Hampstead Heath has been a countercultural gathering place for the Community since the 60s and I'm told the site of the Picnic has its own history long before the Zippies first camped there in 1989. Initially a celebration of the launch of Fraser Clarke's Encyclopedia Psychedelica, its become an annual Zippy event and is now in its 23rd year!
Always held on the first weekend in June, so people know when it's on even when not in contact (its been known for people to return after a gap of many years just on spec), the picnic has seen a variety of guests over the years, from visionary poets through alternative film makers to Mayan shaman, but its always been what Fraser called 'the People's Picnic' a Happening for Everyone.
Technically the Picnic is a Potlach, what you get is what you bring to share, food, drink, musical instruments (acoustic only of course!), games, gizmos, whatever gear you fancy. There is no host as such just a few people who help it happen, you are the Picnic, do your own thing.
The Picnic has ranged from several hundred people to a dozen or so each year, depending on the weather, the mood and whatevers going on, in recent years its been a more intimate gathering, and in many ways all the better for that, some years have been a quiet chill, the kind Fraser used to call the 'Nothing' Happening, at other times spontaneous events have included the mass ritualised circle reading of Ginsberg's 'Howl' (complete with howling dog encore). Its always been both a reunion and a place to make new friends a happy happening.
With Fraser's death in 2009 some of us feared the picnic would end, but it goes on facillitated by those who enjoyed its many happy memories.
No comments:
Post a Comment