Yoko Ono & John Lennon Artists Activists

Yoko Ono and John Lennon met in an art gallery. Being artists together was a central feature of their relationship. They were both influenced by Conceptual Art, Fluxus Art and Performance Art movement of the 1960’s. Peace Activism became their cause.

Yoko Ono, Cut Piece Carnegie Recital Hall, New York, (1965)

Yoko sat alone on a stage, dressed in her best suit, with a pair of scissors in front of her. The audience had been instructed that they could take turns approaching her and use the scissors to cut off a small piece of her clothing, which was theirs to keep. Some people approached hesitantly, cutting a small square of fabric from her sleeve or the hem of her skirt. Others came boldly, snipping away the front of her blouse or the straps of her bra. Ono remained motionless and expressionless throughout, until, at her discretion, the performance ended.

John Lennon – You Are Here, Robert Fraser Gallery, London, UK (1968)

A large white canvas circle (approx 10 ft diameter) with ‘you are here’ written in the centre in John’s handwriting.
On a white pedestal – A jar full of ‘you are here’ badges to take away
On a white pedestal – A white busker’s fedora hat with ‘FOR THE ARTIST. THANK YOU.’ written on it in pen, with loose change inside
A hidden camera, filming people’s reaction to the artworks
A grouping of (approximately 12) Charity collection boxes (as a diversion)
365 White Balloons, with tags, given to visitors, many launched by John on the day.
A bike from students at Hornsey Art College
John’s shoes with a note saying “I take my shoes off to you”

Yoko Ono Indica Gallery London 1966

Group Show: Guildford Minus 40, Institute of Watercolour Painters Gallery, Piccadilly, London, UK (Nov 1968)

Fold Nine Times

Lennon particularly liked Yoko’s Ceiling Painting. The work appeared to be a blank canvas flat on the ceiling with just one word written on it in tiny letters. Lennon climbed a step-ladder, and balancing at the top, peered through his little round glasses, and through a larger round magnifying glass that was hanging on a chain next to the canvas, to look at the word.

John said, “I went up the ladder and I got the spyglass and there was tiny writing there. . . and you look through and it just says ‘YES’.”

Concert: Alchemical Wedding, Royal Albert Hall, London, UK (Dec 1968)

Bag Event

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Bed-In Event, Amsterdam, Holland (1969)

Two person event for Peace

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Acorn Event, Worldwide (1969)

2 x Acorns in engraved plastic container
Letter to foreign dignitary

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Bed-In Event, Montreal, Canada (1969)

Two person event for Peace

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – ‘An Evening with John & Yoko’, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, UK (1969)

Bag Event
Showing of films whilst hidden cameras filmed the audience reaction
Films shown: Self Portrait, Rape, Mr & Mrs. Lennon’s Honeymoon, Two Virgins, Smile.
Audience Participation Pack includes: wooden spoon & sandwich tin (noise makers) signed by John and Yoko, ‘Love and Peace’ flyer, Ono ‘Danger Box’ / Lennon ‘Build Around it’ perspex case, Lennon ‘fold it nine times’ paper sheet (creased where folded), New Cinema Club booklet, ‘Love and Peace = Bagism’ postcard of John & Yoko in Paris, John Lennon Diary, ‘You are Here’ booklet, two promo photographs, ‘Rape’ flyer, 8-page promo booklet, single sheet programme schedule.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – War Is Over Billboard Event, Worldwide (1969)

Billboards with the inscription “WAR IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT Happy Christmas from John & Yoko” were placed in 11 cities worldwide: New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Rome, Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong, along with leaflets, posters, newspaper advertisements and radio announcements.

John Lennon Exhibition of 15 Lithographs and white vinyl zippered portfolio bag were exhibited at:

London Arts Gallery, London, UK (1970)
London Arts Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, USA (1970)
The Upstairs Gallery, Long Beach, California, USA (1970)
The Cory Galleries, San Francisco, California, USA (1970)
The Poster Palace, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1970)
Galerie Taveerne, Amsterdam, Netherlands (1970)
Galerie Podulke NV, Amsterdam, Netherlands (1970)
Milan, Italy (1970)
The Merrill Chase Gallery, Oak Brook, Illinois, USA (1970)
The Graphic Art Galleries Ltd., Los Angeles, California, USA (1970)
Galerie Denise René Hans Mayer, Dusseldorf, Germany (1970)
Lee Nordness Gallery, New York, New York, USA (1970)

Group Show: FluxFest Presents John & Yoko +, Tribeca, NY, USA (1970)

Over 9 weeks at Joe Jones ‘Tone Deaf Music Store’, 18 N Moore St., NYC
Opening. Come as John Lennon or Yoko Ono; Grapefruit FluxBanquet.
Do It Yourself, by John & Yoko + All
Two Eggs
Tickets by John Lennon & FluxTours
Measure by John and Yoko + HiRed Clinic
Blue Room by John + Yoko and FluxLiars
Needle
4 Spoons
Weight & Water by John + Yoko + FluxFaucet
Capsule by John & Yoko + FluxSpacemen
Portrait of John Lennon as a Young Cloud by Yoko and everybody
The Store by John and Yoko + FluxFactory
A collection of New York ticket machines.
Exam by John & Yoko & FluxSchool

Group Show: 3→∞, aka 3 (towards infinity), Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (1970)

Sleeve for Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1968, Offset litho, 12 x 12 inches, not limited. Price: £2 with record, £1.95 without.
Build Around It, 1969, plastic, 2 x 2 inches, not limited. Price: £1.
You Are Here, 1969, screen on plastic button, 1 x 1 inches, not limited. Price: 5p.
Acorn Piece, 1969, (a) by John Lennon, (b) by Yoko Ono; Acorns 1 inch diameter approx, widely available in season. Price: stamped addressed envelopepe

Group Show: Ozjets d’Art, Clytie Jessop Gallery, London, UK (1971)

Number 9 Open/Shut

Group Show: Art Spectrum, Alexandra Palace (1971)

For Those Who Do Not Want To Touch J.L ’68 (dispenser of plastic gloves)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – This Is Not Here, Everson Museum, NY, USA (1971)

Needle
Reclining Nude
Baby Grand Guitar for Yoko ’69
4 Spoons
This window is 5ft wide
This sphere is a part of a straight line
Get out when the room turns blue
You are here
Kinetoscope
Pinball Machines
Metal Slug Dispenser
Juke Box
LENNON TOURS TICKETS

Yoko Ono – Free Time (1971)

Performance art pieces by Yoko Ono, performed by Yoko Ono, John Lennon & Jonas Mekas. Excerpts from ‘The Grapefruit In The World Of Park’, Question Piece, Fly, Draw Circle, Bagism, Sweep Piece, Promise Piece, Wrapping Piece.