Transcript
Hello, Aggies! Welcome! My name’s Ritchelle, and I am a student at UC Davis who, like you, is interested in knowing what the on-campus events are like. Mother’s Day weekend marks the Whole Earth Festival. It is one of the many events that UC Davis holds in the quad, but what exactly is the Whole Earth Festival? Well, get comfy because I am about to tell you all about it.
According to the Whole Earth Festival’s page on the ASUCD website, the first event was hosted by Jose Arguelles and his class in 1969, where it was then called “Art Happening.” The name changed the following year with the United Nations’ declaration of “Earth Day” and lo and behold, “Whole Earth Festival,” a zero waste event, was born[i]. Since then, people have gathered year after year to admire the art, buy hand-crafted goods, indulge in the food, meditate, listen to the music, and enjoy each other’s company.
One of the defining points of the Whole Earth Festival is that it is an eco-friendly event. After all, that is where it is name comes from. All around the quad, there are three different kinds of bins. There’s a yellow one for compost, a blue one for recycling, and a black one for landfill waste. There are even pictures of things that could go in each bin. All the food tents either use reusable dishes provided by the school or their own compostable plates, bowls, and silverware. On either side of the quad, there are tents where volunteers collect the dishes from the customers, and there are tents where volunteers wash those dishes. If sustainability is important to you or if you want to learn more about helping the Earth, then this event is a great way to do that.
The original idea behind the festival was not necessarily to be sustainable. Remember when I said that the name of this event was called, “Art Happening?” It was because Jose Arguelles and his class used it to display their art and educate the public about activism, health and wellness, and the environment (1). According to the event’s official website, “Whole Earth Festival offers a home where many artists and crafters can sell their hand-made wares directly to visitors”[ii]. This aspect was truly kept alive through the years as artists set up tents to display their artwork. All the paintings on display are unique to the artist, whether it be a nature scene or a portrait, so I encourage you to pick the brains of artists that catch your curiosity. If you want to get really crazy, there are also interactive tents where you can get a henna tattoo, your face painted, or have a caricature of yourself drawn. The art is the reason that this event got started, so it might be a good idea to stop by and admire it.
In addition to the art, there are many tents that sell all kinds of clothing. If you’re looking to add to your wardrobe, come snag a few things here! There are a lot of tie dye shirts, dresses, and socks available. Other tents sell hand-sewn dresses. There’s a tent that sells hats, and another that sells sandals. There’s even a tent that sells shirts with animal faces printed on them! The cool thing about the clothing is that they’re all handmade by the vendors. Wouldn’t it be nice to wear something that wasn’t mass produced in a factory?
If you like the clothing, then you will definitely like all the other goodies being sold. There’s a wide variety of handmade goods calling your name. You can buy jewelry if you are looking to add a few more accessories to your collection. If you have a green thumb, there are tents that sell bonsai trees and succulents in hanging terrariums! If your apartment needs a new dish set, there are several tents that sell beautifully painted plates and bowls, and other tents that sell dishware made of glass. My personal favorites are the tents that sold candles, soaps, and lotions. All the products are organic, so they weren’t made with any harsh chemicals. Small businesses that sell handmade items like these are hard to find, so it might be worth your time to come and support them at this event.
According to the Whole Earth Festival’s page on the ASUCD website, the first event was hosted by Jose Arguelles and his class in 1969, where it was then called “Art Happening.” The name changed the following year with the United Nations’ declaration of “Earth Day” and lo and behold, “Whole Earth Festival,” a zero waste event, was born[i]. Since then, people have gathered year after year to admire the art, buy hand-crafted goods, indulge in the food, meditate, listen to the music, and enjoy each other’s company.
One of the defining points of the Whole Earth Festival is that it is an eco-friendly event. After all, that is where it is name comes from. All around the quad, there are three different kinds of bins. There’s a yellow one for compost, a blue one for recycling, and a black one for landfill waste. There are even pictures of things that could go in each bin. All the food tents either use reusable dishes provided by the school or their own compostable plates, bowls, and silverware. On either side of the quad, there are tents where volunteers collect the dishes from the customers, and there are tents where volunteers wash those dishes. If sustainability is important to you or if you want to learn more about helping the Earth, then this event is a great way to do that.
