Chestnut Lodge
Chestnut Lodge
Collection Description
Chestnut Lodge was a venue located in Highland Park, Los Angeles. The items include a demolition notice, flyers, photographs, cassette tapes, and a vinyl record.
Biographical Notes
Chestnut Lodge was a music and performance venue that operated from 2014–2017. It was located in a house at 812 Chestnut Ave in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Its first event featured live performances along with installations including "a dead fish, a decrepit mattress, fecal matter, cheez whiz, a saxophone, and assless chaps for an S&M spa class." On August 29, 2016, the tenants were issued a notice that an application had been filed through the City of Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety for the demolition of the house. Chestnut Lodge hosted its final sendoff show on August 26, 2017, just prior to the house’s scheduled date of demolition. The following evening, the tenants were forced outside at gunpoint by unknown perpetrators, who then set the house ablaze. The founders of Chestnut Lodge suspect the arson was an intentional act of insurance fraud and tenant eviction. The collection was donated by Kane Lafia.
Scope and Content
The collection features materials from the event history of Chestnut House, some of which were recovered from the fire that destroyed the venue. Salvaged items sustained minor to significant damage.
Documents: Several event flyers for “Ape Mutation Celebration: The Awakening”, “Sleaze O Rama”, and “THE END”. One large flyer featuring an obituary of the venue. One notice of demolition.
Objects: A set of photographs from 2014–2017 taken at Chestnut Lodge. Two cassette tapes and a vinyl record.