Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis records
name: label: Creator
content: Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis
label: Names
content: Fisher, Morgan, 1942-
label: Names
content: Friedman, Roberta
label: Names
content: Gehry, Leslie
label: Names
content: Gerry, Lyn
label: Names
content: Halpern, Amy
label: Names
content: Möritz, William
label: Names
content: O'Neill, Beverly, 1941-2017
label: Names
content: O'Neill, Pat, 1939-
topic: label: Occupation
content: Cinematographers
label: Topic
content: Experimental films
label: Topic
content: Filmmakers -- California -- Los Angeles
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Amy Halpern, one of the founders of the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis donated the records in 1994.
creator: label: Creator
content: Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis
setName: label: See more items in
content: Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis records
abstract: label: Summary
content: The scattered records of the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis date from 1976 to 1981 and measure 1.1 linear feet. Founded in 1975, the organization offered a venue for avant-garde and experimental film as well as special merit documentaries. The records consist of scattered business and administrative records, including member information, the constitution, and by-laws; one folder of correspondence; various notes; printed materials; and a large number of files on filmmakers.
bioghist: label: Historical Note
content: The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis was founded by a group of independent filmmakers, critics, and theorists in March 1976. The mission of the non-profit organization was to provide a southern California venue for mostly experimental and avant-garde film.

 The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis operated as a member group, and in addition to showing film, offered the opportunity for new and established filmmakers to interact and exchange ideas, and to promote cinematography as a fine art. The Oasis held film screenings about twice monthly in the gallery of the Los Angeles Institute for Contemporary Art. Although most of the films were experimental or avant-garde, the members also showed some feature films and documentaries considered to be particularly important. The Oasis served as the only regular screening venue in Los Angeles at which new and unknown filmmakers could show their works. The Oasis was dissolved in 1981.

Members and founders of the Oasis included Paul Arthur, Roberta Friedman, Leslie Gehry, Lynn Gerry, Amy Halpern, Tom Lesser, Sandy Matthews, Beverly O'Neill, Pat O'Neill, Magdalena Rangel, Tim Shepard, Grahame Weinbren, Susan Rosenblum, Brent Wilcox, Diana Wilson, David Wilson and Arlene Zeichner.

The Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis showed films by Kenneth Anger, Bruce Baillie, John Baldessari, Stan Brakhage, Rudy Burckhardt, Bruce Conner, John Cornell, Maya Deren, Jules Engel, Morgan Fisher, Oskar Fischinger, Hollis Frampton, Robert Huot, Larry Jordan, Fernand Leger, William Moritz, Susan Pitt, Hans Richter, Michael Snow, Chick Strand, John Whitney, and Emerson Woelffer, among others.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.1 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1976-1981
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.losangei
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The records are arranged into five series:

Series 1: Scattered Business Records, 1976-1981 (Box 1; 13 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1977-1981(Box 1; 1 folder)

Series 3: Notes, circa 1979-1980 (Box 1; 4 folders)

Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1976-1981 (Box 1, OV 2; 0.25 linear feet)

Series 5: Filmmakers' Files, 1976-1981 (Box 1; 0.5 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The records were processed by Jayna Hanson in 2008.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The scattered records of the Los Angeles Independent Film Oasis date from 1976 to 1981 and measure 1.1 linear feet. The records consist of scattered business and administrative records, one folder of correspondence, various notes, printed materials, and a large number of files on filmmakers and cinematographers. 

Scattered business and administrative records include the constitution and by-laws of the organization, founding information, contracts, member information, film rental documents, and film screening schedules. Resumes are found for Oasis members Morgan Fisher, Roberta Friedman, Leslie Gehry, Lyn Gerry, Amy Halpern, Beverly and Pat O'Neill, and William Moritz.

There is one folder of scattered correspondence dating from circa 1977-1981, financial notes, meeting notes, and program notes. Printed materials include announcements and posters, printed articles written by members, clippings, press releases, and film programs.

The largest series consists of compiled files on filmmakers and cinematographers, most of whom showed at the Oasis. Files contain a variety of materials, such as clippings, reviews, programs, biographies, and notes.