The original idea behind the festival was not necessarily to be sustainable. Remember when I said that the name of this event was called, “Art Happening?” It was because Jose Arguelles and his class used it to display their art and educate the public about activism, health and wellness, and the environment (1). According to the event’s official website, “Whole Earth Festival offers a home where many artists and crafters can sell their hand-made wares directly to visitors”[ii]. This aspect was truly kept alive through the years as artists set up tents to display their artwork. All the paintings on display are unique to the artist, whether it be a nature scene or a portrait, so I encourage you to pick the brains of artists that catch your curiosity. If you want to get really crazy, there are also interactive tents where you can get a henna tattoo, your face painted, or have a caricature of yourself drawn. The art is the reason that this event got started, so it might be a good idea to stop by and admire it.
In addition to the art, there are many tents that sell all kinds of clothing. If you’re looking to add to your wardrobe, come snag a few things here! There are a lot of tie dye shirts, dresses, and socks available. Other tents sell hand-sewn dresses. There’s a tent that sells hats, and another that sells sandals. There’s even a tent that sells shirts with animal faces printed on them! The cool thing about the clothing is that they’re all handmade by the vendors. Wouldn’t it be nice to wear something that wasn’t mass produced in a factory?
If you like the clothing, then you will definitely like all the other goodies being sold. There’s a wide variety of handmade goods calling your name. You can buy jewelry if you are looking to add a few more accessories to your collection. If you have a green thumb, there are tents that sell bonsai trees and succulents in hanging terrariums! If your apartment needs a new dish set, there are several tents that sell beautifully painted plates and bowls, and other tents that sell dishware made of glass. My personal favorites are the tents that sold candles, soaps, and lotions. All the products are organic, so they weren’t made with any harsh chemicals. Small businesses that sell handmade items like these are hard to find, so it might be worth your time to come and support them at this event.
After all the shopping, it is time to indulge in the food sold here. On both sides of the quad there are tents that sell all kinds of food. There’s Asian fusion food, Mexican food, and Indian food. You can have some sweet and salty kettle corn or sip some lemonade. If you’re a vegan, don’t fret! There’s vegan corndogs (which I thought tasted just like the real thing) and vegan pizza. For your sweet tooth, there’s a tent that sells chocolate and another that sells ice cream. My favorite tent is the mouth-numbing kava, which is a tea that has relaxing properties, so sipping on this is a great way to forget about your midterms! The food here is inviting to all people of different backgrounds, so if the scent permeating the air gets your mouth watering, it’s best not to fight the urge to splurge.
Now that you’re full, your eyes will probably be drawn to the giant dome in the middle of the quad. That is the icon of the Whole Earth Festival. According to the experiential space coordinator, Meral Basit, “the Experiential Dome [was designed] around engaging the senses”[iii]. Inside, one will find people laid out or sitting with their legs crossed just meditating. There are also volunteers that walk around with tribal rain sticks to help people relax. There is a coffee bean smelling table, a touch tank, and several workshops throughout the day dedicated to exploring the senses. If you’re like me, you’ll come in thinking that it is a little weird, but I guarantee that you will come out with a clear head and a few useful relaxation techniques.
Now to explore the thing that establishes the special ambiance of the Whole Earth Festival: the music. Various music groups from around the region play on the main stage, which is off-center from the quad. Some of the music involves lyrics that’ll make you think introspectively about life. There was one song that I remember with a chorus saying, “Mirror mirror on the wall, show me who I was before my ego got involved.” Other music’s lyrics will encourage you to embrace harmony among humanity, such as “I am love. I am peace. I am joy that can never be destroyed.” You can join two different groups of audience members here. If you’re feeling the heat from the 85 degree weather, then you can sit in the shady grass area on a blanket or in lawn chairs. If you’re feeling the music, then you can join the audience in front of the stage who are dancing and swaying along. If you pay close attention, you will see that the music truly brings people, friends and strangers, together allowing them to ignore their differences and enjoy each other’s company.
