Stories Of The Counterculture

The New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors has a very cool and informative project in the works.

Turn On Tune In Community Storytelling Project in conjunction with Voices of Counterculture in the Southwest exhibition, is inviting participants who live in New Mexico and have personal stories to add to the history books.

As we all know, Northern New Mexico was a hotbed of activity during the Hippie Heyday, with more communes per capita than almost anywhere else in the US. New Buffalo, Morningstar, The Magic Tortoise and several others attracted hundreds of turned on, tuned in souls to the region. Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda’s Cult Classic, Easy Rider, further fueled the mystique of Taos, while folks like Wavy Gravy (the Hog Farm), Lisa Law the renowned photographer (see links below), and (Richard Alpert, Leary’s cohort),Ram Dass were more than influential in creating and spreading the (modern), mythology of the Land of Enchantment far and wide.

Many books have been written about this unique, halcyon era in America, but my favourite is Scrapbook of a Taos Hippie, by Iris Kelz, with an introduction by Fugs founder, seminal Counterculture poet, Ed Sanders. I’ve linked to Iris’ book below this post, but certainly, many more long time Taos residents will also have stories to share! There’s no question that those who came here during the 60’s, have left an indelible mark on the region; a beautiful imprint that continues to inform our community’s collective interest in a truly sustainable lifestyle.

Inspired by the iconic 1966 Timothy Leary counterculture motto: Turn on, tune in, drop out, the New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors is sponsoring this series of storytelling workshops in conjunction with the museum’s Voices of Counterculture in the Southwest exhibition (open through February 11, 2018).

Ten residents from each of the five New Mexico communities chosen, will be selected to participate in a workshop to present personal stories for their community.

The program is designed to be in collaboration with local libraries, museums, universities, community groups, and radio broadcasters. Workshops will start with a Friday evening presentation followed by a two-day session on Saturday and Sunday. The outgrowth will be community events featuring the stories, local music, and a potluck,

if you have a personal story about the counterculture movement; one that illustrates examples of alternative lifestyles, social justice, environmentalism or art as a form of activism, and/or spirituality. If you are 19 years of age or older, and live in the vicinity of the workshop sites, you are eligible to apply.

The workshops and community events will be facilitated by Judy Goldberg, independent radio producer/educator, and Meredith Davidson, co-curator of the exhibition.