

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Karen Filter photographs (Collection 2432). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Processing Information

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form located on our website: Report Problematic Content and Description in UCLA's Library Collections and Archives.

Biographical / Historical

Karen Filter is a photographer who documented the Los Angeles punk scene from 1979-1985. Originally from Canton, Ohio, she attended college at UCLA and received a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1976, and later attended the Brooks Institute of Photography where she received a professional photography degree in 1978. She's exhibited her work at The Photography Center of Los Angeles in 1983, as well as at The Gallery on La Brea Ave, in Los Angeles in 1990. Her work has also been exhibited in group shows at the Zero One Gallery (1985) , Center of Photography at Woodstock (1993), and LACE, Live in LA (2011). Karen's photographs have been featured in three books: Hardcore California, 1982, 24 Hours in the Life of Los Angeles, 1984, and 8 Visions, 1988. Her work has also been featured in various magazines and on record covers.

Scope and Contents

The Karen Filter photographs consist of 22 black and white silver gelatin prints and 3 Resin Coated prints which document the Los Angeles punk scene from 1979-1985. These images capture performers and scene makers across Los Angeles and provide documentation of historic venues such as Hong Kong Cafe, New Wave Theater, Whisky-a-Go-Go, and Club 88.

Arrangement

The collection's arrangement maintains its existing order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Filter, Karen

box 1, folder 1

Bob / Punk 1981

Processing Information

Photographed on the street in LA.

box 1, folder 1

Ann / Punk 1981

Scope and Contents

Photographed on the street in LA.

box 1, folder 1

Stiv Bators 1980

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 1

Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys 1980

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 1

FEAR 1982

Scope and Contents

Photographed at a San Fernando Valley rehearsal studio. (L-R) Spit Stix, Derf Scratch, Philo Cramer, and Lee Ving.

box 1, folder 1

The Plugz 1982

box 1, folder 1

The Weirdos 1985

Scope and Contents

(L-R) John Denney, Cliff Martinez, Cliff Roman, and Dix Denney photographed backstage at the Whisky-a-Go-Go .

box 1, folder 1

Exene Cervenka of X 1983

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the Whisky-a-Go-Go in LA.

box 1, folder 1

John Doe of X 1983

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the Whisky-a-Go-Go in LA.

box 1, folder 1

FEAR 1982

Scope and Contents

Photographed in a parking lot in San Fernando Valley. (L-R) Philo Cramer, Derf Scratch, Lee Ving, and Spit Stix.

box 1, folder 1

45 Grave 1982

Scope and Contents

(L-R) Dinah Cancer, Rob Graves, Don Bolles, Paul Cutler

box 1, folder 1

Peter Ivers and regulars with Dead Kennedys 1981

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 1

Jeffery Lee Pierce of The Gun Club 1982

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 1

Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks 1981

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 1

Peter Ivers with the Circle Jerks 1980

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA. (L-R) Lucky Lehrer, Keith Morris, "Peter Ivers", Roger Rogerson, Greg Hetson

box 1, folder 1

Speed Queen / performance artist 1980

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the Hong Kong Cafe in LA.

box 1, folder 1

The Flesh Eaters 1980

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 1

The (Original) Go-Go's 1979

Scope and Contents

Photographed at Club 88 in LA. (L-R) Charlotte Caffey, Elissa Bello, Belinda Carlisle, Margot Olavarria, Jane Wiedlin.

box 1, folder 1

Attila 1981

Scope and Contents

Hairdresser on Melrose.

box 1, folder 2

Stiv Bators 1980

Scope and Contents

Photographed at the New Wave Theater in LA.

box 1, folder 2

Legal Weapon 1982

Scope and Contents

Photographed on a rooftop in Downtown LA.

box 1, folder 2

Dead Kennedys 1982

box 1, folder 2

Henry Rollins of Black Flag 1982

Scope and Contents

Photographed in Karen's studio.

box 1, folder 2

Margot Olavarria - founder of The Go-Go's 1979

Scope and Contents

Photographed at Club 88 in LA.

box 1, folder 2

Attila / famous hairdresser 1981

Scope and Contents

Photographed at a salon on Melrose. Attila (silver teeth) pictured with Tequila Mockingbird and other clientele.