The Horse Hospital and The Bureau of Lost Culture present a programme of happenings to celebrate the beat poet, thinker, and activist Allen Ginsberg on the UK publication of Pat Thomas's book Material Wealth: Mining the Personal Archive of Allen Ginsberg.
Photo courtesy of the John Hopkins Estate
PRIVATE VIEW & BOOK LAUNCH EVENT: THURSDAY 7TH MARCH
Exhibition continues Friday 8th March - Saturday 30th March, Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-6pm
Booking is advised for this exhibition, though drop-ins are welcome. Suggested donation £4 - £10.
In May 1965, Allen Ginsberg (1926 - 1997) arrived in London, gave a free reading at Better Books in Charing Cross Road, an event described by Jeff Nuttall as "the first healing wind on a very parched collective mind” and one which provided the impetus for the International Poetry Incarnation at Royal Albert Hall, a hugely significant moment in the birth of the British counterculture. His host during that visit, and in many subsequent sojourns in the capital, was his friend, and later biographer Barry Miles [more often known as Miles].
The exhibition presents a memoir of their friendship and Ginsberg’s life in London up until his death in 1997, recollected through personal ephemera, rare and previously unseen images, film and sounds.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events exploring Ginsberg’s legacy:
THURSDAY MARCH 7TH
Book Launch: Material Wealth
In conjunction with the exhibition private view, join us for the launch of Pat Thomas’s book Material Wealth: Mining the Personal Archive of Allen Ginsberg, with a discussion between the author and Peter Hale, representing the Allen Ginsberg Estate. Pat and Peter will join in conversation with Rozemin Keshvani, followed by performances by poet Aidan Dun and Wizz Jones.
SATURDAY MARCH 9TH
Counterculturing the Capital: Allen’s London Life
Iain Sinclair & Miles in conversation, followed by a screening of Sinclair’s film Ah! Sunflower, and Peter Whitehead’s Wholly Communion
THURSDAY MARCH 14TH
Sunflowers and Sutras: Ginsberg and Blake
Iain Sinclair & Dr Camila Oliveira Querino in conversation, followed by a live reading of Ginsberg’s Sunflower poems as well as his masterpiece Howl
FRIDAY MARCH 15TH
Keeping The Beat: Ginsberg, Muse and Music
A screening and performance to follow a panel discussion between Pat Thomas, Miles, and musician Youth
This exhibition and events programme is proudly supported by The Wire magazine.