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Sunny Bak photography collection

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: Coll2013-037

Scope and Content

The collection includes Bak's medium format color transparenices/unmounted slides of Ashley Herrin and Catherine Angiel and alternative layouts for the June 21, 1993, Newsweek cover story, "Lesbians Come Out Strong.". The collection also contains Bak's images of lesbian women and couples on 10% Productions and G Gallery greeting cards, postcards and posters.

Dates

  • Creation: 1993-2002

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biography

Sunny Bak was born in Manhattan. She was a photographer for her junior high school newspaper in Queens, New York. She shot the cast of Broadway shows for the paper. She went on to study at The School Visual Arts Nikon House and at The New School for Social Research under Philippe Halsman.

In 1976, while still in high school she opened her first studio in Manhattan. During this time Bak photographed hundreds of entertainers including members of 10,000 Maniacs, Madonna, and Philippe Saisse. She may be most well-known from this period for her work on the Beastie Boys album, Licensed to Ill.

From 1986 to 1991, she had studios in New York and Los Angeles during this time she also photographed fashion in London, England. In 1992 she relocated to Venice Beach, California.

Bak’s works have appeared in British Elle, Cosmopolitan, Details, Hampton’s Newspaper magazine, Time Magazine, Woman’s World and one of the bestselling issues of Newsweek. Her portrait photography includes images of Carol Alt, Danzig, Seth Green, Gregory Peck, Jason Priestly, Keanu Reeves, Slayer and the Village People.

Extent

4.1 Linear Feet (1 archives carton + 1 archives flat box + 4 posters.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection includes Bak's medium format color transparenices/unmounted slides of Ashley Herrin and Catherine Angiel and alternative layouts for the June 21, 1993, Newsweek cover story, "Lesbians Come Out Strong." The collection also contains Bak's images of lesbian women and couples on 10% Productions and G Gallery greeting cards, postcards and posters. Bak photographed hundreds of entertainers including members of 10,000 Maniacs, Madonna, and Philippe Saisse. She may be most well-known for her work on the Beastie Boys album, Licensed to Ill.

Acquisition

Gift of Sunny Bak, October 1, 2012.

Seperated materials

Removed to the ONE greeting card collection:

10% Productions - 11404-200, 12216-200, 13601-200,13209-200, 13206-200, 13306-200, 14103-200, 14204-200, 15402-200, 17106-200, 17210-200, 17211-200, 17406-200, 17502-200, 17305-200, 17701-200, 18403-200, x205-200, x206-200, 29885-225, 27104035

Gallery Collection - 53196-200

Simply Love by 10% Productions - 33231

Visions by 10% Productions - 25660-200

Processing Information

Collection processed by Katrina Sire, May 2013.

Title
Finding Aid to the Sunny Bak Photography Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Katrina Sire
Date
© 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Sponsor
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Repository Details

Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository

Contact:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771