Jeremy Sharp aka da Mayor
photo by Andy "Playarazzi" Pischalnikoff
2001 Camped with Mystic Beat Lounge, somewhere around four oʼclock. Members of our 80+ person camp (that also included Rob Brezsny and his band) built an art piece for the fourth stage of man called the Coliseum. My band, the Meadow Blasters, performed at the opening on Wednesday evening and again Friday on the Black Rock High School stage.
2006 First year of Campoline, an admixture of folks from Bodega Bay and Calistoga, formed spontaneously at 8:30 and E. One shade structure. One couch. One trampoline. 18 people.
2007 Campoline moves to 8:20 and G. Two shade structures. Three couches. Two trampolines. Bar. 35 people. Have way to much fun standing in the street insisting people come make abalone shell necklaces.
2008 Worked on building El Templo de Basura Sagrada in Oakland. Campoline now has a bus, 50 people and a groupie camp, so we head way out there at 8:30 and H. People keep asking us if we are a theme camp. As the playa dust drives away the unwary, we stop them and take their liquor for our public bar. Two trampolines. Four shade structures, five couches, two kitchens and a PA we use for addressing people in the portapotties.
2009 Campoline applies for, and is granted, Theme Camp status. Woot woot! As Da Mayor, I take on way too much and deliver less than that, but everyone (all 86 of us) seem happy there at 8:30 and C. Three trampolines, giant public shade structure and three smaller ones, all with carpet, four couches, giant public bar, great sound, three buses, massage tent, shower, kitchen. Hell, we had it all, and right across the street from the Tuna Guys!
2010 Downsized to about 40 people, but way better organized, Campoline is back at 8:30 and E. I barely make it, skating in on Tuesday morning. Three trampolines. Public bar. Kitchen. Two buses. Good sound. Artists in residence. And tons of shade!
2011 Didnʼt make it to the Playa, but donated money to the Temple of Transition, became a volunteer Regional Contact for the North Bay and helped organize Campolineʼs sixth consecutive year in the desert. Yikes!
