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Courtesy of Yoko Ono

Self Image: A self portrait of John Lennon will be among the items at the 'The Art of John Lennon' exhibition June 23 to June 25 at Westfield Valley Fair.

Yoko Ono brings John Lennon's art, lithographs and lyrics to Valley Fair

By Mary Gottschalk

Yoko Ono says she expects anyone unfamiliar with John Lennon's art to be "totally surprised" if they attend the exhibition "The Art of John Lennon" June 23 through 25 at Westfield Valley Fair.

The exhibit includes more than 120 serigraphs, which are silk-screened reproductions of original sketches, some signed lithographs, song lyrics and original drawings. Additionally, there is a complete portfolio of the 15 "Bag One" lithographs, each individually signed by Lennon, on display.

"John was a very talented artist, and his lines are beautiful. He was good when he was 9 years old. The drawings he made in those days were almost like a grown-up's. He was a very, very talented person," Ono says in a telephone interview.

"If they are into John's music, they will see the similarity between his music and his songs and his drawings," Ono says.

Additionally, she points out that "like most artists, he was portraying things around him, so the people were all his friends or family."

In the 26 years since she saw her husband murdered in front of their home at the Dakota in New York City, Ono has served as guardian of Lennon's legacy. For the past decade, she has staged these exhibitions and sales featuring serigraphs of Lennon's original work.

In deciding which new pieces to add, Ono says, "I make sure I don't produce something that is not worthy of him.

"There aren't some scribblings he didn't finish. I wouldn't put that out. People say they might like to see his unfinished work, but it's better when it's finished, and I know very well he wouldn't have wanted it to be shown."

When Ono first released the serigraphs, she was told because the drawings are black and white they would never be displayed in a gallery's front window.

While she initially opposed adding color and said she felt it would be "sacrilegious" to do so, Ono did change her mind, adding the color herself.

"I learned being practical getting into the rock & roll life. Before that, I was a purist in art, and I would not have wanted anything to touch John's life, but it was the necessary thing to do to have his work in the windows," she says. "I wanted to do it in a way that would not intrude on his work."

While Lennon and the Beatles are the most famous rock group ever, Ono points out that "John was an artist first, then he became a rocker."

Their life together, she says, "was like being with another artist. His art work was like a security blanket. John had two security blankets--one was his music and one was his art."

Ono says both drawing and playing music served as creative outlets for Lennon's energy.

"Depending on the mood or the time, he would draw or he would strum the guitar," she says. "If he was in a conference with lawyers, he'd scribble something because he would be bored with lawyer talk."

At other times, Lennon would sit and draw for their son, Sean.

"It was John drawing and having a dialogue with our son. He inspired him to go on, just like any boy would. He would say, 'Draw me an elephant or a monkey or something, and John would say, 'This isn't a monkey, it's a cat.' They were having fun."

Some of those whimsical drawings Lennon did for his son will be used on the new "I Am A Dreamer" line of licensed apparel, bedding, toys, textiles, furniture, lighting and accessories for infants and children.

"It's one of the best things I did," Ono says of the licensing agreement announced in May.

"It's a connection between John and children. I really like that because John's work is very warm and loving, and if children are brought up with that sort of artwork, they will grow up to be very warm, loving people."

Ono is also licensing a "This Is My Story" lifestyle collection of textiles, furniture, bedding, lighting, tableware and apparel for adults.

With that line, she says, "I believe in using all media to express art."

Lennon's art is pure, Ono says.

"As famous as he was, he was famous for something else, not his art. He maintained his position as an artist in a very pure way. There was no gallery owner telling him what to do or saying that this is very popular, so would you do more of that sort of thing.

"His art work maintained his purity, and that's what I like about it."

Ono's first meeting with Lennon took place in a London art gallery in 1966, when he attended a preview of one of her shows.

When Ono started staging shows of Lennon's work, she said she didn't think of the parallel with their own meeting until she started receiving letters.

"People would write to me and say it was so good to go to an event where people don't disdain peace.

"When people meet in a gallery of John's work, they feel they're meeting someone on the same page."

Ono, now 73, says she will be at the San Jose show, "just in spirit."

"Every show of John's is a reminder of what he worked for, which is peace and love. I hope it will be a reminder for people when they go to see the show, and I hope they will have fun."

"The Art of John Lennon," Westfield Valley Fair, 3049 Stevens Creek Blvd., next to Copeland's Sports and behind Macy's Men's & Home. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 23-24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 25. Free admission.