Speaking of enjoying people’s company, it’s important to note that it is really the people who attend Whole Earth Festival that makes the event come alive. The diversity in the crowd is incredible. There are people of different race, creed and gender. There are families, students, hippies, and hippie students. You can bring your families to play ball in the grass. There’s a kids area for the little ones to paint, color, or play with building blocks. If you don’t want to actively do anything, then you can join people who are laid out on the grass picnicking, or sitting and talking to each other. If you come out with your friends or your families, I promise you will have an amazing time. Just make sure you don’t do what I did and neglect taking allergy medication beforehand.
To wrap this up, I’m going to give you a few things to take away from this experience. Attending Whole Earth Festival every Mother’s Day weekend is more than just the things to buy here. The event also allows you to educate yourself on the ways that you can help the Earth. It will force you to explore a world outside of your comfort zone. You will be able to entertain your curiosity with the thought provoking art on display. But more importantly, you will be here with the people you care about as well as have the pleasure to meet someone who is completely different from you. So for next year, I really encourage you to come experience what Whole Earth Festival has to offer. Thank you for listening.
References
[i] “Whole Earth Festival.” ASUCD, asucd.ucdavis.edu/portfolio-item/whole-earth-festival/.
[ii] “Whole Earth Festival.” ASUCD, wef.ucdavis.edu/#involvement.
[iii] “2018 Whole Earth Festival.” The Aggie, 14 May 2018, theaggie.org/2018/05/13/2018-whole-earth-festival/.
Now that you’re full, your eyes will probably be drawn to the giant dome in the middle of the quad. That is the icon of the Whole Earth Festival. According to the experiential space coordinator, Meral Basit, “the Experiential Dome [was designed] around engaging the senses”[iii]. Inside, one will find people laid out or sitting with their legs crossed just meditating. There are also volunteers that walk around with tribal rain sticks to help people relax. There is a coffee bean smelling table, a touch tank, and several workshops throughout the day dedicated to exploring the senses. If you’re like me, you’ll come in thinking that it is a little weird, but I guarantee that you will come out with a clear head and a few useful relaxation techniques.
Now to explore the thing that establishes the special ambiance of the Whole Earth Festival: the music. Various music groups from around the region play on the main stage, which is off-center from the quad. Some of the music involves lyrics that’ll make you think introspectively about life. There was one song that I remember with a chorus saying, “Mirror mirror on the wall, show me who I was before my ego got involved.” Other music’s lyrics will encourage you to embrace harmony among humanity, such as “I am love. I am peace. I am joy that can never be destroyed.” You can join two different groups of audience members here. If you’re feeling the heat from the 85 degree weather, then you can sit in the shady grass area on a blanket or in lawn chairs. If you’re feeling the music, then you can join the audience in front of the stage who are dancing and swaying along. If you pay close attention, you will see that the music truly brings people, friends and strangers, together allowing them to ignore their differences and enjoy each other’s company.
Speaking of enjoying people’s company, it’s important to note that it is really the people who attend Whole Earth Festival that makes the event come alive. The diversity in the crowd is incredible. There are people of different race, creed and gender. There are families, students, hippies, and hippie students. You can bring your families to play ball in the grass. There’s a kids area for the little ones to paint, color, or play with building blocks. If you don’t want to actively do anything, then you can join people who are laid out on the grass picnicking, or sitting and talking to each other. If you come out with your friends or your families, I promise you will have an amazing time. Just make sure you don’t do what I did and neglect taking allergy medication beforehand.
To wrap this up, I’m going to give you a few things to take away from this experience. Attending Whole Earth Festival every Mother’s Day weekend is more than just the things to buy here. The event also allows you to educate yourself on the ways that you can help the Earth. It will force you to explore a world outside of your comfort zone. You will be able to entertain your curiosity with the thought provoking art on display. But more importantly, you will be here with the people you care about as well as have the pleasure to meet someone who is completely different from you. So for next year, I really encourage you to come experience what Whole Earth Festival has to offer. Thank you for listening.
References
[i] “Whole Earth Festival.” ASUCD, asucd.ucdavis.edu/portfolio-item/whole-earth-festival/.
[ii] “Whole Earth Festival.” ASUCD, wef.ucdavis.edu/#involvement.
[iii] “2018 Whole Earth Festival.” The Aggie, 14 May 2018, theaggie.org/2018/05/13/2018-whole-earth-festival/.