The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is sharing the same enthusiasm for the Summer of Love as San Francisco, by giving visitors the opportunity to explore artifacts from the iconic era.
Fifty years ago, in 1967, the epicenter of the counterculture, the San Francisco neighborhood Haight-Ashbury, attracted young people by the thousands. Though an eclectic group, they often shared similar beliefs: experimentation, a rejection of consumerist values, peace, and a general opposition toward the Vietnam War. They also shared a passion for music. The Summer of Love Turns 50 exhibition will celebrate a time when musicians were looked to as a collective mouthpiece for a generation.
The exhibit will open to the public on June 21, the first day of summer.
Hendrix ConsoleVisitors can experience rarely seen artifacts including:
- Jimi Hendrix’s purple velvet jacket and recording console used for his “Summer of Love” recordings
- A guitar played by Ron “Pigpen” McKernan of the Grateful Dead
- Clothing worn by Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas
- Iconic concert posters from The Fillmore, Avalon Ballroom and others
- Original artwork by Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane
- In addition to the Museum’s exhibition, the Rock Hall’s Library & Archives (2809 Woodland Avenue) will showcase a companion display of concert handbills featuring the visual artists who reflected the culture’s vibrancy.
Alongside the Rock Hall’s Rolling Stone / 50 Years, the exhibition is part of the Rock Hall’s larger look back at the music and culture 1967. A variety of public programming options will provide communal experiences throughout the summer.
Photos courtesy of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
